From the first day Wounded Heroes of America was founded, we knew we could create long-lasting relationships if we fostered an environment of continual contact rather than that of one-time-assistance and on to the next vets. We’ve designed many of our programs specifically with that goal in mind. We weren’t sure what the exact benefits of such an environment would be, but we knew it was something the veterans needed. With a little help from our friends, we could provide it. In many ways, we have created a family that continues to grow—not only in the number of veterans, but also in the number of children and significant others.
Throughout the last sixteen years at WHOA, I’ve had many memorable experiences with our veterans, from the hundreds of kids we see at different events throughout the year (some of which we’ve had baby showers for) to watching veterans overcome life’s challenges.
On September 3, 2017, I had the honor of officiating Jose Perez and Jahzeel Osejo’s wedding. How did we get there? JP, as he’s known at WHOA, has had struggles to overcome, but he has persevered. We worked through some of his struggles together, and our relationship grew as a result.
JP is a father and a lieutenant in the National Guard; he finished his education; and today, he is an engineer for a major construction company. Somewhere along the way, he met and fell in love with a beautiful young attorney named Jahzeel Osejo.
Admittedly, I was a bit shocked when they asked me to marry them. I had never officiated a wedding before, nor did I have the legal power to do so. But then San Bernardino County granted me just that power.
JP’s wedding was a wonderful affair. His groomsmen came from different parts of the country, and several are still active duty; the brotherhood was very much present. The groom and groomsmen looked great in their uniforms. The bride looked beautiful. And the entire wedding party looked superb. I kept thinking, the only one who can blow this is me, but luckily that didn’t happen. The wedding was splendid, and it will be an occasion I’ll never forget. Introducing the happy couple, Mr. & Mrs. Perez, was truly an honor and a very special moment for me.
It’s always a treat to watch our guys grow, to see them overcome some of life’s toughest mental and physical challenges. Often, when we first meet, they are in their twenties—and dealing with life-changing injuries. It’s a gift to us to be of service to these young men and women, to offer a little bit of guidance now and then, a few consejos like: “Don’t go there”; “Stay away from that”; “Just chill for a bit”; “Bite the bullet for a little while, things will work out”; and “Focus on becoming a taxpayer”. We don’t have a one-size-fits-all remedy; but we try to offer the chance to grow together, learn from each other, and stay connected.
Thank you, JP and Jahzeel, for including me in your special day.
Mike Talleda