Cpl. Dustin R. Donica

Green Lake, Wisconsin Memorial Plaque Dediction

July 13, 2008

Memory Lane

Click on images to enlarge.

Our family has been coming to Green Lake, Wisconsin for many years.  Dave has visited here for over 45 years, I have come for 37 years and it is here in this idyllic setting that Dustin and Courtney spent their summers since they were born.   This is the place where Dustin learned to walk.  Dave’s mother has volunteered at the Green Lake Conference Center (GLCC) for almost 25 years.

The GLCC holds many happy memories for our family.  Dustin and Courtney covered every inch of this place biking, hiking, swimming, riding paddleboats, playing ping pong, painting ceramics, working in the lapidary shop, buying penny candy from the country store, climbing the many towers, enjoying S’mores around the campfire, attending the Children’s Center and Camp Grow when they were young, all of which created a blissful and carefree summer that they wanted to return to year after year.  Another highlight, not to be forgotten, was our drive to the Ripon Cookie Factory  for tours, savoring samples and, of course, making purchases.  I sent Dustin the chocolate covered mint cookies when he was stationed in AK and he said they were thoroughly enjoyed by the soldiers in his barracks at Ft. Richardson.  Courtney and Dustin also used to go with Dave when they were young to the Experimental Aircraft Association or EAA AirVenture Oshkosh in Wisconsin.  To this day, it is a huge convention for avid fliers and Dave and I will attend on August 2nd for my birthday.  The air show is opened by a group called the Liberty Parachute Team and they descend to the American Anthem.  It is always spellbinding to watch the parachutists float downward, unfulring a 34′ x 59′ American flag.  Needless to say, it now reminds me of going to Dustin’s airborne graduation ceremony at Fort Benning, GA. 

http://www.airventure.org/2008/performers/liberty.html

As the culmination of the observance of Dustin’s birthday weekend, on Sunday, July 13, 2008, our family members gathered to attend the Memorial Plaque Dedication on Memory Lane in honor of Dustin and three others.  Dustin’s grandmother, Elaine Donica, made a donation to the GLCC for the plaque that was dedicated in honor of her grandson.  After the church service, we all walked over to Memory Lane to see the plaques. 

 

Here are the lyrics to the song by Mark Harris that was played at the dedication service.

The Line Between The Two

A beginning and an ending, dates upon a stone

But the moment in the middle is how we will be known

Cause what defines us can be found within a line

Finding reason for our time.

CHORUS:  And the years go by, how they seem to fly

They’ll all be over soon

When our life is done, did we live and love

The way we wanted to

Cause everyday that we leave behind

Goes on to tell the truth

Of how we lived in the line between the two

The line between the two.

Will I walk straight, will I be true

Will I finish strong

Will I stand up for the moment

When I could right a wrong

Because the legacy we LEAVE will never change

It’s how we spend our days.  CHORUS

I could live a life for just myself

Or I could live a life for someone else

But I’ll live and die just to hear you say

Well done my son come and be with Me.  CHORUS

After the walk to Memory Lane, our family proceded to the point by the lake and released red, white, and blue balloons.  We also launched two extra balloons representing Dustin’s friends in Alaska and Texas.  Courtney was unable to attend the dedication as she is in graduate summer school, but she requested that a pink balloon be released to Dustin just from her.  And in that silent moment, we simply watched as those balloons soared high above the peaceful waters of Green Lake, ascending through the lofty clouds to our loved one whose spirit is always with us.

 We then attended a wonderful reception where a memory collage of Dustin was on display.

We would like to thank our family who came to honor Dustin.  Having all of you here with us on that day was truly appreciated.  Dustin will be in all of our hearts forever.  We would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to Kathy and Ken from the GLCC for the beautiful memorial dedication, the poster tribute to Dustin and for choosing such a perfect song for the occasion.   -Judy Donica  

The family of Dustin Donica at the Memory Lane Dedication.

“DUSTIN, FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS!”

RIBBONCUTTING & DEDICATION

DECEMBER 1, 2008 at 2:00 PM

Also see Dustin’s Game Room Dedicated At Fort Sam post on this site.

Returning Heroes Home Project at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas.

This is the site where the DUSTIN DONICA MEMORIAL GAME ROOM will be dedicated.

To make a donation specifically for the Dustin Donica Memorial Game Room, go to www.dustindonica.com MEMORIAL FUND.

See Dustin Donica Memorial Game Room at BAMC post on this blog.

RHH Construction Updates sent to Judy Donica.

I am proud to inform you with good news about the Returning Heroes Home Project.  Construction is coming along very well as you can see by the photos below.  The framing work is up, the roof was started last week and the window installation will be started this week.  We are still looking at mid-October for completion and late October for move-in, assuming that weather, materials and construction coordination all go smoothly.

We have recently been approved for additional land for green space in efforts to construct a Recreational/Therapeutic Garden area, however, there are administrative and funding stipulations.  The field of therapeutic horticulture has established that there are significant therapeutic benefits for patients, caregivers and family members from well designed landscape and garden areas in relatively close proximity to areas where care is rendered.  In order to accomplish this goal, the board has placed a request through the Fort Sam Houston Base Commander to allow us to extend the reuse water line to provide a sprinkler system.  The plan in the future is to have Teresia Hazen, the Healing Gardens lead designer from Portland, Oregon, come to San Antonio, Texas and assist with the design of our therapeutic garden.  The therapeutic components are critical to the facility providing the best possible environment for healing for those who deserve so much.

http://www.portlandnursery.com/community/community_partner_legacy.shtml

http://www.ReturningHeroesHome.org<http://www.returningheroeshome.org/>

AUGUST 5, 2008 Update From Judy

It looks like the ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in the beginning of November.  The gaming room has developed into a world class gaming room with input from many injured servicemen.  The soldiers suggested that a projection unit be used to project the games on a specially treated wall.  It was decided to have four stations in the room with each station accommodating four players, for a total of 16  players.  There is also a choice of XBox 360 or Sony Playstation 3 systems available.  Microsoft called the other day and agreed to donate the XBox 360 systems and all the games.

December 1, 2008

$5M OASIS FOR WAR WOUNDED TO OPEN AT FORT SAM HOUSTON

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_warwounded_112708/