Twitter
Facebook
Caressa Cameron reflects a tradition of style and sophistication one might expect from a Miss America, but she also shares a commitment to serve common among the wounded warriors she visited May 11 at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.
The 22-year-old Virginia native displayed her gratitude to the staff and wounded warriors she encountered during her visit to the United Service Organizations, intensive care unit, medical-surgical wards and the Fisher House.
Ms. Cameron, crowned as the 89th Miss America in January, is currently completing her Miss America Tour across the U.S. and abroad to reach out and support her ideals. One of which, is service.
“My job is to serve,” she said. “I do anything I can do to be of service to the American people.”
Through her personable, sincere demeanor, Ms. Cameron connected with the wounded warriors she shared time with. One of them was 1st Lt. Justin Trowbridge, a 24-year-old Marine who just arrived from downrange. Lieutenant Trowbridge clearly enjoyed the time he spent with Ms. Cameron discussing shopping outlets and other common landmarks in their home state of Virginia.
“The fact that people are willing to come and look at people that are shot at. It means a lot,” said Lieutenant Trowbridge, whose right arm and shoulder is bandaged from a gunshot wound received during a fire fight in Afghanistan. “It’s not an easy thing to do. It’s like going to a nursing home, but a lot harder. We’re younger.”
Fellow Marine Zach Gillilan agreed. The 20-year-old lance corporal, being treated for injuries sustained in an improvised explosive device blast, shared with Ms. Cameron his experience earlier that day when he joined Lieutenant Trowbridge and a another Marine to visit and console a fellow Marine in the ICU.
“It brought us all to tears,” Corporal Gillilan said. “And we are America’s warriors.”
Ms. Cameron, too, was impacted by her visit to LRMC.
“Being here I have learned a lot,” she said later during an interview at the Fisher House. “This is a place I want to come back. Even when my Miss America tour is over, I want to make this a regular stop.”
Parallel to her mission to serve, Ms. Cameron said she saw the strength and dedication of the wounded warriors’ service to our country.
“They still have the heart of a servant,” she said of the servicemembers she visited, one of whom presented her with his rank insignia he wore downrange.
Asked if she had any words of encouragement to share with the wounded warriors she met, Ms. Cameron reflected on her own struggle to become Miss America during the four years of competition it took before being named Miss Virginia.
“Remember why you got involved and remember why you keep going,” she said.
