Joint Team Andrews A&FRC, surviving spouses turn tables on tragedy Published Oct. 2, 2009 By Pacifica Chehy Capital Flyer staff writer JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -- On a spring evening, after dinner, Jonmarie Pearson stood outside her home talking with a friend in base housing on Fort Hood, Texas. She did not know her life - and her family's life - was just moments away from being changed forever. "I noticed a car drive by slowly, and I remember thinking that it was odd that the men in the front seats were in dress uniform. My friend and I spoke for a little while longer, and I went inside to get everyone ready for bed since it was a school night," she said. A few minutes later, Ms. Pearson heard a knock at the door - a knock that is every military spouse's worst nightmare. At the door, Ms. Pearson saw an Army chaplain and an Army notifier; the two sharply dressed men in uniform that had driven past her house moments before. One of the men asked if she was the wife of Capt. Andrew R. Pearson. They were at the Pearson's home to inform her that her husband, an infantry officer assigned to 4th Infantry Division, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Unit and deployed to Baghdad, had died that morning. "I had never dreamed that they were asking me if I was his wife because they needed to notify me," said Ms. Pearson. "Even when they said that my husband had been killed that morning when his vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device, I thought they probably had the wrong person. I kept asking them to confirm his social security number because I just felt that they had made some type of mistake." However, it was not a mistake. Captain Pearson, a soldier who graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 2001, enlisted in the Army and earned a Bronze Star, was dead. He was buried at Arlington National Cemetery, and his family recently moved to the Washington, D.C., area to be closer to him. In May, Ms. Pearson attended the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors annual retreat where she met Kim Myers, 316th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant. "While attending the same workshop training, I overheard her discussing that she was having difficulty finding a support group in the local area," Ms. Myers explained. "This prompted me to approach her on a collaboration to create a support group for all service branches at Andrews. Our Military Family Life Consultants will be here to provide information if topics arise that the group needs assistance in dealing with. The Child MFLC will be available, as well, if the group wishes to discuss topics on children dealing with grief." Ms. Myers feels this support group will benefit the Andrews community because it is a joint service effort and is the first group like this at Andrews. "Andrews is centrally located and can provide an avenue for individuals throughout the National Capital Region to have a place to meet," Ms. Myers said. "It is our hope that the group will be a benchmark for others to provide support to surviving spouses in their area, as well. We are not limiting ourselves to Air Force spouses, but reaching out to all surviving spouses in the NCR." The support group will hold its first meeting Wednesday and will continue to meet the first Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the A&FRC. All surviving spouses, including surviving civilian and contractor spouses, are eligible to attend regardless of rank or service branch. The A&FRC is located at 1191 Menoher Dr. For more information, contact Ms. Myers at 301-981-9212.