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DEL.ICIO.USAunt Judy sending packages full of love to nephew in Iraq
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Matt’s her only nephew.
And her daughters consider him a brother.
“When Jennifer and Jillian were growing up, one of their favorite things to do was go to Birmingham [to visit Matt],” Judy Wilkes of Lilburn told me. “They adore him.”
Aunt Judy was standing in line behind me Wednesday morning at the post office off Britt Road. I was mailing off an order for a Christmas gift via priority mail. She was shipping two packages.
“I’m back again,” she told the clerk, laughing, as she approached the counter.
Back again.
What could be so important?
Turns out, it’s family.
The books, magazines and cookies are for Matt Reeves, a second lieutenant in the Marines. He’s in Iraq, overseeing 71 men near the Syrian border. Their role is top secret. Matt’s family doesn’t even know.
“He’s very focused, but the area he’s in is very dangerous,” Wilkes said. “I worry about his safety.”
He’s an only child, born 23 years ago to Rhonda and Wayne Reeves. His new bride, Danielle, lives on a military base near San Diego with two dogs — Riley and Ani.
Poor Riley.
He hasn’t adjusted to Matt’s absence. He gets excited when he sees other Marines at Camp Pendleton. He thinks his master is back.
“Danielle had to put him on medication for depression,” said Wilkes, an administrative assistant for Bradshaw, Pope & Franklin, an accounting firm in Norcross. “He’s having a tough time.”
So are friends, parents, grandparents, cousins and Aunt Judy. They cope.
Their love gets wrapped, taped, boxed and shipped. It’s expressed through packages of CDs, DVDs, socks and Ramen noodles. Some items are just for Matt, others to share with his men.
Like the Claxton fruitcakes. Wilkes’ employer paid for three boxes of them — one for every soldier. The South Georgia company that makes them paid shipping costs.
“I wrote Matt and told him they were on the way,” Wilkes said. “I wanted him to know that there’s enough for all of the men, just in case one box arrived before the others did.”
In her office, Wilkes flips through a folder of postal receipts for items she’s mailed since September. The combined weight of the packages totals nearly 300 pounds. That doesn’t take into account what his parents have shipped over.
“My brother, Wayne, and Rhonda really miss him,” Wilkes said. “And Matt loves them to death. He’s a loving, caring individual. Full of integrity.”
One day, Rhonda Reeves asked her son why he joined the Marines.
“Mom, everyone owes this to their country,” he told her.
And in return, we owe the soldiers something.
“Just support them,” Wilkes said.
“Knowing that someone cares means a whole bunch. Whenever we see a soldier in uniform, we should stop and thank them for what they are doing, whether you’re in agreement with why they are there or not.”
Thanks, Matt.
• Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
Comments
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By Lisa Bullis
December 8, 2005 7:32 AM | Link to this
THANK YOU to all our military. We were at the airport last sunday and when we saw any service member we stopped them and told them thank you. You would not believe the tears in their eyes. SO again MERRY CHRISTMAS and THANK YOU SO MUCH for all you do.
By Becky
December 8, 2005 7:59 AM | Link to this
Thank you, Aunt Judy and thank you to all those who serve in the military. This Aunt Becky got to know all the post office people during the first Gulf War so I know exactly how she feels. Thanks to everyone who supports the troops.
By jim dumond
December 8, 2005 8:03 AM | Link to this
Rick,
Hopefully Ms. Wilkes will print this thread ans send it to Matt in her next care package to him.
That being said, let me take a momement to send out a large THANK YOU to Matt and every other young man that is putting themselves in harms way for the security of this country. May God bless and watch over each and every one of you, bringing you safely home.
Y’all remain in my prayers.
MERRY CHRISTMAS.
By Devin
December 8, 2005 9:00 AM | Link to this
I’m one of the wives that the post office got to know VERY well in 2003-2004. The packages mean so much to the guys, and believe it or not, it helps the families some too - we feel like we are doing something to make the situation better. Thanks to Matt and all the other guys who are over there right now, have been there, and who will be getting their turn overseas soon. We appreciate all that you do and hope that you know there are tons of folks waiting for you back home who love and support you through this. Thank you!
By marlene
December 8, 2005 9:09 AM | Link to this
THANK YOU MATT AND ALL OF OUR MILITARY FOR YOUR SERVICE FOR OUR COUNTRY. MY HUSBAND WAS A WW2 VERERAN AND I TOTALY SUPPORT YOU. I AM PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU, GOD BLESS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MARLENE
By marlene
December 8, 2005 9:12 AM | Link to this
MAY WE ALL BE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR OUR MILITARY AROUND THE WORLD, THIS IS WHAT KEEPS OUR FREEDOM. MARLENE
By marlene
December 8, 2005 9:16 AM | Link to this
THANK YOU OUR MEN AND WOMEN OF THE MILITARY, YOU ARE THE ONES THAT KEEP AMERICA A FREE COUNTRY. MARLENE
By dee
December 8, 2005 9:26 AM | Link to this
Thank you to all our military. May God be with you and your families. Thank you to all who support our troops just like this aunt did.
