CW Conner, CEO of LifeQuest Transitions, was interviewed by Mike McConnell of 720 WGN Radio the “Voice of Chicago”. WGN is Chicago’s largest talk show and is broadcasted to over 38 states! Listen to the interview here.

http://www.wgnradio.com/shows/billleff/wgnam-leff-helping-veterans-032712,0,2502095.mp3file

To donate in memory of Gerard A. Francois please click the donate button on the upper right hand corner of our menu. Unfortunately, we do not currently have a “field” to enter in what your donation is for. We are currently working on this. If you make a donation via Pay Pal, please send an email to alicia@mylq.org stating the name the donation was made under. This way we can properly thank everyone who contributed in memory of Mr. Francois.

LifeQuest Transitions prefers donations to be via check mailed in. Please mail all checks to PO Box 77020, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80970

Gerard A. Francois

Gerard A. “Jerry” Francois, a well known resident of Colorado Springs, Fountain and Hanover, passed peacefully into the arms of his Supreme Commander, Lord and Savior on February 24, 2012 in Colorado Springs. He served his Country with honor, God with duty and family with love.

Jerry was born Sept 23,1930 in Jersey City to Camille and Helen (Fortune) Francois. At age 17, he left school and enlisted in the Army. He served with the 17th Inf. during the occupation of Korea in 1947 and was reassigned to 3/31st Inf., 7th Div. in 1948 at Camp Crawford, Japan. He learned Morse code and became a radio operator. Jerry entered the Korean War at the Inchon Landing and on Nov. 27, 1950 was caught in the ambush at the Chosin Reservoir. He was taken prisoner on Dec.2, 1950 and held by the Chinese for 33 months.Upon his release, Jerry returned to New Jersey. While visiting his brother in Denver, CO. he met a young nursing student, Dawn Emery. She became the love of his life, his inspiration and his strength. After a long distance courtship they married on Jun 16, 1956 in Colorado Springs and returned to Jersey City. With the birth of their first daughter, the couple settled in Colorado Springs, where three more daughters completed the family. Jerry loved the outdoors and fishing became his passion.

Jerry started Colorado Spring’s first commercial towing company, Allied Towing, which he later renamed Checker Wrecker. He also owned Allied Auto Salvage and Allied Insurance Pool. He helped draft the PUC T permit law regulating the towing industry. In 1975, the family moved to Fountain. With Dawn at his side, Jerry started Kart Krete Rental, Town & Country Hardware and finally Dawn Meadows Feed & Tack. He became a constant figure in politics and the local coffee shops. As an advocate for the military, Jerry lobbied endlessly on the Bill for Colorado Ex-POW license plates. In 1978, he formed the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the American Ex-POWs. Jerry served as the Commander of the 31st Inf. Association and was instrumental in forming of the Army Chapter of the Chosin Few.In 2005, Jerry and Dawn built their dream home in Hanover. He received his honorary high school diploma and is officially a graduate of Hanover High School.

Surviving are wife, Dawn; sister, Grace Markert; daughters, Charmaine (Stanley) Griffith, Yvonne (Randy) South, Paulette Francois, and Jeannette (Patrick) Thurman; grandsons, Cayle Lazor, Cameron Lazor and Riley South; granddaughters, Nicolle Caraway and Madison Thurman. He is also survived by a host of nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, second great nieces and nephews, longtime cherished friends and extended family.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Camille and Donald, and a sister, Lois Defina.

If you are interested in starting a chapter in your area, email LQ.Info@lqtransitions.org

During this relevant time of war and transition, it is evident that veterans of all generations need to generate a community and network of awareness. The Foxhole Military Network will function as a community which utilizes social media and technology in order to provide support, resources, and pertinent information for each other. This network will be proactive in raising awareness for the needs of today’s veterans and implementing community action tools that are key to developing local veteran transitional programs.

