The Fisher House
While Blake returned safely to Germany from deployment, he was involved in a terrible automobile accident shortly after. The morning that her household goods were set to arrive at Fort Hood, she got a text that Blake was seriously injured. Receiving very little help or information from the military, Johnson immediately turned to her employers at the Fisher House to devise a plan for getting to Germany to be with Blake during those first critical days.
The Fisher House Foundation offers the Hero Miles Program to families of the ill/injured. The program provides free airline tickets, thanks to the generosity of the American public and donated airline miles. Johnson, along with her youngest, were able to fly to Germany and be with Blake as he endured multiple surgeries. Johnson’s older son, Taylor, flew over a few weeks later to relieve them.
When Blake’s recovery took longer than expected and required a move to the new Walter Reed Bethesda for further treatment, Johnson went from Tripler Fisher House Manager to just a mom staying at the Fisher House with her son.
The tremendous support she received from the Fisher House and the foundation made it clear – highlighting this organization at her events was imperative. She’s made it her personal mission to, “Help people know the Fisher House before they need us!”
Plans of Action
The inaugural “Tripler Fisher House Hero & Remembrance – Run or Walk,” was planned and executed in just three months. On August 18, 2012, participants traveled along a route lined with the boots symbolizing the fallen just as the sun rose around Ford Island.
Once the run/walk was completed, the boots were immediately moved to a parade field for three weeks of viewing concluding on September 12. Helping Theresa on this journey is Candice Ualesi, who has been with her from the beginning.
The designated route was incredibly meaningful as participants viewed not only the boots on the path, but were given a clear view of the USS Missouri and USS Arizona. The dates of the events are also not coincidental. The Tripler House event falls over the anniversary of 9/11, beginning September 3rd and culminating on the morning of September 12th. The Fort Hood event begins October 30th and ends November 12th, the morning after Veterans Day.
Johnson coordinates both events without financial support or an official team. All help comes from family, friends, and community volunteers.
Allowing the host communities to take ownership of the event by sponsoring small portions makes it so event participants are never asked to pay. As Johnson put it, “The Fallen remembered here have already paid the ultimate price.”
