Surprise Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee founded America’s Mighty Warriors
Posted 4/10/22
Surprise resident Debbie Lee received the toughest news that a parent could receive when she was notified that her son, Marc, was killed in Ramadi, becoming the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq.
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Arizona Veterans Hall calls Momma Lee
Surprise Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee founded America’s Mighty Warriors
Posted
COPPER SWORD
The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society seeks to recognize an individual Arizona non-veteran whose personal actions contributed significantly to the benefit and well being of our military, our veterans, their families and their survivors, their communities and their neighbors.
Copper was the first metal used to make a sword. The upright unsheathed sword is a symbol of exceptional bravery and leadership. The sword is representational of the warrior and is indicative of that individual who engages to fight for a cause that is greater than that of his/her own self interest. The award consists of a Copper Sword accompanied by an inscription and is presented in a framed, glass covered case.
The AVHOFS seeks to recognize those Arizona individuals who have not worn the uniform of this Nation’s Armed Forces but have done extraordinary things in support of our communities, neighbors and our veterans. Of particular merit are those who have distinguished themselves by exceptional patriotism and support of veterans, the currently serving, their families and their survivors. The service and personal sacrifices of Arizona veterans, military members and their families often go unrecognized and underappreciated by the general civilian populace. We need to ensure that the men and women who have served in uniform or are serving in uniform will always have access to the services, support and recognition they have earned.
Surprise resident Debbie Lee received the toughest news that a parent could receive when she was notified that her son, Marc, was killed in Ramadi, becoming the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq.
Debbie could have let that news destroy her, but in the face of what she said was the toughest adversity a mother could face, she chose to “put on his boots, pick up his weapon and stay in the fight for our troops, veterans and Gold star families.”
Lee founded America’s Mighty Warriors in response to her son’s last letter home. She has personally thanked more than 50,000 troops and veterans, visited Iraq twice in 2007 and 2010.
Lee received the Copper Sword Award from The Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society April 1. The presentation took place during the society’s 15th annual Patriotic Awards Luncheon.
She is the first Gold Star Mom in history to visit the combat zone where her child was killed. She went on patrol with the 1st of the 4th CAV three different times in Iraq. On her first trip, Lee hand delivered Christmas cards, care packages and goodies to troops.
Through her foundation Lee has provided hundreds of veterans struggling with PTS, TBI and suicidal thoughts life-saving healing therapies through a year-long Helping Heroes Heal Program.
She provided thousands of random acts of kindness in response to her son’s powerful last letter home. In it, Marc Lee challenges people to change their world by doing more random acts of kindness. He asks “when was the last time you paid for a random stranger’s meal, cup of coffee, or tank of gas?”
AMW also provides large random acts of kindness for crisis situations granting up to $5,000 for funeral expenses, families struggling with children who have cancer and accommodating homes with handicap accessible needs.
America’s Mighty Warriors has hosted annual retreats for Gold Star families with more than 1,000 family members attending to provide respite, hope and to honor and support their families.
They funded the Gold Star Memorial at Wesley Bolin Plaza at Arizona’s State Capitol to honor Gold Star families. She worked with state legislators to get the legislation introduced and passed.
Lee often fights for legislation at the state Capitol, in the halls of Congress, the VA or even the White House.
Debbie is an author, public speaker and is known in the SEAL and military community as MommaLee.
