After the 2012 Rolling Thunder event, we drove our bikes to Bethesda Naval Hospital (where Jessie was being treated). Then we went to dinner with the Founder of Luke's Wings, Fletcher Gill, Executive Director Lindsay Gill, along with Jessie, his fiancé, another seriously wounded soldier, the Gold Star parents of a Marine, and my friend Michael. During dinner I asked Fletcher what Luke's Wings was going to do as the wars wound down. "We're thinking of getting into helping veterans on hospice," he said. That got my attention because my job was in the senior living business. Next thing you know, ALFA (my organization--now Argentum) had a deal with Luke's Wings ($100,000 in airline tickets!!!) and we invited Jessie to kick it off at our 2013 ALFA Annual Conference in Charlotte, NC. We made a video that was shown to the audience--and then Jessie came out to thunderous applause and a standing ovation by 2,500 people....
The back story:
Just before the video was shown and the session started, Jessie sat alone in a wheelchair backstage waiting to go on. As President of ALFA and host of the conference, I was running back and forth getting everything prepared as the 2,500 conference attendees streamed into the hall. At one point I rushed past Jessie and he let me know he was nervous and worried he would mess up. "Relax," I said. "The audience will love you. Tell a joke. Don't worry." When I rushed by again later, Jessie said, "Okay. Okay. I have a joke."
Another guest of honor that day was Former First Lady Laura Bush. She arrived later in the morning (after Jessie spoke) to make a presentation during lunch. Several weeks in advance of the conference, we had worked with Mrs. Bush's very strict aide-de-camp. Together, she choreographed every minute of Mrs. Bush's visit and she let us know that there were to be absolutely no changes without her explicit permission.
As choreographed, I met Mrs. Bush (and the Secret Service) at the elevator at the back of the house and took her to a table with my volunteer leadership for lunch. I sat next to her and the aide-de-camp sat at a table nearby (glaring at me, I imagined.) During lunch, I casually mentioned what a great job Jessie had done that morning. Everyone at the table agreed. I explained who he was and asked her if she'd like to meet him. "Of course!" she said. I later introduced them and she spent a lot of time with him and his fiancé. She was very gracious and charming. While they were chatting, the aide-de-camp bristled (because I hadn't asked her permission.) While Jesse and Mrs. Bush talked, I put my arm around the aide and said "Thanks!" She grunted her approval.
Just before the video was shown and the session started, Jessie sat alone in a wheelchair backstage waiting to go on. As President of ALFA and host of the conference, I was running back and forth getting everything prepared as the 2,500 conference attendees streamed into the hall. At one point I rushed past Jessie and he let me know he was nervous and worried he would mess up. "Relax," I said. "The audience will love you. Tell a joke. Don't worry." When I rushed by again later, Jessie said, "Okay. Okay. I have a joke."
Another guest of honor that day was Former First Lady Laura Bush. She arrived later in the morning (after Jessie spoke) to make a presentation during lunch. Several weeks in advance of the conference, we had worked with Mrs. Bush's very strict aide-de-camp. Together, she choreographed every minute of Mrs. Bush's visit and she let us know that there were to be absolutely no changes without her explicit permission.
As choreographed, I met Mrs. Bush (and the Secret Service) at the elevator at the back of the house and took her to a table with my volunteer leadership for lunch. I sat next to her and the aide-de-camp sat at a table nearby (glaring at me, I imagined.) During lunch, I casually mentioned what a great job Jessie had done that morning. Everyone at the table agreed. I explained who he was and asked her if she'd like to meet him. "Of course!" she said. I later introduced them and she spent a lot of time with him and his fiancé. She was very gracious and charming. While they were chatting, the aide-de-camp bristled (because I hadn't asked her permission.) While Jesse and Mrs. Bush talked, I put my arm around the aide and said "Thanks!" She grunted her approval.
