John:
Joy
and sorrow are inseparable. . .
together they come and when one sits alone with you . .
.
remember that the other is asleep upon your bed.
I use this quote because joy and sorrow often go hand in
hand. Without sorrow you cannot appreciate or give joy. There are those who
when confronted with tragedy close up or turn inward. There are those who
when confronted with heartbreak fall to their knees never to rise. With the
death of Walter and Edward, The Luedke Family experienced catastrophic
tragedy and in those losses have eased the lives of so many. John Luedke got
off his knees and chose to honor his brother’s memories by offering hope to
those in need. Everyone knows about the more public things the WEL
Foundation have done, an amphitheatre in Blooming Grove; a park for special
needs children in Montgomery; a residence for Hospice in Orange County but
it’s the stories that happen every day that make the WEL Foundation and John
a integral part of our community.
These stories are just a few examples of the lives changed
by the WEL Foundation. At Safe Homes we are honored to have been chosen by
the WEL Foundation as a recipient of a grant. They provided a fence and a
van for our shelter which in every sense of the word gives us all a feeling
of security. It wasn’t just, here’s the money have a good day and move on to
the next thing. It has been a constant sense of support working with John,
Patti, Nancy Hastings and the Foundation. In trying to find an appropriate
expression of thanks for all they do we looked for something unique and
different. It’s hard to buy something to express gratitude. So with the gift
for the WEL Foundation we thought about their work. Their work leaves a
legacy or a memory. With that in mind, we chose a set of wind chimes because
the sound carries on like the work you do, like the memories of your
brothers. They remain in the air always near us but moving forward on the
wind touching all those that hear them. We also chose a blanket or a throw,
because like a blanket warms and comforts us, the work you do comforts
others when they can’t get warm. We are honored you are here this evening
and to, in some small way, recognize and pay tribute to you and the work you
do in the name of Walter and Eddie.