From Thanks! Plain and Simple's

Friends and Team

Our team has been evolving since February, 2005, when we first decided to launch a project that would give West Virginians ways know we care about you, to remind you of home, then to help you give and to receive what you need, when your duty is over.

Think how you can contribute now and when you come home. Meet some of our closest teammates.

Left, in tan: Jason Dillon, 16, our youngest photo contributor, so far. Who were the opponents? Who won? Search around to see.

Anne Montague, Project Director: “First, this project is about building bridges, so that the unity of West Virginians around the wellbeing of our citizens in the military is seen, respected and acted on. As you look at this web site and become involved, you will see that my major hope is bridge building.

Personally, the group that gives me the greatest sense of being cared about in this journey called “life” is the Blackdogs, a writing group in western West Virginia. We edit one another’s writing, and we meet monthly.

“The first chapters I submitted for their comments were about VJ Day, when, at six years old, I tried to tell my deaf grandfather the war was over. How well they understood the importance of that day to me. They continue to hear and encourage my writing, which is my favorite pastime. Of course, building Thanks! Plain and Simple from an idea to a reality is a deep reward, because of my commitment to you, West Virginia and the best in our nation is also a deep reward.

“My interests are varied. I have followed and polished many of them, at one time or another. For example, I truly care about the trauma survivor and that many who have witnessed trauma are abandoned and rejected, not unlike what happened with Vietnam veterans. I care about people having ways to express themselves in ways that are comfortable and meaningful to them. I care about healthy growth, learning better ways, people being able to contribute what they are trained and have natural abilities to do. I care about good management, and having resources – time and understanding - to make a difference at a basic level. I was away from home far too many years; I hope that what I have learned, from management to meaningful living, can be of use to my state where my roots are so very deep.”

Llewelyn McKernanin the center of the photo has been a constant advisor in our advances – our first practice of the theme song, an interview for an on-line magazine, concerns for how to help you when you return, planning Thanks! Plain and Simple Day. She is a serious and full-time writer, and we encourage her to share with you a few of her songs and poems.

Ron Wroblewski:These photos show Ron’s commitment to helping the public know about how West Virginians in the military have–and will–contribute to the history and future of West Virginia. See his message to you in “From Our Veterans.” Ron is now the current President of Thanks! Plain and Simple.

Ron grew up in Charleston, but travels the state and lives in Ceredo.

At a concert for you, we will tell a secret we know about his first award.

Shhhh.

Terrisita Barrett: As the parent of a son in the Army and a person who is deeply committed to community, Terri has listened closely about this project from its beginning. When we asked her to be on the Board of Directors, she accepted easily, and she adds clear thinking, management training and experience, and leadership thinking to Thanks! Plain and Simple.

Recently, she was encouraged by a national leadership group to get a Ph.D, as a minority with high capabilities and community-development commitments. She works for the state of West Virginia, and she completed a Masters Degree from Marshall University Graduate School while working in insurance full time. Her letter to you shows her character.

David Harvey: David was the former President of Thanks! Plain and Simple, Inc., our nonprofit corporation.

He is the brother-in-law of a military man, and David. by nature, contributes to cooperation and community. David has helped in many parts of this project’s decision making and development.

David is a horticulturalist with a specialty in apple trees. Stamen Winsaps–the tart ones that make your mouth water.

You can see David’s love of West Virginia in his photos in different places on this site, such as his photos of steam engines, views from mountain tops, and country roads. He and his family like to start out on a weekend and just “get lost” to learn more and more about West Virginia. He loves old-time music.

The bridge base he photographed below is much like David is to this project – firm, needed that’s not for show.

Jacob Bush: Jacob’s has consistently given us behind-the-scenes support, with quiet, stable energy and beliefs that are his gifts. He retired from the military in the mid-80s, then from a major department store chain.

Left: On leave in Kanawha County, 1965

Drag racing about 1957, Kanawha County

His talents are words, information technology and management. He wrote poetry from childhood, but didn’t realize that his niche was romantic poetry till he was fully into adulthood. After having lived away from our great state, he decided, as so many do who leave, that there is no place like West Virginia. He returned to Morgantown, where, among other books, he published The Morgantown Suite. You can see some of his writing at The City of Legends, www.cityoflegends.com.

He was named one of 50 outstanding West Virginia artists, by the Appalachian Education Initiative and by Yahoo, as the internet’s most romantic poet.

We hope Bill will be part of our public events. He makes a statement that no matter how varied West Virginians are in their talents and interests, we will come together in unity to show you we care and to remind you of home.

Typhani Littlejohn

Typhani Littlejohn was the former web master. She used to update the web site and kept our sponsors up on the web. She has submitted this photo from her trip up to Pipestem State Park.

Reverend Eileen Dumire

Rev. Dumire recently received her doctorate in religion. Congratulations! We know her as a quiet and deeply sincere person whose love of West Virginia has grown from her positions in several small towns and from her having sons who served in the military. She is a member of Patriots for Peace, which, again, shows the variety of people reaching out to West Virginians in the military.

Doctor Dumire has been an advisor, the donor whose contribution paid for the first work on this web site, a contributor of photographs, and a volunteer who edits, works with us, and refers us to others who are or will be partners. She is a spiritual and practical person with a deep understanding of our goals.

This photo is not of her, but one she contributed. She achieved a long-time goal of having a parade with many kinds of people on Palm Sunday in Hinton, Summers County. To us, this speaks of the kind of person she is.

Her sons are on the G.I. Bill, and all three in college. Her present church building, the United Methodist Church of South Charleston houses three other churches, two of which are African-American.

The list goes on, and we hope that you can be part, too. Each of these team members is active; yet, each has found time to contribute. When you return, we hope you will be close by to help us all find ways to express our thanks, our concerns and our pride in who we are, plain and simple.