 |
Little Soldier Receives Big Wish
(March 10, 2011) | 
|
|
| | FORT POLK, La. (ANS - March 7, 2011) -- A 9-year-old boy
arrived Feb. 26, with his father to the Chateau du Bon Reve
- which translates, from French, to the Castle of Good
Dreams - a reception hall built in Sulfer, La., to resemble
a medieval castle. |
The boy, Brennan Daigle, often went fishing at
the hall with his father. There is a pond
surrounding the castle stocked with fish, and
this fishing trip was a precursor to his 10th
birthday party - but this day would be
different. Brennan caught no fish; instead,
awaiting him were more than 40 Fort Polk
Soldiers in full formation and standing at
attention.
No company commander called
them to attention, nor was the National Anthem
being played.
The 40 members of Fort
Polk's Headquarters and Headquarters Company,
1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and members of
the Louisiana National Guard stood at attention
for Brennan Daigle.
Brennan was diagnosed
in |
|
After recovering from the initial shock and awe of learning that his surprise party included a formation of Soldiers, Brennan is inducted into the Army as an Honorary Soldier
on Feb. 26, 2011. Capt. Gabriel Araujo swears Brennan in and another Soldier presents him with a certificate of his induction into the Army. |
|
October 2009 with embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, a
rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors
attach themselves to bone. The healthy young boy
of 8, spindly and growing, began to lose weight
and grow pale as the chemotherapy treatments he
underwent took their toll. |
|
By October 2010, the tumor had grown in size and mutated. On
Feb. 10, Brennan's doctor gave his mother and Brennan the
worst news of their lives: There was nothing more they could
do for him.
"The doctor told him they'd done
everything they could and that he probably had two weeks
left to live. So she sent him home to be with us," his
mother said.
There would be no more needles.
Brennan and his mother were left to absorb the news.
Brennan's mother had to come to terms suddenly with the fact
that she would lose her only son and there was nothing in
her power that could save him. The power to save, or accept,
would have to come from beyond: From the family's faith.
"I know that with faith in God I'll be OK," he said. "I
think God will lead me."
Still, Brennan does not want
to die. After hearing the news that he was being sent home
to spend his last days with his parents and sister, he said
so to his mother, "I won't see you every day," Brennan said
to his mother.
"Oh, Brennan," she answered, "you'll
be able to walk hand in hand with your grandma who's already
in heaven, and you'll see us again."
Even with his
intense faith, Brennan is a typical 10-year-old. He enjoys
fishing, having sleepovers with his best friend, Kaleb, and
playing video games, many of which glorify combat and
victory.
Brennan also loves all things Army.
As his mother planned a cancer society fund-raiser event,
Brennan suggested a G.I. Joe theme. The image of a strong
and healthy man battling his enemies connected with Brennan,
who was fighting his own battle. Days later, Brennan and his
family learned that his tumor was still growing.
To
keep all of his family and friends apprised of his
condition, his mother created a Facebook page, called,
aptly, "Brennan's
Brigade," with pictures and hundreds of comments from
people around the world - including Soldiers who have
written comments of encouragement.
"Many of these
Soldiers write things like, 'we're over here fighting for
our country while you're at home fighting for your life,'"
said Daigle.
"We even got a picture of Soldiers
surrounding a Humvee in Afghanistan, holding an American
flag, who gave him the message 'We're flying this flag in
honor of you. We're here to back you. Stay Army strong.'"
From the "Brennan's Brigade" page, Brennan began
developing bonds with some of the Soldiers in Iraq and
Afghanistan. He met one of the Soldiers who came home from
overseas. That Soldier gave Brennan the X Box game "Call of
Duty: Black Ops." The Soldier, Adam Langley, often plays the
game with Brennan online.
"It's Brennan's favorite
game," his mother said.
He could not have guessed
that for his 10th birthday, like an image from the game he
loves, he would be surrounded by a formation of Soldiers or
that he would ride in a camouflaged Humvee.
Instead,
that Saturday, as Brennan dreamed of reeling in a fish or
three, he stepped out of his father's truck to the sight of
the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Soldiers, all standing
at attention in front of a National Guard Humvee. Brennan
stood still, wide-eyed, uncomprehending. Then everyone -
about 400 people - shouted "Happy Birthday, Brennan!" in
unison and the entire crowd broke out in applause.
