Holiday Meal Event Provides Comfort for Army Veteran’s Family After Tragedy
Nothing could have prepared Army veteran Brian Jones and his wife, Jessica, for the news they received on March 4.
Their 19-year-old son, also named Brian, was shot and killed while playing basketball at a public court in Tampa, Florida.
His senseless death continues to garner headlines as the family begins the long process to find justice through the criminal court system.
“We are just getting by day by day,” Jessica said. “It’s a roller coaster and that’s the only way I can describe it. Everything is still so fresh.”
They are doing their best to make sure the family is there for their son’s daughter, their granddaughter, who is 6 months old.
The Joneses 20-year marriage has always required them to lean on each other and work together —during Brian’s two deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, his medical retirement in 2014, parenting seven kids, and Jessica’s recent epilepsy diagnosis.
“It provided a form of stress relief. It was extremely helpful.” – Jessica Jones, Army spouse
Brian enlisted in the Army in 2006 he planned on making it career.
“Being in the military was my passion in high school,” he said. “But then I went to college and started a family. Eventually, I went back to my dream.”
He was disappointed when he had to retire.
“I loved what I was doing, and I felt like I was providing for my family and protecting my country at the same time,” he said.” It was a win-win.”
After Brian’s death, as the family grieved, Jessica heard about an Operation Homefront Holiday Meals for Military® event in Tampa. She had participated in Operation Homefront events in the past, including Back-to-School Brigade® and Holiday Toy Drive. It would be a way to celebrate Easter, and her younger children would enjoy it, she thought as she registered. The event was the first public outing the younger children made together after Brian’s death.
“It provided a form of stress relief,” she said. “We were not looking forward to the holiday because obviously it wasn’t the same. We were not in the headspace mentally, emotionally, or even financially to do that for ourselves. It definitely was extremely helpful.”
Their youngest children, ages 5, 8, 11, and 15, enjoyed the coloring activities and a spin-the-wheel game.
“Being able to get out and do little activities helped them,” Jessica said. “They were simple activities but soothing none the less.”
Jessica appreciated the food gift basket, how everything was self-contained and all the items she needed for the meal, even the tools to cook it, were included, making preparing a big family dinner much easier.
Brian and Jessica both are grateful that Operation Homefront and its donors are there for veterans and their families, especially during unsure times like medical retirement. Since 2010, Operation Homefront’s HMFM has provided more than 210,000 holiday meals to military and veteran families.
