From left to right - Cristie Lawson, former Marine AJ, Joyce Orrell

We’d like to introduce you to our Purple Heart Family Support™ Manager and Assistant Manager from the West Coast, serving the Naval Medical Center, San Diego - also known as “Balboa.”

Manager Joyce Orrell is no stranger to volunteering. She and her husband Curtis are retired, and instead of sitting back and taking it easy, they are keeping busy with a wide range of volunteering “duties.” Joyce isn’t happy unless she is helping a Marine or a group of Marines somehow, so this is the perfect job for her! As one of our PHFS Managers, Joyce is responsible for arranging monthly dinners at the Wounded Warrior barracks, where 150+ meals are served each month.

Joyce and Curtis have a Marine son who is a Linguist stationed at Camp Pendleton. Joyce also has a number of “adopted Marines” who stay in touch and fondly refer to her as “Mama Joyce.”

Assistant Manager Cristie Lawson stays very busy working side-by-side with Joyce to make sure all of our Wounded Warriors feel the love, warmth and caring from the monthly Purple Heart Family Support meals. Cristie’s Marine son is also stationed at Camp Pendleton.

Joyce and Cristie often go way beyond the call of duty by arranging special meals such as picnics or rib fests. They find people to donate their services to entertain our injured troops; a particular hit was when they landed a magician to come in and perform during one of the evenings.

If you are lucky enough to be able to visit the Wounded Warrior Barracks, you would discover very quickly that everyone there knows and loves Joyce and Cristie. They go from floor to floor (each floor serves a different branch of the military) “advertising” Purple Heart Family Support™ meals and gently persuading even the most reluctant young men and women to attend our dinners. The Wounded Warriors at Balboa anticipate these special meals almost as much as Joyce and Cristie look forward to planning and serving them!

During their “off hours” from Marine Parents volunteer work, Joyce and Cristie serve as official “Huggers” for both sendoffs and deployments at bases close to their hometowns. They both have made a huge impact on the lives of many Marines and their families. In fact, Joyce, husband Curtis and Cristie, were recently honored at a Heroes Appreciation Luncheon sponsored by the San Diego Rotary and the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation for their service in support of wounded troops and their families.

It takes some very special and highly dedicated people to plan and coordinate these events. Joyce and Cristie truly connect with each and every one of our Wounded Warriors. They are on a first-name, joking-around basis with these young men and women. When one of their special Marines rehabs enough to leave the barracks, Joyce and Cristie rejoice with them, but are also saddened since it often means an end to the weekly visits and hugs.

We are indeed very lucky to have such compassionate, caring and hard-working volunteers as part of our Purple Heart Family Support outreach program. Thank you Joyce, Cristie, Curtis and all of our fabulous Purple Heart Family Support™ San Diego volunteers for all of your dedication and compassion in helping our Wounded Warriors.