MANAHAWKIN – Tears streamed down Amanda Simpson’s face as three Marine veterans made a special trip to her home to honor the memory of her late husband.
Marine Cpl. Scott Simpson, who battled with PTSD, tragically died by suicide on November 8, 2020. His military career included a peace keeping mission in Kosovo and a tour of duty fighting the Iraq War. In addition to his widow, the honorably discharged marine was survived by their now nine-year old daughter Makayla.
“Scott was one of the first infantry battalions to invade Nasiriyah,” shared Amanda. “He came home in 2008 and suffered tremendously from PTSD for many years.”
In a heartfelt display of camaraderie and solidarity, the Marines rallied around Amanda, their fallen brother’s widow, to show their unwavering support and present her with a gift. The touching gesture came in response to a recent incident that deeply moved them and prompted them into action.
A few weeks ago, Amanda was devastated to discover that the fallen soldier memorial dedicated to her husband had been stolen from the lawn of her Ocean Acres home. The well-lit memorial, a black silhouetted figure of a kneeling veteran, served as a tribute to the late Marine’s dedication and sacrifice.
Amanda was not only heartbroken but also utterly shocked by the theft. She couldn’t believe that someone would be so brazen and disrespectful. She also wondered how the thieves managed to bypass the attention of her 90-pound rottweiler, who could have easily pounced through the living room window to protect his family and property.
“My husband was a combat Marine veteran…who would give the shirt off his back and help absolutely everyone and anyone,” Amanda wrote in a social media post. “I am begging whoever took it to please please return it!”
When Amanda’s post hit the Barnegat Township Chatter’s Facebook page, it was perhaps no coincidence that veterans from a group known as MA-22 took notice.
MA-22 is a non-profit organization that provides support to veterans and their families, including those struggling with PTSD. The group’s initials stand for Ma Deuce Deuce, derived from the nickname for the M2 .50 caliber machine gun as well as representing the 22 veterans who lose their lives to suicide each day.
Amanda said she was unaware of MA-22 until recently. Scott’s battle with PTSD accelerated during the height of COVID-19 restrictions, making it difficult for him to access the support he needed.
Posthumously, MA-22 veterans Dennis Addesso, Jay Hayden, and Thomas Kiselow sprang into action to support their fallen brother’s widow. They reached out to Amanda and offered to replace the memorial to Scott that had been stolen from her front yard. They were determined to make amends for the loss and ensure that Scott Simpson’s memory was honored in the way it deserved.
“We take care of all vets, but we Marines are a little tighter group,” said Addesso, MA-22 president. “And we just decided we had to make it right.”
Adesso said he reached out to Mike Legrini, another veteran and the owner of Veteran Wood Company to enlist his help. The two collaborated on a design and Legrini put the project at the top of his priority list and worked diligently to bring it to fruition.
“I had the idea to make it out of wood and make it all different colors,” Addesso added. “Mike said it would take a lot of time and yet got it done within one week. On top of that, Mike donated what is probably a pretty costly item because it takes a lot of time to make the cuts.”
Addesso made arrangements to deliver the new memorial. As the three veterans unveiled the stunning piece that bears Scott’s name and rank, the young widow could barely catch her breath.
“It’s amazing,” she whispered, between her tears.
The recreation of the stolen veteran memorial may lead to MA-22 arranging for similar pieces to honor other veterans.
About MA-22
MA-22 evolved after Addesso and other Marine veterans attended a faith-based program called Operation Restored Warrior (ORW).
“We came back from that and basically found there was a way that veterans can live with PTSD,” said Adesso. “And not just fight it every single day.”
Adesso shared that he took an attempt at his own life in 2016.
Gaining inspiration from ORW, MA-22 engages veterans in various activities, such as fishing, skydiving, and scuba diving. They also help veterans with unmet needs.
“Literally this weekend, Tom (Kiselow, also the Executive Director of Vetwork) and I got a homeless veteran into a hotel,” shared Adesso. “So he wouldn’t have to be living in the rain; we help with the homeless.”
“There’s really nothing we can’t do right now because our community gets our mission,” Adesso continued. “And, you know when you have a community like that, we like to say we’re just a conduit to a blessing.”
