Welcometo my little corner of the world.
It all started when my brother Joey went over to Iraq. My mom was scared that he was going to war. I was nine years old back then, so I thought he would live the military life like in the movies and that my brother would come back a hero.
Now, I know that ALL the soldiers coming back from every war are heroes.
My mom and I started Mothers Of Military Support and joined with Debbie Stein. Debbie’s son, Travis, was going to Iraq, too. We didn’t start with a lot but that’s how it did start and now I know lots of soldiers and Veterans. I made many military and veteran friends during this time.
In the past 5 years, I’ve been able to do some pretty cool things. One of them was help raise money and be a part of the planning to bring the Vietnam traveling wall to our community to thank all the Veterans that helped us get through deployment. While it was here, one of the Veterans that travel with the wall gave me a WWII training rifle because I helped put it up and take it down as well as volunteered during the whole time it was here. I learned that it was actually used over seas on boats for training new soldiers. You can tell it’s been used a lot and very old because the finish on the wood is wearing off. It has cracks like older dry wood gets. I will always take good care of it.
I also discovered an interest in WWII after volunteering at a fly-in we hosted. There were about 35 WWII airplanes and ground support vehicles from that time. I didn’t really understand all the war things until then. My Grandpa was a frogman in WWII, invasion of Normandy, Omaha Beach. My mom says he wouldn’t talk about it much but now I know more of what he did.
I’ve recently learned about Civil Air Patrol and joined the Mount Saint Helens, Civil Air Patrol, (see end of page) Composite Squadron in Kelso, WA.
It is a way that I can understand more about military ways, also be involved in search and rescue to help people in trouble. I am training to march in formation and about the regulations that the Air Force has. I am also learning about flight.
In the past, I have raised money for homeless veterans. I never thought that a Veteran could become homeless and when I saw one, I was shocked. He went out and fought for our country, comes back, and has no home. I did not understand how that could be right. With the fundraising that I did, we were able to purchase items that a homeless person may need like tarps, boots, raincoats, heavy shirts, socks and underwear. I still don’t think I really understand how they can be homeless and in need of things. Some said that they don’t want to live in society and like life right where they are at.
Some people think that I am just some kid that had
someone in my family be in the military but people that have brothers, sisters, moms,
dads, uncles and aunts know that it’s not that simple. I want to help the people that
protect our freedoms. That is every veteran, soldier and person that has loved ones
serving. I want people to understand that it’s more than just someone enlisting. My
goal is to help as many of them as I can. The people in the military that I have met chose
to put duty before life for us and have experienced more in life than I ever have and
that’s why I respect and honor them so much.
Thank you for visiting.
Jake
ABOUT ME
I am 13 years old and the son of Mrs. Johnston, president of MOMS and I attend, Coweeman Junior High School, Kelso, WA.
My interests include; Duck,
Elk, Deer, Goose Hunting and ice fishing, in addition he enjoys Hiking and Mountain bike
riding. Other interest also lie in documentaries of W.W.II
I also a volunteer serving breakfast for Veterans the first Saturday of the Month.
Projects: Freedom Lights. Vets to School.
"freedom Lights Project".
My Goal? One Red, White and Blue freedom light a tribute will shine for every hero that lost thier lives in Iraq.
For more information on the F.L.P. Click Here
The links below are some teacher resources for teachers interested in Take
a Veteran to School Day. None of these are written in stone—we're counting on you to
take what will work for you and adapt it as you see fit. We know that there is a
tremendous difference between the little ones in kindergarten and high schoolers. However,
all ages and ability levels can benefit from this program. Show our veterans how much we
value their service through a learning-rich Take a Veteran to School Day experience.
Teachers Resources Click Here.
Teachers Resources Curriculum and Planning Guide Grades 5-8, PDF Click Here.
Helping Homeless Vets
By Brenda Blevins McCorkle, The Daily News
Jacob Johnston saw homeless veterans in tattered clothing meander in and out of the Kelso
VFW hall every time he visited to volunteer his time.
After a while, it got to the 10 year old.
That’s when he decided to form his own organization named Operation SAVE (Support American Veterans Everywhere). He got a little guidance from his mother, Elizabeth Johnston, founder of MOMS (Mothers of Military Support).
