RALEIGH, N.C. – There’s an old saying that goes, “bad things happen to good people.” For retired North Carolina National Guardsman, Sgt. Beverly Harper, and her family this saying became a fact after a fire devastated their home recently.
In a wonderful show of support however, the NCNG’s Family Programs office, a local school and private industry pitched in to assist the Harper family in a time of need.
Beverly Harper retired as a helicopter aircraft mechanic in August of 2013 after 20 years of service with the NCNG’s Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 2-151st Aviation Battalion, located near the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, where she worked as a Federal technician.
Harper’s story is even more heartwarming when you consider she also cares for her daughter Sara, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at eight months of age caused by lack of oxygen during birth and her husband, Gary, who himself has debilitating lung problems caused by exposure to chemicals in his trade as a past control technician.
Beverly Harper served in the military before Sara was born but had a break in service to accommodate all of Sara’s hospital visits.
“Through it all, Sara kept a good attitude; she greets every day with a smile,” said Beverly Harper. “She loves school and interacting with family and friends on Facebook and texting… She helps me keep going because she is so happy and doesn't complain much.”
Beverly Harper said Sara is very bright and even plays baseball with the Miracle League of Johnston County; a baseball league for children with physical, cognitive and/or emotional disabilities.
Beverly Harper’s husband, Gary, was medically retired from his job as a general manager of a local pest control company due to his exposure to chemicals from the industry.
With all of these additional responsibilities, Beverly Harper still manages to find time to teach children in eighth grade science at Smithfield Middle School in Clayton. Beverly said she took an interest in school teaching because she enjoyed interacting with the kids and it coincided with Sara’s numerous doctors’ appointments.
“I miss the uniform, having to wear regular clothes is different than what I’m used to,” said Beverly Harper.
It was at Smithfield Middle that Beverly Dawes met Caroline Daily, wife of Army1st Lt. Sean Daily, Deputy Command Historian for the North Carolina National Guard. Caroline Daily, after hearing about the tragic event, reached out to her husband to see if he could help?
Lt. Daily then reached out to the NCNG Family Readiness Center, speaking with Staff Sgt. Tammy Fowler, State Family Programs Assistant for the NCNG, who worked with Mark Woolbright, a Family Assistance Center specialist for the NCNG in Raleigh, N.C.
Woolbright and Fowler came up with the idea to contact Gail Dawes, a military liaison for John Deere and the spouse of NCNG member, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Dawes, who currently serves as the Battalion Sergeant Major for the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team’s, 30th Special Troops Battalion.
In the past, John Deere has had a working relationship with the Guard during the holiday season by donating in huge ways for Thanksgiving.
Gail Dawes was moved by Beverly Harper’s story and shared it with her company; Her coworkers at John Deere were motivated to assist. In all, they donated three television sets, kitchen utensils, clothes, gift cards, and money.
Gail Dawes’ husband, Command Sgt. Maj. Dawes was not surprised about his wife’s efforts to reach out and support a family in need.
“It is a great feeling knowing the care and compassion that my wife has for me, other military Soldiers, and their families,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Dawes. “She has a servant's heart and I could not do what I do without her support.”
After taking up all the donations from John Deere and Smithfield Middle School Gail Dawes and Lt. Daily got together and loaded up his truck with all of the “Christmas gifts” that John Deere donated and hand delivered them to Harper and her family.
“Wow,” said Beverly Harper. “This is so amazing; I never expected this; we have been blessed with the house, and all this stuff from the National Guard and the school and even my students had a whole box of food that they did all by themselves.”
Sara Harper could not resist the feeling of smiling after seeing all the things everyone donated.
The whole event was a Christmas miracle for both the Harper family and all those from the NCNG who made the donations possible. Beverly Harper and her family are currently living in her brother-in-law’s home until they can find a new place to live.
| Date Taken: |
01.10.2014 |
| Date Posted: |
01.10.2014 11:57 |
| Story ID: |
119017 |
| Location: |
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: |
87 |
| Downloads: |
0 |
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This work, NC Guard assists former Guardsman after holiday house fire, by SFC Leticia Samuels, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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