Camp Hometown Heroes offers special place for vets' kids
GRAFTON (WITI) -- One of the tragedies of war is that not every soldier makes it home. There is now a special camp designed especially for children who have lost loved ones at war.
Brian Naseman was born in Ohio. He enlisted into the Army National Guard right out of high school, and met his wife, Peggy at age 23. Then, he followed her to Wisconsin, where they had two boys: Cole and Carter.
"Made me feel like I was in a home with a hero," Carter Naseman said.
On May 22nd, 2009 Sergeant First Class Naseman was killed in Iraq during his second deployment.
"I have a great pride because he served, but then like when I found out he died it was really sad so I had a lot of questions at school and everything. Not a very good time," Cole Naseman said.
"When I see military people I get that, just instantly reminds me of when they came to tell me he died," Peggy Naseman said.
Though it has been nearly four years since his death, Brian is still a large part of their lives.
"In every room of our house we have something in memory of our dad like the pictures in this room and the cabinet with his helmet and his uniform and some of his medals," Cole Naseman said.
However, this family's mourning is not over. The family has pretty much kept any conversation about Brian's death to themselves -- a difficulty they're still trying to overcome.
"Until you experience it you can never say 'I know exactly how you feel' because you don't," Peggy Naseman said.
"No one's there for their school play. No one's there for their birthday parties. Those kids suffer in silence . They truly miss their parents," Neil Willenson said.
Neil Willenson with Grafton-based KAPCO is launching Camp Hometown Heroes.
"We owe it to them. We have an obligation to make sure these kids not only have a great week of fun and friendship but are afforded maybe for the first time in their lives an opportunity to grow and heal," Willenson said.
Taking place at Camp Matawa in Campbellsport, dozens of kids from ages seven to 16 will come together for a week-long experience -- only this won't be a typical summer camp. Each of the children will have been directly impacted by the loss of a family member in the military.
"I know that this program will transform lives," Willenson said.
Cole and Carter will be two of those campers. In addition to all of the normal camping activities, they will also have the chance to talk with grief counselors, and others who understand.
"It might be the only time in their life where they feel like they fit in," Peggy Naseman said.
"It helps to talk cause then you can like let out what you're trying to let out and nobody knows," Carter Naseman said.
"At least I can connect with all the kids there, not just be all random kids that I don't know, don't feel like talking to because they don't understand anything," Cole Naseman said.
Peggy Naseman believes her kids will come away with new friends, new memories and a new outlook on life, without losing their love for and good memories of their father.
"If it was just us four on an island, we'd be happy," Peggy Naseman said.
The inaugural camp will run this summer from June 22nd through June 28th. There is room for 75 kids.