European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - December 5, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse Family s videotape reinforces by William h. Mcmichael it started innocently enough. A two minute videotape of a smiling waving army family record Din Fui Iri Wesl Germany by Iho army s Hometown news Cento Holiday greeting program team i october 1937 for re broadcast Brack Home. Bullets than Leo months later the broadcast of that tape on an Omaha neb. Television station became the Spain Ihal motivated a dying woman to begin the Stow Road to recovery sol. Vernon Tryon of the 7lh finance support unit did t know that his Mother had suffered a stroke. He had last seen her when he and his new Bride pooling their resources had flown her irom Omaha to Alexandria a where Thoy had returned Horn Germany in May 1987 Tor their wedding a Lew letters wore exchanged Over the next several months bul Thoie was no indication thai her health had Dolcini Orald beyond a general weakness of her Muscles. And when his Molher entered the Hospital his relatives. Back Homo decided not to Lell him right away. What if he came Home they thought her condition stabilized he returned to Germany and then she look a turn for the worse prompting another visit 11 might cause a financial Strain on the new family. Meanwhile a month earlier spec. Sati Tryon s 400lh personnel services co first sergeant had asked in she and. Her family would like to Lake part in the Hometown news Center program. This program enables thousands of. Soldiers worldwide annually to record Holiday massages to be broadcast by radio and television stations in their were excited logo. It was my Lisl time on to. We rehearsed and practice a until we had in Down to the their son Darnell 13, said he was nervous. His brother Stan 15, thought it was his big Chance to acl like Eddio murphy.". Erma Bombeck from left sol Vernon and a life spec. Sati Tryon and their ions Darnell end Stan. Fwe1s Wilim h. Mew court but when the trons arrived Al the Johnson Barracks recreation Center in Furth for the filming things did t look promising the place was packed they snared Iho final Slot for Nebraska Vemon s Home state and also recorded a tape Lor broadcast in Washington where Gall s family is located. They. Were the Only family from her unit that wag taped the source of some Good natured ribbing from her Lisl sergeant the following Day. The King family were the. Only ones who wont on he loudly proclaimed. Their performance received rave reviews from the production learn and the family Felt like they d done a pretty Good Job. What we did t said Gail was How it was going to affect my the trons called 1heir relatives to ice them know the Lape might to shown on their no Melown television stations though they could t reach Vemon s Molher Bui Bach in Omaha Marjorie Smith Tryon was spending a lot of Lime watching television. She had. Suffered a stroke in carry november and doctors did t expect her to live. All she had of her son and his new family were the memories. She had never met Stan and Darnell Gail s children from a former marriage. Her Lile lading she prayed for the Chance to see them All again. she was very ill she was said Gail. And one Day she us looked up from her Hospital bed and. Saw us waving and talking on television just like to had practice Marjorie Tryon wrote her son Lelling him she d seen the Lape. "1 just read the letter Over and Over Gail said. She told us that god had answered her As re the tape was meant Lor Marjorie s eyes Only. Gail s relatives in Washington never saw the tape. Vernon Mother is in a nursing Home now. She fell " the Hospital this past March Gall said. She s a lot Betler Hul she s Gol a Long Way to the tape which Marjorie saw two additional times on the air Between thanksgiving and Christmas was recorded by Vemon s Sisler. Marjorie watches it whenever she gets Kmety. Vernon like his wife an Active Church member feels it was All More than Mere happenstance. I Don t believe in pure coincidence Luck or Chance he said. I believe there s a supreme being and god directs and guides everything that happens. It happens to All of us in our lives whether we admit ii or not. We say i was lucky.1 but he used this particular program to help my Mother. It gave her something to live As Tryon wrote to the Hometown news service it s one thing to be Over 4.000 Miles away irom loved ones. But because of programs such As this i m grateful and. Proud to serve my country even across the Over the weekend i kicked into phase i of my Christmas timetable making out the Gill list. First i list the names of All the poops i am buying Gills Tor and then i record whal to look Lor. Under to her i have listed anything she does t have to Dusl she has made in Clear to All within lha. Sound of Hei voice that she is trying to unload All those Ceramic pigs and plaques that say if i get to drinking and Ash you to slay for dinner.,Don l do she has threatened Hal every thing i buy for her i am going to get Back that s very depressing. Under i have Willen something that Ages Well can be stored and does t take up a to of this is because he has an inventory of shirts and. Sweaters irom Christmas past still in their original wrappers he wears a save the whales to shirt. Listed under my husband s name is anything. Save sales Money size or Laste is no Obj ocl with him Why should it be he returns everything the week after Christmas and has in credited to the account. The kids Are easier to buy Lor. You could go into a mall shool Oil a Cannon and anything in Hils. They need it s a matter of priorities do you buy seat covers for a car that runs Only Whan oysters Are in season do Tiey really need a $90 ski sweater when they have Only. One set of sheets for their Beds should i shop like or make Thorn Happy for the first Christmas in their lives. The list grows there Are business friends and friends i Don t see enough of to know whal they Vegol and hate or what they need and if i would gel a a. Sure they Wourn l Hale in lop or if i did. Gel what they want and loved i d run lha risk of having them return it . There s an entire category on my Lisl Hal is marked simply. Strangers and has eight or 10 spaces under it these Are Lor the people i Haven l met yet bul will before Christmas eve. They will enter my life suddenly and do some great service Tor me that will Causa a to look Al my husband and say Good Griel i Don t have. A gift Lor Man who cleaned septic Sank returned package delivered by postman to his House by mistake girl who gave a Eya test Lor Rhy Driver s License. Etc. These gifts must be ageless sexless generic and cheap. -. -. " As l glanced Down the list i thought would t it be wonderful to i Dona gift that you did t have to dust that had to be used right away that was practical. Iii everyone was personal and would be remembered for along pencilled in Gill Cerl Licata Lor a Llu shot ii could change but 1 a Gol Lagel on with phase ii. A Iho Emu bunk a Page 16 the stars and stripes monday december 5,1988
