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I Finally Found a Home: The Story of Cadet Senior Airman Ashley Weddle
Posted 4/5/2011 Updated 4/5/2011
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Commentary by Chief Master Sgt. (Ret.) R. Wayne Barron
Aerospace Science instructor, North Side High School TN-961 JROTC
4/5/2011 - JACKSON, Tenn. -- Cadet Senior Airman Ashley Weddle, a 16-year-old sophomore and at North Side High School in Jackson, Tenn., has faced numerous challenges in life and JROTC, many far beyond what many people will see in their lifetime.
When Ashley was just six months old, she was involved in a bath tub accident. The accident left her with third degree burns covering more than ninety percent of her body. Since then, Cadet Weddle has undergone more than 30 surgeries and numerous skin grafts to repair the severe damage done. This year alone, she has had surgery at the Shiner's Children's Hospital in Cincinnati to repair her right hand.
When I first met Ashley as part of the freshmen JROTC, her appearance startled me. I quickly found out if you look beyond the burns, you will see a smiling face and a beautiful soul staring back at you. I spoke with her about her condition and the challenges JROTC provides for any person.
"I have difficulties, but I'm not a charity case," she said.
She asked me to treat her just like all the other cadets and to give her a chance to prove herself. I quickly discovered the kids at school admired and befriended her, other than dwelling upon her physical appearance. They treated her as if she was no different than children their age.
While Ashley cannot march as fast as the rest of the cadets due to her limited mobility, she knows which foot to call commands on better than most other cadets. To see her doing stationary facing movements from a seated position is amazing. Cadet Weddle does a left-face from a chair better than most able-bodied cadets do on their feet.
Ashley's first challenge as a cadet was our participation in the Lane College homecoming parade. She told me she wanted to be part of the parade, but I did not know how she would navigate the three-mile-long parade route. Ashley suggested we borrow a wheelchair, and she would do the present-arms and eyes-right movements just like everyone else. The excitement in her face was illuminating. You could tell being part of the flight in a parade was a highlight for her. Ashley did not complain one time about how hot the temperature was or how long the parade route was. She was smiling from ear to ear, almost as if she had accomplished something she never thought possible.
Another obstacle Cadet Weddle faced was last year, when North Side High School hosted its first sports day competition. Ashley asked me if she could be a cheerleader. Of course I agreed, and she wore her PT uniform just like the rest of the cadets while encouraging our team to victory. Ashley has since then been a part of three sports day events and has marched in two other parades. This year, she will be with us as we participate in the Humboldt, Tenn. Strawberry Festival parade.
Ashley knows a military career is not an option for her. However, her ambition in life is to still help other people, either as a social worker or a nurse. Ashley is on the A-B honor roll at North Side and other than the days missed for her surgeries, she has perfect attendance at school.
Ashley has more surgeries scheduled in the future, but for now she's a happy 16-year-old JROTC cadet who likes to laugh and have fun with her friends. |
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