Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Bi-monthly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/140140
wall. It was originally used in a parade and the mayor asked the sisters to keep it until they could find a permanent home for it. "Let's just say the moment was very touching to say the least," said Rehberg. Later that same evening, Rehberg and his crew had two sponsors join them for dinner at a local restaurant. What was supposed to be a nice, quiet dinner turned into an announcement from the restaurant staff to the dinner patrons as to why Rehberg and his crew were there and what they were doing. "I heard one of my shipmates say, 'here we go again,' and then it was wristband give-a-way time, storytelling, shirt donations, and meeting everyone in the restaurant," explained Rehberg. "The staff and customers were great and changed the whole atmosphere of the restaurant almost immediately. Sometimes, the golf cart takes us on an adventure without actually being in it!" On another stop over, Rehberg met a veteran who told him about the time he asked his mother to sign a field trip permission slip. The veteran was 17 at the time and it was actually a permission slip to join the Army as he was underage. Needless to say, the veteran's mother was not very happy. He also met another veteran, an 89-year-old woman, who served in World War II supporting the troops. She now repairs American, prisoner of war, and other patriotic flags for the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) members and sews them back together. Yet another veteran Rehberg met retires flags for the local VFWs. Those are but some of the heartwarming stories he heard. He also heard stories from the veterans detailing the nightmares they still experience - the divorces, the battles with the VA for benefits, and what it was like to be in combat. "You have to be emotionally prepared to hear these stories," Rehberg said. "They are very poignant and heartbreaking." The whole trip was driven on the back roads and included many stops at VA hospitals, VFWs, and American Legions. "Most days, we had no problems driving on the back roads," explained Rehberg. "But, other days were quite challenging." Day 26 would be one such day. The crew left West Virginia heading for their next stop, Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC. "We got on the road, and things were going well until we ran out of room on the shoulder. Since everyone was going to work, it was very busy and the route was also hilly, which slows the cart down," said Rehberg. "We pulled into a gas station to figure out our plan. We went inside to get some coffee and when we came out, three firefighters were standing by the cart trying to figure out what it was," he continued. "We introduced ourselves, and after asking about the road conditions, one of the firefighters looked at us and said, 'anyone who saves lives will be getting an escort from us.'" Challenge solved! "So, for the next eight miles, the firefighters in their firetruck were behind us with their lights on for a safe passage to the next town," he explained. "Even the cars coming toward us were pulling over! It's hard to describe what we felt when we had no safe passage and suddenly along comes our rescue. It almost got me choked up." Sector Hampton Roads REPOY volunteers for the "Cause" Submitted by PA1 Brian S. Huth, 9th District Public Afairs Coast Guard reservist, mother, teacher, coach, environmentalist, long-distance runner, overachiever – that about sums up Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Grell, the 2012 Reserve Enlisted Person of the Year for Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads in Portsmouth, Va. What makes Grell's award even more impressive is that the award period ran from January through December, and she didn't report to the sector until the end of February. If raising four kids, working full-time as a school teacher, and part-time as a reservist wasn't enough, Grell finds the time to volunteer as a soccer coach, help set up the first ever "Girls Run the World" sprint triathlon for girls age 13 and up, and coordinated efforts for a race at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project. She also volunteers her time using unpaid drills to support Sector Hampton Roads Prevention Department active duty personnel with pollution responses and investigations. In addition, she set up a reading mentorship between Coast Guard personnel and her school. Even before this fourth grade school teacher reported to Sector Hampton Roads as a Marine Science Technician 20 RESERVIST � Issue 2 • 2013 (MST), her love of volunteering became apparent. She met Chief Petty Officer Ray Rehberg at MST "A" School, where he was her class sponsor. After hearing about his project "Carting for a Cause," she immediately asked what she could do to be a part of it. "Jessica played a huge part in the project," said Rehberg. "She was very instrumental in our fundraising efforts and I'm grateful for her dedication and hard work." Grell spent weekends at car shows and the Coast Guard Exchange selling wristbands to raise funds. "I offered to help them out in any capacity I could," she explained. "Because I'm a school teacher, I was unable to make the trip, so I got my school involved. Our school kids actually paid to wear jeans for a whole month and we raised more than $400 for the cause." Initiative, motivation and professionalism all play a large part in Grell's success. But, she believes there's another, more important factor at play. "Much of what I've accomplished through the Coast Guard is due in large part because of the active duty folks' willingness to use their personal time to MSt3 grell holding her son Bennett Warren, with daughters (l-r) ameliah grayce, ainslee Sinclaire, and Harleigh elizabeth. come in on the weekends and provide that extra training," Grell explained. "It's instrumental in a reservist being successful, and I'm grateful for the support they have provided." �