While watching the news, I happened across a really nice story which seems appropriate to share on this Memorial Day weekend. It was the tale of Cynthia LeMay, a Georgia resident who, like many, worries about the safety of loved ones and family members serving in harms way, and is reaching out to help them – and every other service member she meets – in the best way she knows how.

She calls herself a ‘combat mom’; a local mother who, like so many families, tries hard to stay connected to loved ones serving in the US armed forces. Although separated by the miles, Cynthia LeMay stays connected with a small token — a simple bracelet designed to offer support from home and above.

The mother of two sons who have served in the military is no stranger at Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in Atlanta. She’s often there passing out her Battle Saint bracelets.

“My son has been wearing it since he went over,” LeMay told a soldier at the airport who was getting ready to depart for his assignment.

The inspiration for the wooden bracelets came after a family gathering two years ago.

“I knew I wanted to do something to make a difference,” LeMay said.

She creates and hands out these wooden bracelets to the troops she meets at the airport getting ready to go overseas. (You can order some at her web site if you wish.) Each one has the pictures of a number of Saints on it, all specifically selected for their significance in protecting warriors going into harm’s way. The full list can be found here, but they include:

• St Barbara, known as the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers and those who work with explosives.
• St Pio of Pietrelcina, known as a symbol of hope to people in the aftermath of WW1.
• St Michael the Archangel
• St. Martin of Tours, known as the patron saint of soldiers, chaplains, quartermasters and the cavalry.
• St Philip Neri, known as the patron saint of the Special Forces.
• Joan of Arc
• St Sebastain, known as the patron saint of archers, athletes and soldiers

It’s a great idea, and I’m sure it provides a lot of comfort to service members and their families. Give her site a look and see for yourself. And if you’re looking for something else to do online for the holiday, be sure to check out The Virtual Wall, part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It provides a nice tour of the memorial, as well as allowing you to browse or search for names of the fallen and see their names engraved on the wall. Their most recent news updates indicate that ten more names will be added to the list this Memorial Day.