Stories
Fixing Collars
It all started when Chris Rose was on his first tour in 2017. During his first ever "commander call" / orientation, in Kuwait, he noticed the commander (Who's rank of Colonel was misheard by Rose as 3 Star General) Col. Berger's (pictured on the left) collar was a bit wonky which was distracting and he could hardly pay attention to what the Col. was saying. Later that evening as Col. Berger was finding his seat for the stage show Rose approached him and attempted to fix his collar for him. Col. Berger was appreciative of Rose's attempt to help but it proved to have a flaw in the material and couldn't be fixed there.
After the show Rose was able to video chat with his wife (a USAF Vet.) back home to share how the first day went and when he told her he tried to help the [Sic. 3 Star Gen.] by fixing his collar for him. Her eyes went wide and she said "You're telling me you put your hands on a @!#$%^* 3 STAR?!? I haven't even been in the room with a 1 Star! You're NOT supposed to touch them!!!"
Rose took this a personal challenge to continue to "fix collars" and send the photos back to his wife. Now Rose shares this story with every commanding officer he meets and is collecting photos of him fixing collars.
Not surprising most of the COs Rose meets are more than willing to play along. Much to his wife's chagrin, Rose is still on the hunt for Stars.
(This story is use with permission from Col. Berger)
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Over and over and Over Again
Deployment is long (months/years), it’s repetitive, isolating, and is often described to us as the movie Groundhog Day or "Monday" everyday. Same clothes, same food, same people, same this, same that.
Our US military service members have limited time and/or choices when it comes to recreation and stress relief, often going months without any entertainment or civilian visits that connect them to the country they are protecting.
We help by bringing something different, a little magic, to their days.
A Typical Day on Deployment
Wake up & get dressed
Here we go...
Physical Training (PT)
Key to military readiness, service members will be expected to meet fitness standards throughout their enlistment
Breakfast
Most service members eat their breakfast in the field or at the dining facility (DFAC)
Current work assignment
From Active Combat, Administrative, Construction, Electronic and Electrical Repair, Engineering, Science and Technical, Health Care, Protective Services, to any one of many more necessary jobs
Lunch
Most service members eat their lunch in the field or at their desk
Back to current work assignment
From Active Combat, Administrative, Construction, Electronic and Electrical Repair, Engineering, Science and Technical, Health Care, Protective Services, to any one of many more necessary jobs
Dinner
Most service members eat their dinner in the field or at the dining facility (DFAC)
Additional duty
Guard duty, kitchen duty, or cleaning details or free time to study, additional physical training, and socialize.
Sleep
Finally!
Wake up & get dressed
Do it all over again,
and again, and again, and again...
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FREE HUGS
"... I'm just the delivery boy." - Chris Rose
Giving away free hugs started when Chris Rose was building his act for the Magic Castle in Hollywood CA. He wanted a gauge to show how well he ws connecting with his audience. During his week long run of 21 shows at the Magic Castle he was able to truly connect with his audiences and over a thousand people physically connected with him, in some way, on their way out the door after his shows. From a hand-shake, fist bump, elbow tap, and of course hugs.
Rose now takes his FREE HUGS sign with him on tour and is not disappointed by the response from our service members. Many of our service members just want to connect with someone who is not in uniform because it reminds them that they are still human.
"When a service member receives a hug from me they're not just getting a hug from me. They're getting hugged by their family and friends back home, and every person who is supporting us being there. I'm just the delivery boy." - Chris Rose
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Take Action Today
Magicians On Mission relies on people like you who care about the physical and psychological health of our deployed service members and their families. Please support our US military.
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