Lending support to those left behind

Lolita Harper

They stood proudly Thursday evening in their yellow veterans hats and

shook the hands of several mothers who had children overseas.

“Thank you so very much,” members of the Costa Mesa Veterans of

Foreign Wars Post 3536 said to Spanish-speaking military mothers.

About 30 people gathered in crowded quarters at Families Costa

Mesa on West 19th Street to recognize mothers, grandmothers and

stepmothers -- including those from another country or those who

didn’t speak English -- for the sacrifices their children or other

family members have made for the country.

The door to the Westside office was open, allowing a cool breeze

to portions of the assembly. Others waved their free “Proud to be

American” flags, decorated with a large picture of an Eagle.

Each mother was awarded a small flag, with a single blue star in

the center -- a universal symbol of the mothers of America, who have

sent their children off to war.

The star represents patriotism and true allegiance to the U.S.

government, Renee Ortega, a Families Costa Mesa representative, told

the group. It is for all mothers with sons or daughters in the

military. It is nonsectarian and nonracial, she said.

Simona Garibay, mother of fallen Marine Jose Garibay, sat in the

middle of the table and smiled widely as each woman received her

honor.

Simona Garibay -- with the help of Families Costa Mesa, Share

Ourselves, Hoag Hospital, the UC Irvine Department of Social Work and

“somebody up there” -- said she plans to lend her support to other

Marine mothers who do not speak English and therefore cannot take

advantage of traditional family support networks.

“It helps me to talk about it, and it helps others to speak with

those who can understand them,” Simona Garibay said.

Her son joined the Marines when he was 18 years old, just after he

graduated from Newport Harbor High School, and was based at Camp

Lejeune, N.C. He and six others from his base were killed March 23

near Nasiriyah, Iraq, in an ambush, officials reported. Jose Garibay

was the first of two Orange County casualties reported in the war.

Simona Garibay said she prays the other mothers in the room will

never feel her pain.