"When he realized it was a surprise, and for him, he
couldn't say anything. All he could do was giggle. He was
speechless," said his mother.
A simpler party had
been planned for Brennan, who had asked for an Army-themed
birthday celebration.
"He was under the impression
that there would be a little birthday party this coming
weekend," said his mother. "He had no idea about the castle,
and we (her husband and daughter) had no idea that the Army
would send Soldiers to fulfill Brennan's wish," - the wish
to meet Soldiers before his illness worsens.
That
wish was facilitated by Becky Prejean, executive director of
"Dreams Come True of Louisiana." Prejean heard through word
of mouth about Brennan and contacted his mother.
"Kristy said he had two days to two weeks to live and asked
if we did parties. He wanted an Army-themed party, so I
contacted Katey Husband, Fort Polk community member and
mother of a 'Dreams Come True' child, who contacted Tresa
Lawson, Fort Polk's Community Relations Officer."
Lawson asked for five to six Soldier volunteers. Forty
answered the call.
"Words can never express what I
felt seeing all those Soldiers there, knowing some of them
had just come back from Iraq and still took time out for
just one little boy," said Kristy Daigle. "Just to know that
they care enough to give their all, to give their love and
support to a little boy is phenomenal. It says so much about
our men and women who serve our country in the armed
forces."
As Brennan recovered from his initial
surprise, Soldiers invited him to examine the Humvee. He
climbed in the driver's seat and took the wheel, smiling
widely. Then, Soldiers took Brennan and his best friend
Kaleb for a ride in the Humvee. Afterward, Brennan and Kaleb
stood out from the hatch at the top of the vehicle, posing
as hundreds of cameras flashed.
After the Humvee
ride, Brennan walked to the front of the formation and each
Soldier shook his hand. He was inducted as an honorary
member of the Army, given a coin symbolizing merit and
achievement of excellence and presented with passels of
presents ranging from a military jacket with his first name
embroidered on the pocket, an Army hat, his own personalized
dog tags and a rucksack. Brennan stood still, accepting the
gifts quietly but with a smile.
"I'm a little shy,"
Brennan said later.
One of the dog tags presented to
Brennan was inscribed with the seven Army values: Loyalty,
duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and
personal courage.
"Brennan, you exemplify what
personal courage means," said Pfc. Kamesha Starkey, 1st
Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
Chris Duncan, the mayor
of Sulphur, honored Brennan with a key to the city and the
title of Honorary Mayor of the Day. Afterward, Soldiers
mingled for a while, talking with Brennan and his friends
and family. Some hugged Brennan, some simply stood and
watched in groups as Brennan explored his gifts.
Many
of the Soldiers, even seasoned ones who have seen battle,
were at a loss for words as they observed Brennan's quiet
grace.
"This event is a profound one. A lot of us
just wanted to be there for him, show him we support him
totally," said Sgt. Joe M. Battle, 1st Maneuver Enhancement
Brigade public affairs. "But I can't say it wasn't hard
emotionally."
Pfc. Kyle Frederick added, "It was good
to be able to give back. It opened my eyes to a lot of
things: How I take my kids for granted, how lucky we are,
how we complain on a day-to-day basis and we really have it
good compared to others."
A reception was held in the
castle, with barbecue and a three-tiered birthday cake. The
cake was decorated with an Army emblem. Brennan made the
ceremonial first cut, and picked the prime piece for
himself: The piece with the emblem.
After people
ate, chatted and gave Brennan more hugs than some people
receive in a lifetime, he sat down to open the dozens of
birthday presents guests had brought for him. Like every
younger sibling, as he pulled out tissue paper from gift
bags, he handed all the bits and scraps to his older sister
Lauren, 11.
The next day, on the way to school -
Brennan still attends third grade every day - he asked his
mother "Am I really in the Army?"
"You most certainly
are," she said. "They don't just swear in anyone!"
"That's awesome," he said. | |
Article and photo by Rachel Reischling
Guardian Staff Writer
Copyright 2011
Reprinted from
Army News Service
Comment on this article |
|
