During the holidays, Jeff Waxler walked his mom Kati Waxler of Los Alamos down the aisle. She married Ezra Maes, whom she met while in the Army. The next opportunity to make cards for military members and Veterans will be held 1-2 p.m. Monday at the White Rock Branch Library. Courtesy photo

Kati, son Jeff, and husband Ezra Maes, who was named Army Times Soldier of the Year in 2021, after a tank injury in Slovakia. He was forced to amputate his own leg to save his tank mates and call for help. Courtesy photo

By BERNADETTE LAURITZEN
Executive Director
Champions of Youth Ambitions

Champions of Youth Ambitions (C’YA) would like to thank the community members who provided holiday cards for active military troops and one Veteran. We sent care packages of mail to one member in each branch of the military, except the Space Force. If you know a Space Force member who would like to receive care packages of mail, we would be thrilled to accommodate.

Special thanks to Joyce Beery, Venita Chavez, Kitty Gandee, Debra Minyard. Patricia Rathbone, Lorraine Roman-Vasilik and Cathy Walters. We also received $20 in donations with the cards for postage and a $50 donation from Mihaela Pops-Simil. The additional funds will be used for our Valentine’s for Vets and military personnel event at the end of January.

An additional holiday treat was that former Chamisa and Pinon Elementary School student Ezra Maes was married to Kati Waxler. Son Jeff walked Waxler down the aisle. Maes met Waxler while in the Army, where they became friends. Maes was named Army Times Soldier of the Year in 2021, after a tank injury in Slovakia. He was forced to amputate his own leg to save his tank mates and call for help. They all survived the accident and share a close bond.

The next opportunity to make cards for military members and Veterans will be held 1-2 p.m. Monday at the White Rock Branch Library. Community members are welcome to stop by for just a moment to drop off something they made on their own or create one while they visit.