By Nicole
December 8, 2005 12:04 PM | Link to this
Thank you to all the men and women serving our country overseas and back home. I know not everyone agrees with what we are doing overseas but no matter what we should support these troops. THEY ARE the reason we have our freedoms today. Back in October when I was at the airport there were several men and women coming back from Iraq to their base in Texas and some were in the Schooner Bar in the terminal. While waiting for a flight delay I was paying my tab in this bar and saw these gentlemen had just come in (3 of them from the same USMC reserves unit) and as I was paying my bill I told the waitress to also charge their first round of drinks to me. THey were very surprised that I had decided to do this but I figured it was the least of what I could do to show my support to these guys after they had just been over in the desert for a year. Please just show some appreciation for these guys and girls this season and anytime. They are sacrificing their time, family, and work in some cases just to ensure that we enjoy the simple pleasures in life that we have become accuustomed to.
By scott carter
December 8, 2005 12:33 PM | Link to this
Right ON Rick Badie! Rick is correct when he says it is a Black issue and not a Society as a whole issue. The problem I see is that the gangster punks are too into their blackness and berate others who desire to be smart and gain knowledge as being too white. These ghetto kids need to get their butts whupped and sent to military school. When this part of society wakes up and gets the point that the world is not going to turn gangsta and that they need to start getting some book smarts, then the black society will be better as a whole. That black girl who got A’s and B’s and then bowed to the pressure of the “brothas” is the reason why she and others like her, won’t succeed in life and will be a welfare burden. These young punks think they are growing up in Africa and everything should be handed to them like they are a celebrity-of course they think that way because they use the line “I’m black and been oppressed for 400 years.” Well Jacko-you don’t look a day over 30 and you have oppressed us by your vandalism and assaults. How about we call it even by sending you back to the jungle where you belong? The nation needs to take a stand on this or the next scenario will look like something out of Escapre From NY.
By Rick Badie
December 8, 2005 12:57 PM | Link to this
Thanks for all who have posted thank-you notes for Matt Reeves and the other soldiers in Iraq. I let Judy Wilkes and Matt’s mother - Rhonda Reeves - know that they can go online and read the comments you all have written. Have a good day. Keep the comments coming. RB.
By matt
December 8, 2005 1:38 PM | Link to this
Your last two columns have been great. It’s nice to see your blog on the front page of AJC.com. I don’t read the hardcopy any more but I do think you should be in it, and not in the a subsection either. Where have been all these years ???
By Leslie Long
December 8, 2005 3:47 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the column and God Bless each and every serviceman or woman and his or her family. Without you, we wouldn’t have a free country. Without you, we wouldn’t survive at all.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
By Bruce Wilcox
December 8, 2005 4:05 PM | Link to this
scott carter, I believe you’re in the wrong discussion, please check next time.
Leave it to someone to interupt a heartwarming story, especially around the holidays. You can either support the war or not, it doesn’t matter, we all support our troops.
Nice story Mr. Badie.
By JUDY wILKES
December 8, 2005 4:44 PM | Link to this
Thank you all for your heartwarming comments after reading the article about my nephew. God Bless You All and All Our Troops. Judy Wilkes
By melva Lauer
December 8, 2005 5:12 PM | Link to this
Thank you Matt for your service and please let the troups that you serve with know that we appreciate them as well. My husband served 12 years and we are still active in the American Legion in Hiram Georgia. We owe you and your family a debt of gratitude. Thank you again and Merry Christmas.
By melva Lauer
December 8, 2005 5:12 PM | Link to this
Thank you Matt for your service and please let the troups that you serve with know that we appreciate them as well. My husband served 12 years and we are still active in the American Legion in Hiram Georgia. We owe you and your family a debt of gratitude. Thank you again and Merry Christmas. Melva and Steve Lauer
By Melva Lauer
December 9, 2005 10:26 AM | Link to this
I appreciate every man and woman who is serving in our Armed Forces.My husband served 12 years in the Army and we are members today the American Legion in Hiram Georgia.It takes dedication and pride to be a soldier and the wife of one.Thank you Matt and God Bless your family.And a special thanks to your comrades and their families.Becuase of you all Freedom still rings. Melva and Steve
By Melva Lauer
December 9, 2005 10:28 AM | Link to this
I appreciate every man and woman who is serving in our Armed Forces.My husband served 12 years in the Army and are members of the American Legion in Hiram Georgia.It takes dedication and pride to be a soldier and the wife of one.Thank you Matt and God Bless your family.And a special thanks to your comrades and their families.Becuase of you all- Freedom still rings. Melva and Steve
By Dave Oliver
December 9, 2005 1:20 PM | Link to this
I want to thank all the military for their devotion to duty that keeps us safe here at home. I would also like to see some streets renamed (Cynthia McKinney’s street in particular) for some young military member that paid the ultimate price in this battle against the terrorism.
By Michael H. Smith
December 9, 2005 3:08 PM | Link to this
Thanks to all who serve this great country of ours. Sometimes we don’t deserve the military we’ve got and you people of the military don’t deserve some of the political leaders we’ve given you men and women put in harms way. My American flag still waves outside my front door for each and everyone one of you and will remain up-lifted until all of you return home.
By Michael H. Smith
December 9, 2005 6:24 PM | Link to this
Governor Sonny Purdue has promised to find every returning Georgia solider from Iraq and Afghanistan a job when they get home.