And the Winner IS!!!!


Ok, I have just sat here and ordered all the comments into one nice, neat (HA) hand-written list. Each comment was numbered and then we (my friend Aura and I) used a random number generator to choose who the lucky winner of this giveaway would be. The number was (drum roll please) 25 and that just so happened to be Angel Tinnel.

Congratulations Angel!

I was very excited when I saw who belonged to the number 25, as Angel is a fellow Marine Corps widow, and her story really hit home for me and gave me some insight for some important decisions I am going to need to make in the next few months. Everyone's stories were so great and I enjoyed reading all of them, my heart swelled with pride for our Military over and over again, and to know there are so many proud spouses, friends, family members, and service members willing to share their proudest moments with me and the rest of the interwebs was wonderful. And without further ado, Angel's story:


"The proudest military moment I can remember is when my husband's company
(1/2) came back from their deployment from Iraq in 2007. Even though my husband
would not be getting off of those buses I knew I needed to be there for the
closure. I knew many of the wives and they were all dressed up ready to see
their husbands for the first time in 9 months, and I was standing there,
clutching my husbands dog tags and wedding band, wishing that what had happened
8 weeks previous was some horrible joke and hoping that he would walk up and
grab me too...(my husband was a huge prankster like that)

Well we could
see the boys in formation walking to us and I tried to hold strong, and I did
for what felt like FOREVER, until they were all standing right in front of us,
and I could see all his buddies....and I just broke down, I couldn't hold the
tears in any longer....a few of the boys broke formation and came right to me,
before even seeing their family and friends that were waiting, and they just
held me, tears falling on their cami's from both me and them....I felt so proud
that these boys would come to hug me and tell me stories (one even a pack a of
cigarettes that he owed Jeremy) and such before going to see their own
family.....The Marine Corp is a brotherhood like no other, and I am thankful for
all the big brothers that it has given me...many of those boys check up on
me....and I on them....Semper Fi...

Angel Tinnel
Proud Wife of LCpl
Jeremy Tinnel KIA 01JULY07"

I am going to be periodically posting some more of my favorite stories throughout the blog as there were so many stories that I found that I want to share.

Also, Angel, you are now responsible for sending me a picture of your finished artwork to share with all my fantabulous bloggers.



That's all I have for now, there will be a more substantial post in the very near future but I just HAD to get this out there!

Semper Fi,

42 comments

  1. congrats Angel, OMG her post made me have tears fall from my face! May God bless both of you each day. Enjoy your new art work!

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  2. Wow...tears just went rolling all over the place.

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  3. You know I read that story and was hoping it would be the winner!! It was really touching. CONGRATS ANGEL!

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  4. I just cried my eyes out reading that story. What a strong, courageous woman Angel must be. I don't know how you ladies do it! I think its wonderful that she has received so much support from her husbands USMC friends, and I hope you receive the same. My thoughts are with you always!

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  5. thanks for making me cry. again. i cry too much. TOO MUCH!!!! I think i have hormonal imbalance, at 27. ((HUGS))

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  6. I read that, too, and was also touched. Congratulations to Angel. Bless you both.

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  7. I'm so happy she won. I read her comment when you first started this giveaway, and I started crying.

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  8. That story is beautiful! Im also very happy she won as well. Im bawling my eyes out right now. semper fi!

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  9. Tears...lots of tears! You both are amazing!!!

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  10. This story made ME cry!
    I loved the brotherhood they have and I love the family in general that the Marine Corps creates.
    God Bless our Marines and our Military.

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  11. wow, I think both of you are amazing ladies. Both of these stories brought tears to my eyes. I think you made the right choice. Both of you ladies are in my thoughts and Prayers.

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  12. What a beautiful story! I'm glad someone so deserving won :) Congratulations Angel!

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  13. Congrats and what a wonderful story! You have such courage.

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  14. That is such a lovely story, and a show of the true brotherhood among the Marines... Once a USMC wife, always a USMC wife...

    I hope you and A are bearing up, I can't imagine what you are going through...

    God Bless...

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  15. Wow! What an incredible story. I do hope you keep sharing some of these stories!! I like to be reminded how much military families have gone through and learn myself...

    Reina

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  16. Nothing like a good cry first thing in the morning, my heart and prayers go out to both of you women.

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  17. I'm glad Angel won! Her story brought me to tears... I am so proud of her husband and the men that came to console her...

