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Love You More Than You Know
Mothers' Stories about sending their
sons and daughters to war
5-1-2009

On Friday night (May 1) Janie Reinart and Mary Anne Mayer were scheduled to autograph copies of their new book at Joseph Beth Booksellers at Legacy Village. Joseph Beth is well known for bringing in authors and hosting interesting events.

Janie Reinart and Mary Anne Mayer, authors of
Love You More Than You Know

This book, Love You More Than You Know: Mothers' Stories About Sending Their Sons and Daughters to War is a compilation of stories by Ohio military moms; Moms who have watched their sons and daughters go off to war.

The parking lot was full and bumper stickers which gave a hint as to what was going on inside. "Pray for our troops" "Support the troops" "Proud mother of a son or daughter in the Marines…Army…Air Force…Navy…"

Contributing Mothers Ilena Porter, Amy Kenneley,
Renie Martin and Laurie Goyetche

I doubt that the people at Joseph Beth even remotely anticipated the response this book and its authors would attract. Well over 300 people crammed the book store, including many of the 45 women who had their stories included in this book.

Crowd at Joseph Beth for book signing

It felt more like a family reunion than a book signing as the women - who for the most part had never met each other -had each other sign their books and shared hugs and tears. Janie and Mary Anne asked the mothers to stand, then any military that were present and finally friends of the military.

Janie Reinart and Jayne White

Thunderous applause rattled the walls of the book store, a normally quiet, sedate place.

One by one those of the 45 that were present introduced themselves and shared a very brief snippet of their story, echoing the sentiments of the bumper stickers in the parking lot.

Lucky Caswell Harris tells her story

"My son is a Marine… My daughter is in the Air Force…My son is coming home in 2 weeks. My son has been to Iraq… My daughter has been to Afghanistan… My child has been to Korea and Kuwait… My son/daughter is about to be deployed, again…"

Celeste Hicks and Mary Anne Mayer

Some of their children were there and came up to be with their moms as they tried to get through their introductions without crying. Not everyone was successful at this, but as they cried, the audience empathized.

Cindi Finnerty Condol and her son Padraic (Paddy)

A surprising amount of mothers reported that their sons and daughters had no idea they wrote the story. Some still didn't know and some just found out that day. A few moms wanted to get approval first because of the sensitive nature of their son or daughters military assignment. In some cases permission was given to write the article, but only if no names were used. This is, after all, war.

Not everyone there was in the book or even was a parent of a soldier. Yet, everyone shared a sense of togetherness.

82nd Airborne Mom

Many people wore military shorts or jackets. Some had buttons with pictures of their child in uniform. And everyone shared a bond of pride.

Congratulations to Janie Reinart and Mary Anne Mayer for putting this book together, to the mothers who contributed, to their brave sons and daughters going into harm's way so that we don't have to, and to Joseph Beth Booksellers for hosting this event.

Gloria Frombach with son Matt

Elaina Goodrich

Marcy Redmond

Kathy Leopold

Ilena Porter

Noel Burr

Amy Kenneley

Mary Fiezner

Karen Phelps

Wendy Anderson

Laurie Goyetche

Robin Schaefer

Diane Berlin

Saundra Verinece Hunt

Karen White

Elizabeth Jameyson

Connie Stephens-Gehri and son Derek

Penny Norris

Mickie Heaton

Debi Gebler and son

Laura Gavlak

Janie Reinart and son Joe

Kara Paine

Kathy Sargent and Janie Reinart

Standing Room Only at Joseph Beth

Love You More Than You Know: Mothers' Stories About Sending Their Sons and Daughters to War

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Love You More Than You KnowMothers' Stories about sending their sons and daughters to war5-1-2009

Love You More Than You Know
Mothers' Stories about sending their
sons and daughters to war
5-1-2009