Despite the arrival of the season’s first bone-chilling temperatures, Veterans Day activities were not to be deterred. Throughout Tuesday, November 11, parades, lunches and the showing of Travis: A Soldier’s Story at the Majestic saluted past and present veterans.
Over at the Joule Hotel, the BrainHealth Center’s Legacy Dinner got underway with a very special tip of the hat to the veterans and Legacy Awardee Lyda Hill.
But before all the hoop-la started, a reception took place in the Fortnight Ballroom with a pretty impressive crowd of 240 including Ellen and John McStay, Sue and Brett Ringle, Lucy and Henry Billingsley, Debbie and Jim Francis, Caroline Rose Hunt and Del Frnka, Kay Hammond, Patrick Walsh, Allie Beth and Pierce Allman, Tincy Miller, Patsy Donosky, Pat and Charles McEvoy, Jody Grant (Sheila was in New York City), Toni and Boone Pickens, Margot and Ross Perot, Barbara and Steve Durham, Nicole Small, Bobby Lyle and Lottye Brodsky, Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones and Ka and LL Cotter.
Following a minute by minute schedule, everything was right on target as the group adjourned to the Mosaic Ballroom for dinner and the program.
Dinner Chair Lynn McBee on stage with an American flag covering the wall behind her welcomed guests, pointed out key people and revealed a “housekeeping” tip about the valet POA. Guests were to text the number on the valet ticket and then type in the assigned number on the stub when they wanted their car. In turn the valets would text them when their cars were at the curb. Seemed to be very simple. But a wave of whispers went through the room. It was a new-age way of car pickup. Hey, technology has been making its way into fundraising in recent years. After all, iPads and cellphones were becoming the way to bid in and monitor silent auctions. More about valet texting later.
Center for BrainHealth’s Brain Performance Institute Executive Director Eric Bennett recognized “The Warriors,” adding “I’d never had a calling life until two years ago. It was inspirational for me to take this opportunity.”
Retired Marine Corps Corp. Jake Schick, who is the Warrior Relations Specialist with the Brain Performance Institute, told how he had been injured head to toe 10 years ago and of the stress of being under fire. Looking directly at Lyda across the room as if there was no one else in the room, he said, “Lyda, you are the epitome of a force multiplier…There’s only one woman stronger than you, probably — my wife. Brownie points, check!…We will not rest until we get where we want to be. As we all know, complacency kills. We won’t get complacent.”
Following the invocation by Navy SEAL vet Jacob Fuller, dinner (market lettuce salad followed by beef tenderloin and snapper served with risotto-style butternut square barley, sautéed spinach and read wine sauce) was served. That was when the schedule went off kilter. The original plan called for the rest of the program to continue after dessert (banana wafer trifle) was served. But the first two courses evidently took a bit longer than organizers allowed. So, the trifle was put on hold and the program proceeded.
During dinner, Lyda, who usually shies away from being photographed, asked for a snap with Jake.
At 9 p.m., BrainHealth Advisory Board Chair Debbie Francis recognized the warriors and the previous Legacy Award recipients (Dianne Cash, Boone Pickens, James Huffines and Jane and Bud Smith). She then talked about the “soon-to-be” Brain Performance Institute: “With Lyda, one can expect the unexpected. She is tough, but always kind. Smart, yet always eager to learn. When Lyda makes a gift, she makes a true difference.”
A video followed showing how Lyda’s gift had made everything possible including the ability to reach 500+ warriors so far in 2014.
With warriors standing on stage, Dr. Sandi Chapman then told the group of the “two sister problems coming out of the war: PTSD and Traumatic Brain Disorder.” But thanks to Lyda’s “initial capstone gift,” positive results were taking place.
Upon accepting the Legacy Award, Lyda told the group that it was her nephew Michael Wisenbaker, who “kept bugging her” to do something about the returning vets and their problems. In conclusion, she said, “I’m overwhelmed and honored to receive this.” Then she added that she was accepting the award on behalf of all Americans.
As the guests started texting for their cars and heading for the elevators, servers entered the ballroom with desserts in hand.
Alas, the scene at the curb wasn’t quite as glorious as the evening’s program. It was more a Marx Brothers throwback. Corporate CEO’s and community leaders followed the texting instructions and looked like school children who have presented their homework perfectly. For their efforts, they almost immediately received the following text: “The Joule has received your request for ticket 127769. We will notify you when your vehicle will be ready.”
Guests looked relieved that the hi-tech valet program was working so seamlessly.
But those feelings changed when a second text was received — “Unfortunately, no valets are available to retrieve your vehicle at this time. Please try again in 10 minutes or present your ticket to the valet stand.”
Nobody was waiting. Guests hit the valet stand en masse proving the old-fashion way of retrieving cars still worked.
The good news is that it provided a subject for conversation on the ride home or as one guest laughed, “We don’t need those desserts. I’ve got my Baskin-Robbins on the way home!”
As for the Joule, it was back-to-the-tech drawing board to rethink the cool way to retrieve a car.
And as for the vets, they blew it off. It was such a non-big deal after all they had faced and are facing.
LeeAnne Locken says
What the Center for Brain Health is doing to help people with PTSD is incredible! They are a true blessing to many families including mine.