On Trollbeads Gallery Forum we have a variety of Trollbeads design challenges and bracelet theme discussions. Collectors enjoy reading about them and are inspired by seeing the many photos. In particular we have one forum discussion that asks for the members to share their themed bracelets with a description of what the bracelet means to them. While many of the bracelets are meaningful in so many ways there was one in particular that spoke to many of us and I'll share it here. When I read it initially I reached out to the member and from there we communicated back and forth. The long and short of it being Kate and her husband, along with her step son in tow, planned and made a trip to our gallery in Mattapoisett, Mass. for our Summer Trunk Show on July 20th.
As many of you know from experience I am always honored when a collector from the forum travels to visit us at Rogers Gallery and this visit was also very special. I was thrilled to meet Kate and her family and to see the bracelet she designed to honor her husband's career in the U.S. military. Our TrollbeadsUS CEO Michael Bellevue along with Denmark's new CEO Jan Stig Andersen had planned in advance to be here at the same time and they had a surprise in store for Kate. When I introduced Kate and her family to Michael and Jan (pronounced Yan) I asked Kate to explain her theme bracelet to them and she did. Below is the explanation I pulled from the forum and is she described the meaning of the beads to Michael and Jan. As a gesture of appreciation for using Trollbeads to create this remarkable tribute to her husband Michael and Jan gave Kate a very special Trollbead. Trollbeads has always been about the meaning of the beads and this is an especially meaningful bracelet. Below is Jan shaking Kate's hand. Kate was so taken by surprise and is so grateful to them for her gift.
Kate's description (changed for present tense)
"I decided to create a tribute bracelet to my husband, who served as a Combat Medic in the 75th Ranger Regiment. He actually turned down his Officer's commission to be a medic. His career was unfortunately cut short after being shot in Afghanistan, which has left his lower right leg & foot held together with a whole lot of metal implants.
Behind the bracelet, the badge on the left is his Master Parachutist, and the one on the right is his Combat Medic badge. In the middle is the Ranger 2nd Batallion shoulder sleeve insignia.
So, the story behind each bead (from left to right) is:
1) The American Flag
2) the four jades between the Bicones are the colors of the Ranger's Distinctive Unit Insignia
3) the black Lava (found with the loving help of a very sweet & caring soul!) represents those soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice
4) Silver & Gold Stars represents his Bronze Star Medal with Valor Device
5) the purple jade next to the Double Heart represents his two Purple Heart Medals
6) the maroon jasper represents his maroon Combat Medic Branch Color
7) Angel Feathers represents the miracle that he made it home, and also the wings of his Master Jump, HALO, Army Aviation, Air Assault badges, as well as his Air Medals. (Trollbeads needs a wing-shaped bead! Feathers were as close as I could come... LOL!)
8) the first green and brown jasper represents his fatigues
9) the second green jasper represents his "Dress Greens"
10) the tan jasper represents the universally recognizable Tan Beret of the US Army Rangers
11) Angle Tips represents the chevrons of his Sergeant First Class insignia
12) This beautiful yellow ribbon OOAK was a gift from another wonderful Troll-fairy, Pauline, which represents our wish for the safe return of all of our Troops!
He has other awards and commendations, but it would become quite a cacophony of colors to try to represent them all! Have you seen some of the larger Ribbon Racks (the colored bars worn over the left breast of a uniform)? Try turning one of those into a coherent bracelet!"
Shown below is Michael Bellevue from Trollbeads with Kate after presenting her with a very special bead at Rogers Gallery/Trollbeads Gallery on July 20th, 2012.
A special word for Kate who was so kind to share her story with us. Thank you so much for making the event so special. (For reasons of privacy we have not included photos of her husband but he was there standing tall and very proud next to her and I think he was more proud of her and her bracelet than of what he did to receive all the medals this bracelet represented.)
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