Rotarians are notorious for their love of country and of community service. They are constantly seeking likeminded enthusiastic speakers in the community to come and share their passions and ideas for causes. Club members enjoy hearing these speakers and sometimes want to know how they can jump in and help. Individual Rotarians may, in fact, find it difficult to resist the urge to join the causes that they find near to their hearts. This is just the nature of the typical member of the Easton Rotary Club. So that is where the Rotarians found themselves last week when John “Giddy Up” Bunch, the founder of Operation Open Arms walked into their weekly meeting and started sharing.
Captain John “Giddy Up” Bunch was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps in 1969 (61st OCS class) and honorably discharged in 1976. In 1971 he remembers being greeted once by an anti war protester spitting onto his uniform. In 2005, years later after a successful career as a guide in saltwater fishing in Florida, was approached by a “young warrior”, Travis Downes, home from war asking him for a tip about fishing. Remembering the treatment from his military experience by the anti war protestor, Bunch decided not just to offer advice about fishing, but offered himself and his fishing expertise and took the young warrior free of charge out on his own boat, using his own gear, time and money… all to honor Travis Downes’ sacrifice. John is often quoted by his friends as saying, ” Service to our country should not be a ‘once upon a time’ event. To find a way to serve again or for the first time defines honor.” John’s experience in the Marines, desire to continue service to his country along with the young warrior’s need for TLC became the inspiration, Operation Open Arms (OOA).
Operation Open Arms was born that hot day in Florida, in 2005. Bunch saw the immense need that soldiers on combat leave had that he would be able to meet if he could get many people to join him and give of themselves and their time. He found that indeed people sincerely wanted to “Support Our Troops”. Since then he has built a network of extended free benefits for soldiers (serving abroad in combat and foreign duty stations) in Florida and in Ohio and perhaps one day all across the United States. It could be said that Captain John Bunch has created his network of services for the sole purpose of treating our service men and women on combat leave like kings and queens. He has collected services that are too abundant to do justice, but include such things as: boating, bowling, clothing, computers,crafts, fishing and charters, free health care, golf, home services, ice cream, kayaking, lodging, outdoor tours, parasailing, professional sports, restaurants, sightseeing tours, and travel. Amazingly, Bunch also has arranged a system for soldiers who suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to receive counseling for free without the stigma of PTSD scarring the soldiers’ military records.
Perhaps Operation Open Arms’ niche is that OOA’s services are donated “in kind” from an abundance of ordinary citizens who share Bunch’s passion and dedication for our troops who sacrifice so much for freedom’s sake. Captain John’s job is to motivate regular citizens who “claim” to support our troops down off the sidelines and bleachers and put them into the game of supporting our soldiers. He says that anyone with a heart can find something to give. Once Operation Open Arms finds the donations and services, Bunch becomes the liason between the donated services and the soldiers. The soldiers can pick and choose from a list of services that meet their individual needs.
What excited the Rotarians so much about Operation Open Arms was Captain John’s decision to bring all of these services to the Eastern Shore. Understanding that not every community has what it takes to support OOA’s requirements, Bunch believes that Talbot County has what it takes to bring these services to our warriors. He explained to the members of the the Rotary all the different ways businessmen and women can join him in his life’s passion to help our military heroes. He shared that his goal is “to make Easton/Oxford” the two friendliest towns in Maryland for US Troops/Families on their combat leaves.” This kind of success happens one donation at a time. He wants to prepare Talbot County and the Eastern Shore to serve our troops in the same way that OOA has been serving in Florida with the benefits that over 2,200 soldiers have received.
The response from the Rotary members is, ” marvelous and supportive” said Patti Willis, Rotary Vice President and Programs Director. The members are, “impressed by Bunch’s commitment to the work he has set out to do and moved by the events that prompted him to conceive of this project”. As a result of his time with the Rotarians, both the Tidewater and Bartlett Pear Inn are the latest recruits offering their services to OOA. Also, Legal Spirits and Easton Cycle and Sport and others have joined the Eastern Shore team in supporting our troops.
While Operation Open Arms is in its infancy stage here in Talbot County, it is gaining popularity almost overnight. Captain John is confident that soon, thousands of soldiers in Maryland will be supported not only by Operation Open Arms, but also by business owners and this community who are enthusiastic about the opportunity to help its heroes. Bunch said, “If I just get a half dozen business owners to give of their time and services, like the Rotarians have, then we will be up and running. It only takes a few to help many.” For more information about donating to Operation Open Arms please visit the website:www.Operationopenarms.com and for more information on the Rotary Club of Easton please visit the website:www.Eastonrotary.org.