My mother was the inspiration,” Jacob said.
When he broached the idea with
his mother, it took her by surprise.
I said, “That’s a great idea,” Elizabeth said. “But we’ve got so
many projects going right now that I couldn’t stop to help him.”
She soon discovered that he needed little aid. With guidance from Kelso VFW commander and auxiliary president, Dough and Helen Reid, Jacob planned his strategy for helping the veterans.
“He had been talking about doing this for several months,” said Helen. “Before, he wanted to just do a clothing drive and have people bring stuff in. Then, he really wasn’t happy with that.”
Jacob decided clothing drives might bring in only ripped or stained clothing.
“He didn’t want that for the Vets. He wanted them to haven new things,” Helen said.
The Reids and Jacob visited the local police department to locate homeless veterans.
“That was a big concern of ours,” Elizabeth said. “We didn’t’ just want to hand things out, outside of what the project is.”
While volunteering with MOMS, Jacob raised about $1000 through selling pens and other items, Elizabeth said. So, when Christmas rolled around, the Reids and Jacob took the money to Wal-Mart.
“They had nine cartloads of stuff,” Elizabeth said.
The blue Wal-Mart buggies bulged with shoes, socks, slippers, underwear, mittens, hats, pajama bottoms, blue jeans, shirts and tarps.
Lastly, Jacob piles 20 boxes of chocolate-covered cherries on top.
“He knew that the vets can’t afford to buy goodies,” Helen said. He said, “ maybe if they had two chocolate-covered-cherries every night before they go to bed, that would give them something sweet to eat and help them get through these rough times."
Days later, the Reids and Jacob hauled the goods where many of the homeless vets camp near the Cowlitz River. The Reids opened their van to reveal boxes of clothing and other good, and Jacob handed them out.
“It made me feel nice and all that good stuff,” he said afterward. “They all told me thank you.”
Some of the vets were bowled over by the project.
“The last guy, I was really surprised,” Jakub said. “He was yelling all kinds of things, like thank you, God bless you and that stuff. So, even when we couldn’t see each other, he kept yelling it.”
Christmas is over, but Jacob plans to keep his project going. MOMS will have a donated booth at upcoming Home & Garden show, and Elizabeth said her son probably will be on hand to raise money for Operation SAVE.
“If I get enough money, I’m going to get them tents and all that,” Jacob said.
Average 10-year-olds might be worried about where their next Xbox game is coming from. Not Jacob. Operation SAVE is at the top of his list.
“It’s hard to
explain,” he said. “I feel bad for the homeless (vets). They’ve already
done everything for us….What they did was give us a free country, and I think
that’s all the needed to do,” he said. “So, I’m giving them something
in return.”
3:48 PM 11/11/2007
Impressive young man
Friday, March 4, 2005 7:08 AM PST
"We just finished
reading the March 1 article about Jakub Johnston, and we can't say how impressed we are
with this young man. He has done something most of us only think about once in a while. We
are so busy with our own lives, we forget about the homeless who really need a helping
hand. We feel very humbled by Jakub and his unselfish works. If he is this caring and
thoughtful at the age of 10, can you imagine what kind of a man he will grow into? Way to
go, Jakub!"
Jackie and Rich McNally
About Civil Air Patrol
Throughout the cadet program, emphasis is placed on individualized study, preparation,
instruction, and attainment. Each phase of the cadet program emphasizes five areas of
achievement: leadership laboratory, aerospace education, physical fitness, moral
leadership, and squadron activities. These five areas of achievement are implemented
through the use of trained senior cadets and senior members who work collectively and
individually with each cadet desiring and needing assistance. The program is primarily
oriented toward activities held in individual squadrons. Some of these activities include
aircraft orientation flights, model airplane building, drill teams, model rocketry, search
and rescue, and survival training.
CAP's talents have augmented the Air Force in search and rescue (SAR) and disaster
relief/disaster preparedness since CAP's formation in 1941. The emergency services'
primary mission objective is to save lives and relieve human suffering. To be effective,
the lives of CAP personnel performing the mission must be safeguarded. CAP demands
professionalism in organization, training, and mission execution to accomplish this
service. Only qualified members are allowed to participate in actual missions. The
emergency services mission includes search and rescue and disaster relief operations.