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Remembering Marta
If you've been around Montrose for a few years, you might have heard about Marta Taylor — and if you haven't, then you should have.
Marta came here in the 1990s from Florida, with her husband Landy, who supported the troops by truly putting their money where their mouths were. The pair founded Operation Sweet Tooth in about 2003, using their own money to purchase and send comfort items and candies to those deployed overseas.
From there, Operation Sweet Tooth grew into a community force for good, with many hands, and an annual fundraiser to help support the troops with a little taste of home.
When Landy passed away, Marta continued his work — while also taking the time to become a U.S. citizen (she emigrated from Poland) — and was honored with a Meritorious Service Medal in 2013.
We are saddened to report that Marta passed away last Friday. She was one of those dynamic people who, seeing a need, simply stepped up and filled it, rather than talking about how someone else needed to pitch in. In the words of Sheldon Smith, now the county veteran services officer, who had received one of Operation Sweet Tooth's packages while serving in Iraq: "She was a great person. It meant so much to the community to have a concrete way they could (help) the service members overseas. I thought it was a great organization, a great thing to do."
(Above, Marta Taylor in 2013, with her well-deserved medal)
We will have more on Marta in an upcoming edition. Her death is a reminder, though, that it only takes a few people to make a big difference. So if you have something in mind that could help others — perhaps you want to volunteer somewhere, or even just lend your neighbor a hand — don't hold back. Give it a try. A good starting point is JustServe.org, a volunteer clearinghouse that lists nonprofit seeking assistance.
— Katharhynn, from the Newsroom, wishing you a happy Monday.
Remembering 9/11
On this day in 2001, nearly 3,000 people — from many nations — died in terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as Flight 93, whose heroic passengers took the plane down in a field in Pennsylvania before it could strike its intended target.
Since that day, casualties have grown among first responders who were sickened in responding to the fallen Trade Center towers.
Take a moment to remember them.
(File photo)
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