1 post tagged “spc brian clemens”

Soldiers' Angel Renee shares her story of a very special gift...

I was raised to respect our flag, honor our military and love our country. Unable to serve myself I was always searching for a way to support those who could serve. I found Soldiers’ Angels one day while doing a web search for volunteer work and it suited me perfectly. I loved being able to support our men and women with a kind word or a small gift, especially during a time when it was needed most.
Through the forums and a personal encounter I also became involved with the Patriot Guard Riders (PGR). With them, I was able to support the fallen heroes at a time when tensions and emotions were at their rawest moments.
I quickly became friends with many members of the PGR, and we would often meet up with one another. During one of these social visits, I brought up the subject of helping those still deployed by sending letters and care packages as well as making blankets, cool ties and sand scarves. Our State Leader thought it was a wonderful idea and put me in charge of it. With his help we gathered many people to sew, raise donations, write letters, and ship care package items.
Early on July 29, 2006 I was on my way to stand respectfully in honor of a fallen soldier when my phone rang. It was my husband Jeff, with something very important he had to tell me. I had not gotten a chance to check my email before I left, so he had checked it when he got up. He read me the email:
I have 16 army-issue brown T-shirts that I would like for you to have for your project. These belonged to my stepson, SPC Brian Clemens, before he was killed in Kuwait in 2003. I sure he would want these to be put to a good use in making someone else more comfortable that is still serving over there. It would mean something special to me if you would accept them also. Look me up at the staging trailer tomorrow morning and I will have them for you.
Terry McCray
P.S. Call if you want; I don't sleep much the night before a mission...
I was in shock. I had to pull over and gather myself. When I was finally able to regain my composure, I continued to the staging area where I would meet up with this amazing man. Terry stood there proudly wearing his son’s boonie hat, and greeted me with a handshake.  He led me to his truck where he handed me a large sack full of his son’s shirts. We stood there by the side of his truck talking about his son, and I learned that the love and pride of a father never fades. One thing Terry said to me was, “Brian wore those shirts in Iraq and he would want them back there helping out his fellow troops.” At that point I was doing my best not to cry, and trying to find the right words to show my gratitude. All I could come up with was a mumbled, “Thank You.”
I got home later that day and told my husband what had happened. While showing him the shirts, I decided that I needed to find a way to thank Terry for his generous and unselfish donation, since words alone just didn’t do it any justice. After vocalizing many thoughts and ideas, my husband stated the obvious: make Terry a quilt using the scraps of fabric left over from the t-shirts. It fit perfectly--the main part of the shirts would be used for my project and the rest would go back to Terry so he can keep a piece of his son close to him always.
Every spare moment I had, I worked on that quilt. I recruited help from PGR friends for getting pictures of Brian, SA friends for quilting techniques, and my husband for every time I second, third and fourth-guessed myself. The project I started had become a living breathing thing, and every emotion I felt--anxiety, love, sadness, joy, respect and honor--went into those stitches.
After talking with several PGR members, it was decided the quilt would be presented to Terry at the PGR’s yearly gathering on September 9, 2006. The day arrived bright and beautiful, and we loaded the kids up and headed for the gathering. I was a complete wreck. In addition to being terrified of speaking in front of people, I had realized this day was also Brian’s birthday. He would have been 26 years old. After we arrived, I met up with some of my friends who continued to calm my nerves. They were also curious about the quilt, as no one other than my husband or myself had seen it.
Terry was about to leave when the presentation began. He had intended on going to the cemetery where his son was buried and spend some time with him. We stopped him from leaving and told him he was needed up front. When he arrived, I began my speech:
Earlier this summer, I left a post on the PGR website asking for donations of t-shirts in order to use them for making sand scarves for our troops deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I got a few responses and was very grateful for all the help I got. One response in particular overwhelmed me.
I was on my way to the Corporal Baughman mission on July 29th when my cell phone rang. It was my husband telling me I have to hear this email I received. It’s from Terry McCray, and he’s telling me he would be honored if I accepted his son’s army t-shirts for my project. Once in Monticello, I met up with Terry and he handed me a large sack full of t-shirts. He then told me about his son, Specialist Brian Michael Clemens.
Brian was part of Company C, 1st Battalion, 293rd Infantry Regiment with the Indiana National Guard. He died February 6th of 2003 in Kuwait while defending our freedom. Terry told me Brian had worn these shirts in Iraq and he felt he would want them to be returned there helping out his fellow troops.
It was decided to make Terry a quilt using the remainder of fabric left over from the t-shirts. The main part of the shirts would be used for making the sand scarves and the rest would go back to Terry so he could have a piece of his son close to him always.
Terry McCray has been with the Patriot Guard for quite awhile and many, if not all, of us have had the honor and pleasure of meeting this extraordinary man. After the death of his son, Terry stood strong and began to speak publicly about what an exceptional young man Specialist Clemens was. His goal – “Gone but not forgotten.”
Brian's sacrifice will never be forgotten. Those that have had the honor of knowing him feel his spirit. All of us should continue to honor Brian and the many others like him that gave the ultimate sacrifice defending our great nation.  On behalf of all Patriot Guard members, we would be honored if you accepted this quilt. For all the unselfish acts you perform for the PGR and the sacrifice your family has endured.
Amid the commotion and tears, I was able to bring a bit of peace to a grateful father, as well as myself. I had only lived with the ghost of Specialist Brian Clemens for a short time, but he had lived with the ghost for 3½ years. Today Terry continues to publicly speak about the sacrifices of our men and women and how although they are gone, they are not forgotten.

TerrysBlanket3