Creating Connections - April Edition

By Barb Byerly

As Americans, we count our blessings for the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the greatest nation on earth and we are mindful it is made possible by the unflinching courage of the men and women in our Armed Services keeping us and our way of life safe. We are extremely proud of all these valiant warriors, with special closeness to those who are part of our Chamber family. In the coming months we will be highlighting them in this column. They, and everyone who loves them, are dealing first hand with the myriad of emotions felt by military families - the pride, fear, separation, longing experienced by all who are, or have ever been in their position. In the February issue, Matthew Everding, U.S. Marine Corps, son of Sunset Office Suites' Ray and Vicki and brother of Michael and Daniel was featured and Nate Williams, US Army, son of Superintendent Tom and Chris will be featured in a future issue. This month David McArthur, II, son of McArthur's Bakery's David and Myndi and brother of Sarah.

David McArthur, II has a reputation for being a young man of strength, determination and honor so it came as no surprise to his parents when chose to join the US Marines Corp. In fact, his grit and determination were front and center when, in order to meet the Corp's rigid enlistment requirements, he worked and dieted his way to successfully losing 100 lbs. He trained in California, completed boot camp, attended Military Operational School and then underwent training for one of the Marine Corp's most dangerous positions, as an Infantry Designated Marksman. He was deployed to Afghanistan and was in a Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle when it ran over an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), also known as a roadside bomb. According to David's Dad, although the vehicle is built to withstand these types of explosions, the passengers are exposed to enormous pressure changes inside the MRAP, which resulted in his son suffering a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI.) This TBI led to David, II being treated for unrelenting headache pain at the Naval Hospital in San Diego. He's been living in Twenty-Nine Palms with his wife, Lindsay, and six month old Heidi. The family is hoping to move to San Diego in the near future, so his four times a week transfer back and forth to the Hospital can be significantly shortened. A back-up in paper work, caused by so many similar injuries to servicemen and women, has led to his being placed on a light duty list where he will stay for about another ten months before receiving a disability discharge. The hopeful news is he may eventually recover completely. Following his personal philosophy of "when something needs to be done, you need to do your best," we feel certain David II is giving his usual 110% to make this happen. Our thanks and admiration to David II for his courage and honor in serving our country and to his family for their loving support. Semper fi!

Summertime and the seein' is easy - especially if you remember to wear your sunglasses. Here's the scoop, Michelle McReynolds, OD, owner of the fab new West County Vision Center, reports your shades and sunblock are the first lines of defense from harmful UV rays. "I urge my patients to be aware it's not just the eyes you'll be protecting with sunglasses blocking 100 percent of UV light, it's also your lids - especially the lower lid. That is the most common place for basal cell carcinoma. This is why the larger lens sunglasses are so wonderful, because they protect all the skin around the eyes," she explains. And, thanks to Kirkwoodian Iona Edstrom, the experienced, registered optician on Dr McReynolds' team, you can check out a wide variety of both prescription as well as sunglasses in her office. Dr McReynolds, her husband, Allen, children Nathan, 11; Joshua, 8 and Abi, 4 live in Des Peres. Her office is located at 11023 Manchester, just a few doors east of Croghan & Croghan. To make an appointment for an eye exam, diagnosis; treating and managing eye diseases; injuries; or a myriad of eye related needs, call her at 821.8999 and see for yourself what professional eyecare can do for you and your family!

Police Chief Richard Black started working for the City of Glendale 42 years ago. A bit of historical perspective for you -- that's the same year Astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first person to step on the Moon; the US withdrew from Vietnam; Woodstock took place; Richard Nixon was sworn in as President; the average yearly income was $8,550 and gas cost 35 cents a gallon. Rich was hired as and remained a Patrolman for 2-1/2 years, was promoted to Sergeant, staying in that position for 17 years followed by his promotion to the rank of Chief, where he has remained for the past 25 years. Active in community service, Chief Black was a longtime member of the Kirkwood Rotary Club and served as its President in 1994. This highly respected and mega popular Top Cop is retiring later this month. Rich and his lovely wife, Mary, have three children and five grandchildren including their son Matt, and his wife Carrie, parents of grandchildren Maggie, 13; Max, 2 and Lucy, 1; daughter Katie and her husband Scott Horton, parents of grandchildren Maura, 9, and daughter Alicia, mother of grandchild, Lia, 2. Adding to the Black family's joyous celebrations this year will be Alicia's marriage to Johnne Burke in October. With his newfound spare time, Rich is planning to catch up on Mary's "honey-do's," spending time with his five grandchildren and even some travel. The public is cordially invited to attend a retirement reception for Chief Black on Monday, April 18, from 4 to 7 pm in the Glendale City Hall Auditorium. The Chamber salutes the Chief on his many years of distinguished service to the community and extends the best wishes of all members for a long, happy and healthy retirement!