DGRalstonCampPraise

Just a short report on the weekend activities of the WTC families "Getaway Weekend", at the Double H Hole In The Woods Ranch at Lake Luzerne, NY. The weekend was a rousing success, and the campers are now on their way home. We were honored to have Christine Dernederlanden, author of "Where Is Robert", a children's grief kit, participate in this weekends activities. The CBS television network filmed the days activities on Sunday and also interviewed Christine, and some parents and children. Various segments of the filming will be aired on the CBS Program "Good Morning America" on Sunday September 7. Also in attendance was Eileen Mandell from Friendship Ambassadors Foundation, and Szilvia Agostom, Double H Project Coordinator from Hungary, Lion Hank Van Morsel from the Tiverton Lions Club in Canada. Lion Hank is Christene's Uncle. The Lions and Lioness from Region L helped set up for an ice breaker Thurs. afternoon, and welcomed the group when they arrived. Some of the activities the group participated in addition to the bereavement workshops were, a Texas Syle Bar-B-Cue and Rodeo on Fri. Eve., a trip to the Great Escape Theme Park, Horseback Riding, and all of the activities at the Double H.

I was very fortunate and moved to be able to attend and participate in some of the workshops, it will be an experience I will never forget. As I saw them off this morning we were thanked over and over for having them and what a wonderful time they experienced. I am extremely thankful to all who participated this past weekend to make help ease the pain that only the families feel. My Region Chairman Mary Claire Nokes did an outstanding job of coordinating many of the off ranch events and for taking probably over 200 pictures, and for all the many other things she did this past weekend. The staff at Double H were quite impressed and are ready to do it again next year. I hope you all had a great Labor Day Weekend, I know this has been one of the most rewarding and uplifting Labor Day Weekends I have spent.