This column goes out to Mike Church.
That name probably does not ring a bell to too many folks, locally, in the sports world.
He grew up in the state of Michigan where he played hockey and baseball. He can talk, too, for days about playing hockey in high school and he had a pretty good career, too.
But recently, I got to visit with Mike in Liberty at The Wall That Heals. Mike is now a dedicated member of the Easley American Legion and he proudly took the graveyard shift. Not just for a couple of hours … more for the dreaded shift of 11 p.m. to 8 a.m.
“Mike Church is very dedicated to the American Legion and supporting the Vietnam wall,” said Walt Carter, the Commander of the Easley Post. “Anything that has to do with veterans – he goes way over and beyond.”
His wife, Michelle, is also President of the Ladies Auxiliary in Easley.
Personally, for the volunteering part of The Wall That Heals, I waited until the very end of the sign-up period to see what was left. I wanted to help with the spots that no one wanted or was not willing to sign up for.
So it ended up that I did the 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. shift one night. Then another night, I went out there at around 2 a.m.
My point: There was Mike Church.
It takes ones like Mike Church – ones willing to go the extra mile and you never hear about – to make the big events go
There was an estimated 5,000 people who recently attended The Wall That Heals in Liberty.
It was a great event!