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Tributes and Testimonials to The Sanctuary Project

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Sep 11, 2010

To Whom It May Concern

Not only would I like to, but it is also my duty, to testify concerning the many and various ways The Sanctuary Project, and especially Ms. Kippie Tomkin, has helped me.

Helped me physically, mentally and spiritually and with all facets of red tape. This understanding of my situation as a disabled and homeless veteran, to put it bluntly, has allowed me to remain living.

No praise would suffice; no thanks would be enough for the caring and work The Sanctuary Project does for veterans.

D. E. B. - A Vietnam Veteran.

It's so long ago and far away,

There's only pain now.

I have no morals, no scruples, no values, no pride.

No comprehension.

And no one can understand.

D. E. B. - A Vietnam Veteran.

Letters of Tribute

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From a Veteran of OIF recently home from deployment

20 July 2010

To Whom It May Concern

America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave. A land where hopes and dreams are just an arm's reach away. Yet we tend to get our priorities mixed up. We love, look up to and adore actors, musicians, and sports celebrities, yet we abhor the ones we owe our very way of life to, the veterans. I am talking about the way our soldiers are treated, and as a veteran of OIF I have seen first hand the way our soldiers are treated after experiencing the ugliness of the world at war.

I was and still am prepared to give my life to uphold and protect my country, people and the rights of the American public and it sickens me to know that we are treated so badly. Please do not misunderstand - I am not looking for personal recognition - I am looking for assistance for all of my brothers in arms. They need to know that someone is out there to help and to care about and understand our situation. I have found that help.

I came home from deployment and had nowhere to rest my head; no car to drive and no money, as what I had made overseas had been squandered and spent by people at home I foolishly trusted. When I realized this, I tried using my chain of command to find a place to stay. I called my NCO, my first sergeant and my commander. I made hundreds of phone calls to every number I had been given by my chain of command and not once did anyone answer. So I called my squad leader and got a number for family readiness.

At family readiness I talked to a Sgt Mjr (Ret) who referred me to The Sanctuary Project. Within six hours I had a place to stay, food to eat, and most importantly, people who truly cared about my well being. I soon discovered that these wonderful people who have done so much for me and hundreds of other veterans were having trouble with their bank. This bank is trying to take away the one thing that has saved me and many others.

The bank's lawyers call what The Sanctuary Project is doing a foolish hope and pipe dream, and it truly sickens me to know that the very people that I fought so hard for (the bank among others) are trying to take away the very thing set forth to help veterans like myself and many many others because of money. And so much of it, either.

Am I just a statistic? Does everything I and many others do mean so little? America, I ask you to please, please help save the ones who give everything to protect your rights, beliefs and very freedom. Help save The Sanctuary Project so they can continue to save veterans like myself and their families in this dire time of need.

Thank you for hearing the voice of one of the overlooked and forgotten.

Signed - R.L. - A Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom

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Testimonial from a Veteran's Wife

June, 2010

To whom it may concern,

I am the wife of a combat veteran. He fought in both Bosnia and Iraq. After being shot while being ejected from his HumVee which was overturned by an I.E.D., he was pulled off the battlefield. He then had a heart attack due to an undiagnosed heart condition triggered by a trauma. After which he was sent home; he was nevertheless determined to go back to his unit. After four years he was finally granted medical clearance. 

However, during the recruiting process he was run over by a drunk driver while walking home from work. After being in a coma for 3 months and spending a year in rehabilitation he came to NC so he could settle down and raise our family. Due to his disabilities work was no longer possible for him. 

Meanwhile, I was put on bed rest due to pregnancy complications. After a long struggle with the VA, my husband was finally granted medical retirement, and began collecting his pension. Unfortunately it still was not enough to pay the bills. Just as we were about to lose hope we met Kippie and found out about The Sanctuary Project. 

She immediately started providing us with food and contacts who could give us the assistance we needed. Today we live here on the property of The Sanctuary Project. We've been given affordable housing our girls are happy and there is plenty of food in our refrigerator. I have also gone back to work. 

If not for The Sanctuary Project, I don't know what would have happened to my family. Please allow this project to continue to help veterans and their families the way they have helped mine. 

Thank You from my heart, R. McK, the wife of a veteran

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Testimonial from a Veteran

June, 2010

To whom it may concern,

I was deployed to Iraq for approximately 16 months. While I was there I fought insurgents by gun and fist. I was attacked and cut by a child whose life I could have taken. I survived and came back home as an Iraqi War Veteran with many Honors. Prior to my deployment I signed a power of attorney over to my mother, the one person I believed I could trust. I had a house, land of my own and vehicles. Upon my return from Iraq, I discovered that literally everything I owned was gone. The house had burned down, and the insurance had been collected and hidden or spent, my land sold, my vehicles sold, all money from my deployment wages taken. My mother liquidated all of my personal assets and hid or spent the proceeds.

I was now out of the military and had absolutely nothing to show for the years of service and all the hard work and pain I had endured in Iraq. I had nowhere to stay but with my mother and after three months of unsuccessful employment searching she informed me that because I had no job or money I was no longer welcome to live there. 

That is when I contacted the National Guard Family Readiness Program in Raleigh, NC. Sgt. Major Jackson referred me to Kippie at The Sanctuary Project. She called me back and within 6 hours I had a roof over my head at The Sanctuary Project.

I had no idea what I was going to do as I was unemployed but I had food and shelter and was now in the company of people who genuinely cared and actively helped veterans. And I wasn't the only veteran who had found a home at the Sanctuary. 

I helped in the food bank and became part of an unusual family made up of the Sanctuary Project volunteers. A new chapter in my life had begun and soon after I got a job with the National Guard which is where I now work with the Funeral Honors. Currently I live in the main residence while my trailer is being refurbished. Because of The Sanctuary Project I have an opportunity to restart my life, with new job, new residence, and new family.

Written by a Specialist who is an Iraqi Veteran and National Guard Serviceman.

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