ARMY SUPPORT ACTIVITY-DIX, N. J. -- It was supposed to be a quick trip to the store to pick up a last minute item for supper, a mild inconvenience in an otherwise good day.
But as Ida Gonzalez walked to her car, she saw two men in green uniforms moving up her sidewalk. Those men would turn that good day into the nightmare that anyone who has ever loved a Soldier fears most.
The two men in uniforms were Army Casualty Notification officers informing the Gonzalez family that their son and brother, Spc. Michael L. Gonzalez, 340 Military Police Company, United States Army Reserves, died as the result of an improvised explosive device attack in Baghdad, Aug. 28, 2008.
He was just 20 years old.
“We knew after Michael died, as a family, we could not do it alone. We needed help. Any opportunity that came to my door, I took it,” said Gonsalez.
Soldier Outreach Services was one of the opportunities that came knocking at her door.
To recognize the special challenges faced by families and friends of deceased Soldiers, the Army established SOS in 2008. This program moves beyond the work done by casualty affairs officers by offering a wide range of support not just for the next of kin, but for all members of the fallen hero’s family, in the months and years following a traumatic loss.
The staff at SOS gives survivors long-term assistance by facilitating support groups and teaching life skills. In addition to helping meet the emotional needs of a fallen Soldier’s loved ones, the SOS also helps families understand and apply for the benefits they are entitled to. Assistance is also proved for financial issues that arise as result of the loss. SOS employees are on hand to offer tips on subjects such as investing and estate planning.
If families are unable to travel to Army Support Activity-Dix for help, SOS will put individuals in touch with grief counseling resources and civic organizations in his or her area that can offer aid.
And since grief knows no timetable, support will be provided to survivors for as long as it is needed.
Unlike some Army-specific support programs, SOS reaches out to the civilian community for help in sustaining grieving families.
This includes using volunteers such as Gonzalez.
Following their son’s death, the Gonzalez family founded the non-profit group, Butterfly Circle of Friends, to help Soldier’s and their families. In the past, the organization has provided gifts for Soldiers’ families during the holidays and lent support to other Dix Army Community Services projects.
“We let soldiers know we care,” Gonzalez said of the group.
Gonzalez brings that caring to her volunteer work with the SOS as well. To better help families that have suffered a loss, she attended classes to become a certified grief counselor.
“It is a very tender time. We give them [survivors] hope there is light at the end of the tunnel,” Gonzalez said.
Finding that light is a work in progress.
Just as grieving is a constantly changing process, Genuardi said that the SOS is always working to improve services and provide families with the help they really need. One of the changes she hopes to witness is an expansion of the Army SOS program to include families of all fallen servicemembers.
Another future improvement Genuardi wants to see is a stand -alone SOS facility. Currently the center is located at 5201 Maryland Avenue along with Army Community Services, but according to Gonzalez, “Soldiers sometime feel uncomfortable with survivors.” She believes an independent center would help alleviate the discomfort.
Since its inception, the Dix SOS has helped more than 100 survivor families and has reached out to more than 1,100 families in the region.
The SOS at Army Support Activity –Dix is one of 50 such programs across the country. It services the lower part of New York, all of New Jersey, Philadelphia, and six counties surrounding the city.
For more information on the SOS program at Dix call (609) 562-3797.
| Date Taken: | 08.25.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 08.25.2010 13:56 |
| Story ID: | 55154 |
| Location: | FORT DIX, NJ, US |
| Web Views: | 127 |
| Downloads: | 6 |
This work, Survivor Outreach Services aids those left behind, by Jennifer McCarthy, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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