4C OCTOBER 31, 2013
THE GLOBE, CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C.
Photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua W. Grant
Service members stand together after the domestic violence candlelight vigil in downtown Jacksonville, Oct. 24. Sgt. Amanda King, keynote speaker and advocate for the Onslow Women’s Center, said as a survivor herself, she promotes others to speak out against domestic violence and seek help if they have been victimized.
Victims remembered during domestic violence candlelight vigil LANCE CPL. JOSHUA W. GRANT
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
M
Photo by Lance Cpl. Joshua W. Grant
Tracy Thocher (left) and Cindy Mccoy lit candles at the domestic violence candlelight vigil in downtown Jacksonville, Oct. 24. Service members rang a bell for the 52 people killed by domestic violence in North Carolina this year.
ore than 100 members of the community honored victims and survivors of domestic violence at a candlelight vigil hosted by the Onslow Women’s Center in downtown Jacksonville, Oct. 24. Individuals shared their stories of hope and service members read the names and rang a bell in remembrance of the lives lost to domestic violence in the past year. “Tonight focuses on primarily women who suffer in silence,” said Junie Christian, director for the OWC. “A lot of us see bruises and never ask, tonight is about getting the help that may be needed.” Christian added the candlelight vigil also gives hope to the women and children currently at the center. “We also have to thank the members of the community for their stance on domestic violence,” said Christian. “Tonight we are here to say no more, to
put a stop to intimate partner violence.” The keynote speaker and advocate for the OWC, Sgt. Amanda King, a field radio operator with Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group, spoke of her own survival story. King suffered repeated physical and emotional abuse ending with the death of her son by the hands of her ex-husband. “I was seven months pregnant when the first episode of physical abuse occurred,” said King. “Every time I tried to escape he came at me harder. I passed out and regained consciousness a few minutes later and at that point I saw my life and the life of my unborn son flash before my eyes. I believe to this day the only way out that night was to comply.” King added that all survivors of domestic violence should speak out to help themselves and help others. “I don’t want to read my story again,” said King. “I don’t want to see someone else’s name or someone else’s child on the wall of names. If one person gets out of the bad relationship they’re in, then that’s one life that’s been saved.”
Marine, singer connect through children’s condition CPL. CHARLIE CLARK
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune
I
t’s 3 a.m., and the monitors keeping track of Ezekiel Johnson’s heart beep loudly in the home of Staff Sgt. Donald Johnson, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. Johnson jumps from his bed to his 2-year-old son’s crib a few feet away. It’s time to go to the emergency room at Chapel Hill Hospital. Ezekiel has a rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which the local hospitals can’t treat because special medical equipment is needed to maintain his health. In babies with HLHS, the aorta and left ventricle are underdeveloped before birth. The right ventricle must then perform twice as much, a situation which cannot be sustained for long. Matt Hammitt, singer of Sanctus Real, a Christian band from Toledo, Ohio, has a 3-year-old son, Bowen, who also was born with the same rare heart condition as Ezekiel. Johnson learned of Hammitt’s son while listening to the radio during Shelly’s pregnancy with Ezekiel. Being fans of the band, the Johnsons followed the Hammitt’s story. After finding out about Ezekiel’s condition, Shelly, Johnson’s wife, found a Facebook page for mothers who have children with HLHS. Shelly met Hammitt’s wife, Sarah, quickly became friends. During Sanctus Real’s tour stop in Jacksonville, N.C., Johnson and Hammitt coordinated a visit for the band to come aboard base. “There’s a bond between parents who have children with heart defects,” said Hammitt. “We call
ourselves ‘heart parents.’ That bond is really beyond words, and I can’t explain it. We both stand together for our families and know how hard it has been for each other.” Sanctus Real visited Johnson and the ISMT Marines aboard base to find out a little more of how Marines train, Saturday. “As I was firing the weapons, I kept reminding myself these guys do this for real,” Hammitt said. “Donald and I have a lot in common because I have to leave my family to tour, and he has to do the same thing during his deployments. What he does is so much more difficult and dangerous, because he has to face gun fire. I have so much respect for him being a Marine and still being a great dad to his family.” Johnson and Hammitt talked about some of the hardships they’ve dealt with over the years, how their families helped with getting through those hard times and how blessed they have been with their sons. “Children with HLHS have to go through many open heart surgeries,” Johnson said. “Both Ezekiel and Bo-
wen are among the fortunate few who not only survived the first surgeries, but are doing very well.” Ezekiel is not the only child of Johnson who has a medical condition though. Samuel, Johnson’s 3-year-old son, has a different medical condition where his stomach does not function properly. “My sons have been through a lot of surgeries,” Johnson said. “Every child gets sick. That’s just a part of life. When my sons get sick, it’s a lot more of a serious situation because they have to have tests done and go through a whole process at the hospital to make sure they stay safe.” The Johnson family keeps bags packed for when either Samuel or Ezekiel need to go to the emergency room. “My other children have been absolutely fantastic with helping with Samuel and Ezekiel,” Johnson said. “We have nurses helping out, and it’s really a group effort with the doctors, nurses and my family to all be the Photos by Cpl. Charlie Clark guardian angels for my sons.” Staff Sgt. Donald Johnson, staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer, and Matt Hammitt, singer for Christian rock band Sanctus Real, pose for a photo outside the ISMT aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Saturday. Johnson’s 2-yearold son, Ezekiel, and Hammitt’s 3-year-old son, Bowen, have the same rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
Photos by Cpl. Charlie Clark
Matt Hammitt, singer of Christian rock band Sanctus Real, fires simulated weapons as Staff Sgt. Donald Johnson, the staff noncommissioned officer in charge of the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer, watches at the ISMT aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Saturday.
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