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Youth group's fundraiser will help protect Marine

Brian Talafer will have supplemental body armor when he goes to Iraq thanks to his former church youth group.

By WAVENEY ANN MOORE
Published July 17, 2005

ST. PETERSBURG - When Marine reservist Brian Talafer's former youth group learned he would soon be deployed to Iraq, they decided to raise money to supplement his military-issued body armor.

They organized a car wash. When it was over, the high school group at First Unity Church had raised more than $1,000.

"I'm very grateful for it. I wish that there was more of this happening for other service members," said Talafer, 19, who enlisted in the Marines after graduating from St. Petersburg High School last summer.

"It's nice to know that people care and that there's resources for this type of thing to happen. I was absolutely just really in awe that this group was wanting to contribute to my safety."

His parents, Janan and Mark Talafer, were equally moved.

"We were astounded and grateful, very appreciative," said Janan Talafer, a member of First Unity for 10 years. "We were just choked up when we heard about it. We were so overwhelmed with gratitude."

Nineteen current and former members of the youth group participated in the late June car wash in First Unity's parking lot, 469 45th Ave N. Participants asked only for donations for their work.

Talafer, who was told his unit might be deployed in January, will drive a supply truck in Iraq. Janan Talafer said she and her husband, who also have a daughter, Laura, 15, learned about their son's assignment around the same time questions were being raised about the lack of body armor for troops.

"We learned that some parents were purchasing body armor and we decided to do that in addition to what the Marines would give him," she said.

"We wanted to make sure that if he was going to be in the line of fire, he would have everything that he needed to protect him. If there's the latest, the best, we want to make sure he goes over with that."

Talafer emphasized that the Marine Corps is providing essential body armor.

"What the fundraiser was for was armor above and beyond that," he said.

For instance, he hopes to be able to buy items such as a tactical sling.

"This sling enables you to hold your weapon in the ready position at all times. Every second counts when something happens," he said.

Talafer also hopes to reinforce his flak jacket with special plates that he will buy. He also wants to get tactical goggles that will make it easier to see in the desert.

For as long as he can remember, he's always wanted to join the military.

"G.I. Joe was kind of my little role model. I've always kind of wanted to join some kind of armed forces. The Marine Corps just kind of appealed to me. . . . Once you're a Marine, you do have that sense that, wow, I can do anything," said Talafer, who plans to attend college and apply for Officer Candidate School.

He was "nervous and in a way excited," when he learned of his pending deployment.

His parents reacted differently.

"We were very upset, really worried, distressed," Janan Talafer said. "We're obviously very aware that if you make a commitment to serve in the military, that this is certainly a possibility, being called up. But when it actually happens, it's always upsetting."

Members of his former youth group are praying for the best, said Tom Crowley, one of the group's adult sponsors.

Talafer had been very active in the high school group, he said.

"Brian was always someone to jump in on any kind of service," he said.

Jim Arrington, a captain in the Navy Reserve, and a member of First Unity, said the youth group has always been involved in service to the community. He is proud of their efforts on Talafer's behalf.

"I'm so impressed that they have been willing to step up, that these kids are willing to do that shows a wonderful spiritual support," he said.

"This is their first chance to do something for one of their own."

[Last modified July 17, 2005, 01:05:20]