THROUGH OTHERS’ EYES

Jannie Layne

• “She founded Bo’s Blessings, which was the first organization in the USA to recycle wreaths from Wreaths Across America for seven years. Bo’s Blessing has retired that event but began a new one, “Honor and Respect.” Honor and Respect pays respect to all veterans buried at the Fayetteville National Cemetery by washing every headstone at least once a year. She continues her efforts for veterans with the Homeless to Home program by assisting veterans with transitional funds, utility deposits, food, shelter and furniture. She was also involved in the organization and implementation of an “unclaimed veterans” burial program. Every veteran should have the honor of having a proper burial. These are just a few examples of Jannie’s profound impact to the lives of veterans in Fayetteville.”

— Mayor Lioneld Jordan

• “She has definitely committed a lot of her time to the veterans in the area, something that not a lot of people would do — especially as much as she does. I would say probably 60% of her time is spent with different organizations, making sure veterans are taken care of.”

— Skip Solomon

• “You won’t find a better person as far as I’m concerned. I’ve seen her take a hold of veterans’ hands and walk them through what needed to be done. Sometimes she doesn’t know to do those things, but she learned them along the way. There’s nothing she won’t push through. I’ve kind of been in awe of it for some time.”

— Rick McKee

• “My husband was in a VA nursing home, and she helped me take care of him, helped me get a little relief every once in a while. One time she was helping him eat and he thought he was visiting her in Chicago — that’s where he was born and raised. He said he wanted a martini and she said, ‘Well, I don’t have the makings for a martini, but if you tell me what to get, I’ll have it the next time I come,’ and he said, ‘You knew I was coming and you still didn’t get the makings! Get a pencil and write it down.’ She said, ‘I’ve got a better idea, I’ll tape it.’ In a way, [watching the video] gives a little jerk to my heart strings but it makes me feel good to know how much he loved her and how much she loved him.”

— Naomi Baird