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  18. Congrats to Angel! but... gotta say I'm disappointed and jealous! :)

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  19. Wow all I can say is that the at randam pick was perfect!!!! A very touching story that I will have in the back of my mind for a while...
    Whit

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  20. I just found your blog a few weeks ago and haven't had the guts to comment. Guess I just didn't know what to say and thought I might say the wrong thing.. Anyway, I want to let you know that YOUR story is inspiring. You are making it through, no matter how difficult, and that makes me make it through my day. It puts my "problems" (waking up late, not getting my coffee that morning) in perspective.. *sigh*.. I feel terrible that I complain over such things.. I am glad you are posting, even though you are grieving, because it helps people, maybe hundreds of miles away. Hopefully it is helping you too. So please keep it up! Praying for you and your daughter :)

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  21. Congratulations Angel for winning the canvas! You also have an incredible story and I'm crying as I write this comment. You women are amazing and I truely admire you!

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  22. :) I can't wait to see the canvas!

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  23. Congrats to Angel. What a story. Thanks for sharing!

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  24. Oh this just brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for posting this. I can't wait to read more stories. They are such great things that should be shared with everyone!

    ♥ Mrs. S.

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  25. That is an amazing story. It brought me to tears because the pain in it was so raw and the brotherhood so strong. Thanks for sharing Angel.
    I can't wait to hear more of the stories.

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  26. I don't think there could be a better winner! Congrats to Angel!

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  27. Her story was so sweet! congrats Angel =) semper fi!

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  28. Congrats Angel.... made me cry reading her story....God bless all the military widows.

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  29. What an amazing story. I think I'm going to need to keep a box of tissues by my computer whenever I read your posts! But Angel sounds like an amazing woman.

    BTW, congratulations on winning the Milbloggie award! I thought you'd like to know that I attended the conference where they announced the winners, and your acceptance speech got a standing ovation. Keep smiling!

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  30. I remember reading her story as a comment under the original post about the contest. It brought me to tears. God bless you both!

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  31. Congrats Angel, it is so hard to hear these stories of your husbands being KIA. The fact that you find good in the tragedy is amazing and comforting. You are both strong and amazing women and I am so honored to be able to call you bloggy friends. Your husbands are the greatest types of Hero's this world will ever know.

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  32. I've got an award for you on my blog!

    ♥ Mrs. S.

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  33. (((HUGS))) to both you and Angel, and I wish you both the best. I am thankful for those like you and your husband :(

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  34. Words cannot describe how I felt when I read this. The tears rolled forth. You ALL have made the ultimate sacrifice for the rest of us. Much love to you! And thank you........

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  35. WOW! Thank you so much for sharing this one. Both of you. This is quite possibly the best display of how the Marines are forever...even when they are with God they are Marines and you their family and friends are forever held in the hearts of all other Marines. God Bless you all.

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  36. Thank You All....especially Rachel(and Aura), the random # generator, and GeeZees Canvas Art.....I am so excited and going through so many pictures to pick the perfect one....(I am probably going to choose the one of Jeremy and I kissing on my birthday, exactly one year before he died....its my facebook pic, my fave of all time :D....but I also teeter w/ just doing one w/ just him....I think I might have to number them and use a random number generator myself....I am so indecisive...lol) I will be sure to share pics when I finally choose and receive it....not just b/c Rachel told me I have to either, lol

    Anyhows....all us girls with our tears....lets me tell you, the entire time I wrote that I cried too....I will never forget that day, it looked exactly like the day they left too, it was eerie

    Thanks again everyone for your support....

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  37. Hi Angel, I look forward to creating a custom canvas with you. Your story was so touching...and like Rachel ... your strength inspires me. Thanks to you and all the soldiers and families of soldiers that put their life on the line and on hold to serve and protect us. I am forever grateful.
    Stephanie
    Geezees

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  38. Angel's story brought tears to my eyes too... my fiancé is currently with 1/2 in Afghanistan right now, and was deployed to Iraq with them last year. It must have been the tour after Angel's husband. Thinking of you both and praying for you every day!

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  39. Congratulations to you Angel, your story is one that brought tears to my eyes also. It is not just the men of the Marine Corps that are a special breed, the wives are also a very special breed. God bless you both.

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  40. Congratulations to Angel :) Your story made me lose it all over again. I can only imagine what it would be like to lose my soldier. I dont know how ladies like you find the strength to go on, but you really are heroes just like our men.

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  41. How perfect. I had to cry though, like everyone else, when I read your story. many hugs to you both.

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