Operation Hometown Heroes Supports Falls Military Families

When military personnel are deployed to fight wars in other parts of the world, it might be difficult for some to understand what it’s like for the families that are left behind.

Those families become swept up in all manner of emotions. Fear. Loneliness. Sadness. Helplessness. They wonder when or if they will ever see their loved ones again.

“I remember what it felt like as a father having someone in your family serve in the military,” said Mike Lewis, regional sales manager at D& S / Davian’s in Menomonee Falls. “There’s a lot of fear and emotion. Pride is the biggest thing and there’s a lot of empty times when there’s someone missing. You try to get support from your family and your community.”

Lewis, whose son, Adam, served one tour of duty in Iraq from 2007 to 2008, is working with other likeminded local business leaders in a special project designed to help area military families understand that they are not alone or forgotten.

The project, called Operation Hometown Heroes, was made possible by the Leadership Menomonee Falls Class of 2011, a program developed by the Menomonee Falls Chamber of Commerce. The class consists of area Menomonee Falls business employees that are chosen by their employers.

Class members are soliciting donations of gifts and money to thank and support the families of service men and women deployed to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

So far, Operation Hometown Heroes has raised about $17,000 plus a wide range of gifts including services and gift certificates from local businesses like Applebee’s, Kohl’s and Target. The Milwaukee Brewers, Milwaukee Admirals and the Milwaukee Public Museum have also donated tickets and passes. “Welcome Home” banners are being prepared for those special occasions when families and service men and women will finally reunite.

Originally, the effort was designed to reach military families in Menomonee Falls but once the group’s website went up and word started to get around, there are plans to expand the effort to other communities.  There is no longer a deadline for accepting gifts and financial contributions, the idea being to keep it going until everyone comes home from war.

Lewis says it’s important to thank these families and make the community more aware that people are still serving and volunteering to defend our freedoms.

“We wanted to really make the community aware that there are still families out there and we as Americans have short memories,” said Lewis.  “You don’t see as many yellow stickers and ribbons on the backs of cars as you did before. There are still families that are suffering emotionally and financially.”

There will be a large commencement ceremony May 4 at Davian’s banquet and conference center to honor the Leadership Menomonee Falls Class of 2011.  Some 200 people, all business and civic leaders in the community, will be on hand to honor the participants as they pass on this project to next year’s Leadership class.

Donations can be made via PayPal by visiting www.HometownHeroesMF.info. In addition, checks can be made out to “Hometown Heroes” and mailed to P.O. Box 1054, Attn. Hometown Heroes, Menomonee Falls, WI 53052. For more information, call (262) 781-8507, ext. 145.