THE GAZETTE
Page A-2
Wednesday, January 15, 2014 s
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ALINE BARROS
Decades later, daughter helps honor father Sometimes a daughter knows best. Brigitte Shoff of Silver Spring had always heard about the medal her father had earned after serving in the Vietnam War. Still, Shoff had never seen the medal, so she asked him if he had ever received it. He said no. But on Jan. 2, Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Clark, commander of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, pinned the Silver Star — the military’s thirdhighest decoration for valor — onto the blazer of retired Army Warrant Officer George Carlton Bloodworth. Shoff said that the end of the war in 1975 was so turbulent that her father never tried to get the medal. “Things were very chaotic,” she said. “He transferred several times and he just didn’t talk about it.” After reading a letter from the Army Department citing her father’s award, she contacted the office of Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (D-Dist. 8) of Kensington for assistance. Van Hollen’s staff contacted the Army and the award ceremony was scheduled when Bloodworth, who lives in Georgia, came to visit his daughter during the holidays last month. Bloodworth piloted one of the two helicopters conducting a reconnaissance mission in northwest of Cao Lanh on Sept. 20, 1969. One of the helicopters was shot down and despite imminent danger, Bloodworth kept searching for its crew. He was wounded by ground fire, shot in the arm and back, but he managed to find the two soldiers on the ground and eventually helped them to safety. The Army letter, dated June. 20, 1970, reads: “Warrant Officer Bloodworth distinguished himself by exceptionally valor actions ... Although seriously wounded, he
GALLERY
Springbrook’s Isiah Eisendorf (left) contains Sherwood’s Ellis Dozier in a Friday night basketball matchup. Go to clicked.Gazette.net. SPORTS Check online for coverage of indoor track championships, top basketball games.
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PHOTO FROM OFFICE OF REP. CHRISTOPHER VAN HOLLEN JR.
Brigitte Shoff of Silver Spring pins the Silver Star onto the blazer of her father, retired Army Warrant Officer George Carlton Bloodworth, during ceremony last month at the Rockville office of U.S. Rep. Christopher Van Hollen Jr. (third from left). continued to engage the enemy until his comrades, one of whom was seriously wounded, reached the pick up zone.” Shoff said her father dedicated himself to the military life. During the award ceremony, he spoke of many others who did much more than he did. “I wanted to do it for my father,” Shoff said of getting the medal. “He is always doing things for other people. He just did what a hero does.”
Silver Spring volunteer honored with cruise Theresa Testoni of Silver Spring is one of 50 volunteers selected to board the Cabot Community Celebrity Cruise for an all-expensepaid vacation to the Caribbean this week. The trip and awards program are organized by Cabot Creamery, a Vermont cooperative that produces cheese, yogurt, sour cream and butter, to honor people from across
EVENTS OASIS Men’s 50+ Discussion Group, 10:30 a.m.-noon, White Oak
Community Center, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring. $10. www.oasisnet.org/ washington. Inova blood drive, 2:30-7 p.m., Brooke Grove Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, 18131 Slade School Road, Sandy Spring. 301-570-7081.
Wheaton Neighborhood Watch meeting, 8-9 p.m., Wheaton Library,
large conference room, 11701 Georgia Ave., Wheaton. Free. 240-274-3233.
THURSDAY, JAN. 16 Writing a Successful Business Plan,
1-4 p.m., Rockville Economic Development, 95 Monroe St., Rockville. $25. 301-315-8096.
The Fiscal Picture for Montgomery County in 2014, 7-9 p.m., County
the nation who have made a difference in their community. According to Cabot website, Testoni, vice president of the Corporate Volunteer Council of Montgomery County, supports the coordination of 12 Workforce for Good projects. Community service has been an integral part of Testoni’s life, starting in high school as a member of the school government, newspaper and recycling club. In college, Testoni was a member of the College Center Board and newspaper. Testoni, who works for Adventist HealthCare of Gaithersburg, was a pioneer in establishing the Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Volunteer Program and was liaison for the Oracle and Special Olympics partnership, according to Cabot. She also promotes community engagement in Montgomery County and created the advisory committee of business and nonprofits to celebrate Community Service Day. The Caribbean cruise includes stops in Barbados, St. Lucia, An-
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WEDNESDAY, JAN. 15
A&E Strathmore hosts a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr.
