Well we had a wonderful time as usual. The event was moved indoors because of the high winds and the rain.

Typically the ground breakings are held on site for the troops new home, they set up tents and chairs and more, but this one had to be moved to a hotel nearby at the last minute due to the winds mainly, the rain was not that big of an issue until you mixed the high winds into it.

At the last minute Homes For Our Troops had to place a call to Embassy Suites Hotel that was about 20 minutes from the building site. They asked Embassy Suites if we could have a room to hold the ceremony, and Embassy Suites donated a room with snacks and refreshments, and they accommodated the flood of folks who were streaming in. This was truly last minute planning, and our hats off to Embassy Suites of Temecula CA!

My oldest daughter has a high school club named The Patriot Tigers, and they had planned on attending this event for the last month or so, so we gathered her and a couple of her Tigers up in our rig, and some more parents drove their kids to the event, and there we all were representing The Patriot Woodworker's and The Patriot Tigers!

For a run down of my daughters club please click on Patriot Tigers.

I did not have a chance to snap any images of the event, but my girl and her friends were able to squeeze in and get some good pictures.

The first photo is the Patriot Guard Motorcycle Club, they typically escort the troop to the home site with full colors and Harley's blazing, but since it was indoors, they made the best of it, and they created a tunnel to the room for our soldier to enter through.

The next photo is just a shot of the room we were all in, the Temecula High School ROTC is front and center to help open the ceremony.

The next image is the actual ground breaking, what they did is they brought in buckets of dirt from the building site, and laid it all out on a tarp over the carpet! And they passed out the shovels to the local dignitaries, and of course Cpl. Jon Schumacher and his wonderful wife had a shovel too, and they scooped some dirt and placed it to the side.

Another image of Cpl. Schumacher chattin it up with a volunteer.

The next image is my daughters gang of Patriot Tigers, she is standing on the Corporal's right. We are very proud of our little girl, she has taken this club by the horns, and has led it wonderfully by coordinating and mustering her troops to get out to this event and they have more events around our community scheduled to help our disabled veterans.

Corporal Jon was so happy to see them, he expressed his pride in the club, and he congratulated the kids on their efforts, and he invited them back to the volunteer days to help build his home, they will be there.

My wife also got to meet Mrs. Schumacher, what a wonderful lady, they talked briefly and she was so grateful for everything, it's amazing, Jon and his wife, are grateful to us? We are forever in their debt, thank you Corporal Schumacher for your service, and Mrs. Schumacher for doing the hard work back home, you both are heroes.

Now, my own little note, I was proud of the kids too. None of these kids had ever been to an event like these other than our daughter, and I stood and watched their faces as the speeches were made, the story of how the Corporal received his injuries, and many other key note speakers that were there, the other veterans in the room, the Vietnam Vets that were in the room, the stories, the pride in country that was exhibited, and so much more that was being displayed in that ceremony. I believe I watched this group of kids transform right before our eyes.

On the way to the event it was all fun and games, our car was abuzz with laughter and music and joking by the kids, all they way up to the point we drove up to the entry of the hotel, and saw the Patriot Guard bikers standing at the door way with our countries colors displayed, then they stopped giggling, and they became very curious, and then we entered the room, and we watched Corporal Jon Schumacher enter the room, with his mechanical legs, and missing arm, and you could hear a pin drop, our kids fell deadly silent at that moment, it was no longer a joke, and you could see in their faces that they realized they were in the presence of a man who gave all to defend the freedoms we and our kids take for granted. Then we all stood throughout the remainder of the ceremony, and I watched our kids faces change expressions with the stories that were told, their interest was completely captivated by the event, and they were transformed, I sincerely believe they were.

After the ceremony each one of the club kids walked up to the Corporal, and shook his hand and thanked him. Then they stood for the photo above.

The car trip home, was much quieter then it was coming to the event.

Thanks all for reading, we'll keep you up to date on the progress of Cpl Jon Schumacher's home build, and many more images to come I am sure.

 

 

 

John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

That was a great write up John! So glad that Embassy Suites stepped up and ran with the ball to make this happen. I know that you are busting buttons with your daughter and her group for coming out and supporting as well. I was really sorry that I was not able to be there as we were picking up our kids from the airport, but hopefully I can make it to one of the work days down the road.

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk.'
J. Vernon McGee

“Our greatest fear should not be that we won’t succeed,
but that we will succeed at something that doesn’t matter.â€
D.L. Moody

Great job all the way around, story, photos and, ceremony.

We'll see ya at the next one Allen!!! I hope your kids came in well and probably hungry!

Our daughter has really taken off with her club, she is a super girl, and her bother and sister are coming up the rear as well. The last year my daughter and I have had many discussions about her direction in life as far as college, where she wants to go with her ideas and motivations, and every time she states that she wants in on politics, she wants to form policy and she wants to be on the floor in DC, I can't think of a better person to be up there representing the American people.

Allen Worsham said:

That was a great write up John! So glad that Embassy Suites stepped up and ran with the ball to make this happen. I know that you are busting buttons with your daughter and her group for coming out and supporting as well. I was really sorry that I was not able to be there as we were picking up our kids from the airport, but hopefully I can make it to one of the work days down the road.

---

Allen Worsham
Corona, CA

allenworsham@earthlink.net

'Graze in every man's field, but always give your own milk.'
J. Vernon McGee

“Our greatest fear should not be that we won’t succeed,
but that we will succeed at something that doesn’t matter.”
D.L. Moody

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

It is truly a wonderful event to attend Charles, thanks for the good wishes.

charles schmitz said:

Great job all the way around, story, photos and, ceremony.

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

John, A smart salute to you and the youngsters, the vets, Embassy Suites and everyone else concerned. 

And a heartfelt thank you to the CPL and his wife for their sacrifices. 

Your account of the ceremony brought tears to this old man's eyes. 

---

Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

Thank you for posting this.  I am very moved by your involvement and passion for these hero's. 

Gene, my writing made you tear up? Well, I must say, my work is done here.

Gene Howe said:

John, A smart salute to you and the youngsters, the vets, Embassy Suites and everyone else concerned. 

And a heartfelt thank you to the CPL and his wife for their sacrifices. 

Your account of the ceremony brought tears to this old man's eyes. 

---

Gene
'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker

Even after they give all Catherine, they are still giving by letting us be involved with them, they make us, me, feel important and I feel a debt is being paid. We'll never be even, we'll always owe. My family and I love being around these brave folks, I wish everyone could attend one of these events just once, it'll change their lives.

Catherine Helshoj said:

Thank you for posting this.  I am very moved by your involvement and passion for these hero's. 

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John Morris
The Patriot Woodworker