We were doubly blessed with presentations last week. Here to thank us for the experience at Camp Rotary we are providing American veterans, Bart Cole told us a little about what that experience has been for the first group visiting Montana, the Marines of the 2nd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion of Apache Company, which fought and survived the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq in late 2004.
Tired of seeing his combat brothers only at funerals, Bart set up the Warrior Reunion Foundation to provide a more systematic way of reconnecting. "It's a time to renew bonds with people you become very close to," Bart explained. Based in Indiana, his small staff organized the events at Camp Rotary, which included a time to reconnect and bond, a memorial service for the fallen, and projects around the camp that got them engaged in doing good work together, just as they did when they first met.
"We may have been burned. We may have holes in us and missing parts, but we're not broken," he said. If you haven't seen Tim McGonigal's KRTV piece on this project, google it for a much more informative and moving description of what our camp makes possible for these fine American servants.
Our featured presentation was by the newly crowned Mrs. Montana, Great Falls native Catherine Mertz. A graduate of Great Falls High School with a college degree from Penn State, Catherine is married and the mother of two children - Nikola, 6; and Adriana, 15. She is also not only a model, but a photographer.
Mrs. America is the longest-standing beauty pageant created to honor married women. Catherine was intrigued by the possibilities of the competition and competed against other Montana wives at the Cattle Lack Ranch in Arlee in July for the title. Her duties involve making appearances throughout the state (we were her first official presentation!), visiting local schools, and giving back to the community and state with a special project. Catherine's project involves encouraging students to learn photography and providing a show space for their work, as well as a studio for other local photographers.
Catherine will compete for Mrs. America in Las Vegas on November 12-21. We wish her good fortune!