Council Office Building, fifth-floor conference room, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville. Free. 301-320-5863.
FRIDAY, JAN. 17 Stand-up comedy, 8 p.m., VisArts,
155 Gibbs St., Rockville. $20. 540-6578811.
SATURDAY, JAN. 18 Glenfield Park Clean-Up, 9 a.m.noon, 12800 Layhill Road, Silver Spring. Free. henry.coppola@montgomeryparks.org. Plant Clinic, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Freshfarm Market, Ellsworth Drive between Georgia and Fenton avenues, Silver Spring. Free. 301-590-9650. Chinese Lion Dance, noon-12:45 p.m., Marilyn J. Praisner Library, 14910 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville. Free. 240-773-9460.
MON
20
Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service, 10 a.m.-noon,
Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring. Free. 240-777-2600.
MORE INTERACTIVE CALENDAR ITEMS AT WWW.GAZETTE.NET Peter Mayer concert, 7-9:30 p.m.,
Rockville United Church, 355 Linthicum St., Rockville. $20. 301-424-6733.
SUNDAY, DEC. 19 Instrumental, 3:30 p.m., Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring. $23 for general admission, $10 for students. 301-774-0022. True Stories, 4:30 p.m., Tikvat Israel Synagogue, 2200 Baltimore Road, Rockville. $13. 301-762-7338.
MONDAY, JAN. 20 Ninja Day Camp, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Kang’s Black Belt Academy, 17810
ConsumerWatch
tigua, St.Maarten and St. Thomas before returning to Puerto Rico.
What are some tips to avoid getting burned when buying firewood?
YMCA mentoring program seeks volunteers YMCA Youth and Family Services has joined forces with Montgomery County to encourage residents to volunteer with one child one hour per week in a mentoring program. The initiative, called “One for One,” was announced Jan. 6 by Circuit Court Judge Richard Jordan, Agnes Leshner, director of county child welfare services, and Carson Henry, executive director of YMCA Youth and Family Services . According to a news release, the county suffers from a severe shortage of mentors and, for every child matched with a caring volunteer, there are several more waiting for the benefits provided by the relationship. For more information, call 301587-5700. Meeting House Road, Sandy Spring. $75 per child. 301-570-1106. Hands-on Exploration Day Camp, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Sandy Spring Museum, 17901 Bentley Road, Sandy Spring. $60 per child, $20 for aftercare. 301-7740022. Parenting Teens Support Group, 6:30-7:30 p.m., 11307 Rokeby Ave., Garrett Park. Free. 301-466-1637.
TUESDAY, JAN. 21 Take to the Air, 1-2 p.m., Brookside Nature Center, 1400 Glenallan Ave., Wheaton. $6. Register at www.parkpass.org. Loss of Child Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m., Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Drive, Rockville. Free. 301-9214400.
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 22 Lunch and Discover Retirement Living, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., Ingleside at
King Farm, 701 King Farm Blvd., Rockville. Free. 240-499-9019. Parent Loss Support Group, 6:30-8 p.m., Woodside United Methodist Church, 8900 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring. Free. 301-921-4400.
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Liz turns up the heat to dig out the truth.
LIZ CRENSHAW
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GAZETTE CONTACTS The Gazette – 9030 Comprint Court Gaithersburg, MD 20877 Main phone: 301-948-3120 Circulation: 301-670-7350
DEATHS Marga Anne Laboy Marga Anne Laboy, 73, of Gaithersburg, died Jan. 7, 2014. A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. Jan. 17 at Peoples Community Church, 31 Norwood Road, Silver Spring.
CORRECTIONS A Jan. 8 story about a Silver Spring land swap that’s part of the Progress Place Project misstated the number of apartments that will be created. There will be 21. A Jan. 8 story misidentified Eric Bernard, who is the executive director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire-Rescue Association. Marcine Goodloe is the association’s president. Also, the association, not the county, received grants to help bolster volunteer firefighter recruitment.