Group Honors Arcadians in the Military

If you asked Dr. Barbara Reukema what it is that servicemen and women need most when they’re deployed to remote, dangerous and far-flung postings overseas, her response would surprise you.

“Baby wipes,” she said, with only the faintest hint of irony. “They’re the number one thing. They’re essential when there’s no clean water or proper sanitation.”

Dr. Reukema is the proud mother of two former Arcadia High School graduates who are serving in the Marines: Glen, 35, and Jason, 31. She is also involved with Operation Hometown Heroes (OHTH), an organization geared towards recognizing Arcadians who are currently serving in all branches of the armed forces.

Started approximately five years ago, OHTH is open to current service members (including military reserves), who attended or who have family members residing in Arcadia. It is an offshoot of the nationwide Blue Star program, which has postings here in Arcadia as well as the surrounding vicinity, such as Temple City and Sierra Madre.

According to Kristen Olafson, communications and marketing specialist for the city manager, there is, however, one major difference between the two organizations.

“The Blue Star program is really more for the parents and family at home … they can fly their flag in honor of their loved ones,” Olafson said. “And the Blue Star program parlayed, here in Arcadia, into Operation Home Town Heroes, which concentrates more on the actual serviceman or woman.”

It is Olafson’s job to maintain the database that keeps tabs on Arcadia’s service members. She sends out an email once a year to those signed up with OHTH to see whether they’re still enlisted or whether they have left active service.

With this information, Olafson can then update the Military Tribute sign that flanks the grounds of , and which provides a public listing of the names of active service members – at the moment there are 50 names posted.

“If they’re career people I tend to leave them alone, though,” said Olafson. “I know they’re in it for the long haul and I don’t think its fair to keep pestering them.”

A few years ago, Olafson started a new venture through OHTH: a pen pal scheme that sought to connect Arcadian’s deployed abroad on active duty with civilians back home.

It was designed as a way of bringing to those ensconced in far away regions - often war-torn regions, bleak and inhospitable - a positive reminder from home that they’re very much on people’s minds, that beyond the inhumanity of their current surroundings, the world they’re risking their life to maintain still exists.

The venture, however, never took flight -- with only a few participants to begin, it quickly fizzled out. Olafson is hoping to resurrect the scheme in the near future – an idea that receives the full backing of Dr. Reukema.

“One of my boys best aspects was that they had each other,” she said. “But the vast majority of them don’t have that … just the simple act of receiving a letter is so important to them. They need constant reassuring that what they’re doing is worth it.”

Dr. Reukema continued, “A while ago I gave all of my colleagues a website, anysoldier.com, through which you can write to someone in active deployment. You can choose who you write to … you can even choose what platoon they’re in.”

As with the disappointing OHTH pen pals venture, Dr. Reukema noted that none of her friends or colleagues took up the opportunity to begin a correspondence.

Aside from the Military Tribute sign, community events are held to honor OHTH members. According to Olafson, last year, the Marine Corps Marching Band, a near 60-piece orchestra, played at a special twin ceremony that also honored Arcadian war veterans, while in the past, a short film showing scenes shot around Arcadia was filmed, packaged and distributed to OHTH members and their families.

Regarding a ceremony this year, Olafson said that nothing concrete is in place as yet, but that she hopes to have a better idea of what they might do very soon.

One awful aspect of military life that invariably casts a somber pall over all who fall beneath its terrible shadow is the sad loss of service members, and this is an area that Dr. Reukema feels is somewhat neglected by the city.

“I just feel as though there could be more recognition for those who have fallen,” she said. “These are the guys who are saving the world and there should be more done by the schools, by everyone, to recognize those who have died.”

Olafson said that she was absolutely certain that if they were ever faced with a case of an active OHTH member sadly being killed in action appropriate recognition would be taken, beginning with, but certainly not limited to, an adjournment in their honor at the city council meeting.

For the 50 who are currently signed up with OHTH, the knowledge that there are people back home thinking about you, taking the time to recognize your achievements and your sacrifices, can be tremendously reassuring - a fact not lost on Dr. Reukema.

“A nomadic life is a tremendously difficult one and we should do all we can to make it as easy as possible for them.” she said. “One of my sons once said to me that there are two types of people in the world: serving military and their family and everybody else.”

If you wish to contact Operation Home Town Heroes, please contact Kristen Olafson at (626) 821-4314.