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2008-01-24  FORSYTH HERALD | Cumming church forms support group
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| | by Kristen Berry | |  |
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| | | (KRISTEN BERRY/www.forsythherald.com)
A support group for families of deployed soldiers meets every third Thursday of the month to share the ups and downs of being separated from loved ones during the war. Neida E. Streit, Cheryl Dilworth and Stephan Frank hold flags that were flown over military camps in honor of Cumming First United Methodist Church. (click for larger version) | |
January 28, 2008
CUMMING - America has been at war with Iraq since 2003. Soldiers are still being deployed while the families they leave behind try to manage without them.
Some of these families have formed a support group at Cumming First United Methodist Church that meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m.
The meetings provide a chance for family members to talk about the emotional hardships of going it alone while a spouse is deployed to Iraq.
"We started this group to let our feelings out because we can draw strength from each other," said Cheryl Dilworth, whose husband David, a Sergeant First Class, is on his second deployment to Afghanistan and is expected to return in the spring.
The group talked about the ups and downs of being military families and managing households alone.
Veteran Maj. Stephan Frank discussed how families can stay strong while a spouse, sibling or parent is away on duty.
"I was in Iraq for most of 2005 and it really helped to have things like finances in order before I left. We also arranged to hire someone for cutting the grass," said Frank whose sons were ages four and one when he was deployed.
Neida E. Streit is the Director of Communications and Graphics at Cumming First United Methodist Church, but as a crypto logic linguist for the Air Force, she has also experienced the hardship of being separated from loved ones.
"It's easier on the person that's gone than it is for the one who is left behind," says Streit who recommends adhering to a schedule or list of activities and staying busy even if you have to force yourself.
The group talked about how simple things like telephone conversations with those deployed to Iraq become opportunities to ground soldiers in the stability of their own strength.
Frank said soldiers often feel a sense of pride and strength by handling small problems that they can fix over the phone instead of overwhelming issues that are beyond their control.
"If you give a soldier an easy problem to fix by communication over the phone, he or she feels like 'wow, I took care of something all the way from Afghanistan or Iraq."
The group also discussed the ample amount of support they have felt from their communities.
Dilworth said her husband's employer Fisher & Phillips has spoiled her and her daughter. "Recently, at Christmas, employees of the law firm and their families sent extremely generous gifts in honor of David's service just to let us know that they are aware of any sacrifices we make. They are a generous and caring group of people," said Dilworth who added that she has also been carefully watched over and supported by her own parents who live nearby.
The support group hopes to grow over the next few weeks and will continue to provide emotional support in a casual setting for those with loved ones who have been deployed. For more information on upcoming meetings, contact Neida Streit at Cumming First United Methodist Church 770-887-2900.
The church recently received a letter from a soldier who guards the entrance to his base in Afghanistan. He asked for items for the children of local nearby villages.
Children are in need of winter clothing, socks and shoes. Children also need simple toys like cars, dolls and soccer balls.
Afghanistan is cold this time of year temperatures between 14-20 degrees Fahrenheit. Donated items can be placed in shoeboxes and brought to Cumming First United Methodist Church at 770 Canton Highway.
- www.northfulton.com
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