Mission-“To support, strengthen and build military transitional programs into, though, and beyond military life”

1. Awareness- Generate awareness about veteran and family’ issues and transitional needs like education and employment.
2. 2.       Action- Raising funds, hosting community events and conducting local education and outreach projects for the purpose of creating local long term veteran transitional programs.  

Ambassadors- Ambassadors are chapter directors handpicked by LifeQuest Military Transitions (LQMT) to initiate, create and lead the local Foxhole Network. Their duties will include recruiting local veterans, scheduling monthly meetings, building a leadership team and coordinating members. They will be given tools and program design provided by LQMT to help develop their chapter.

Members- Veterans who join the network will generate awareness, recruit and support local and national initiatives.

It’s a small world. After the second Music Camp, two of the song writers, Radney Foster and Jay Clementi, went on a fishing trip to Wyoming. Their fishing guide was a former Marine named Pat Ginder. As soon as  Ginder recognized Radney Foster, he told him how much the song ‘Angel Flight’ meant to him and that he had flown some of those missions. Angel Flights are planes that carry the soldiers who died during conflict back to the states. Randey and Jay told the marine about  writing songs with soldiers from LifeQuest and what an amazing experience it was.

As the night went on, they played music and eventually the artists started telling him the story of ‘Hell On My Heart’ which describes the clash of two helicopters.

Ginder’s face turned white and his jaw dropped and he said ” Are you Talking about when a Cobra and a Huey Collided in the dark in 2009?” he said “That was my unit, those where my best friends, I should have been on that flight…their names and that event are  tattooed on my back!”

Radney and Jay were in shock, they could hardly hold it together through the song. After they played it, Ginder, in a tear filled hug, thanked them and also said he had a new favorite song. They played on through the night as the wind blew and the snow drifts grew.

It was a really strange and amazing way to end a weekend of songwriting with LifeQuest. It truly shows the power and reach of music and song.

Friday March 2, 2012 – Friday March 2, 2012

LifeQuest

Map and Directions | Register

Description:

A one day introductory camp, packed with fun activities and clinics. Open to all skill levels! Learn the basics to prepare for your first Adventure Race, or hone your skills to take your racing to the next level. 

We’ll start the day with skill stations (mountain biking, rappelling, Tyrolean, kayak training and trekking. Then we break for lunch (catered at LQ by Buffalo Wild Wings), continue with race-prep presentations (gear, nutrition, orientation and navigation) and head to the Orienteering Course at Fox Run (shuttles provided to/from Fox Run). 

Jari Kirkland with Team Switzerland will provide her personal insight as a professional adventure racer. Don’t miss this opportunity to prepare for adventure racing season!

Bring a water bottle, extra clothes (could be chilly!) and a compass if you have one. 

 Early Registration (1Jan-16Feb) – $15 for Military (With Military ID), $40 for Public

Registration after 16Feb – $25 for Military, $50 for Public 

Please contact Danielle at (719) 596-9926 or danielle.kehoe@lqtransitions.org

Register

As the last people departed, we were all secretly hoping for a just a few more days. Yet, we had written over 12 incredible songs this weekend and we will have an extremely difficult time picking which songs will go on our album. The artists certainly had their work in front of them. Check out this video produced by the Denver Post and keep your eyes open for the upcoming songs.

Denver Post Video -John Buckley, John Wall and Tyler Daly all share their experiences.

Friday January 20, 2012 – Friday January 20, 2012

4075 N Cheyenne Canyon Rd

Map and Directions | Register

Description:

Come get your cold on and Ice Climb at Helen Hunt Falls. All gear will be provided including crampons and harness’s. This event is open to all skill levels whether you are a newbie or skilled climber. Meet at LifeQuest at 7:30 am and you will be shuttled down to the climbing site. Please wear cold winter gear such as waterproof pants and a coat. Participation for this climb is required if you want to climb the next weekend in Lake City.

Contact Herman at 719-596-9929 or Herman.Herrera@lqtransitions.org

Register

Sunday January 22, 2012 – Sunday January 22, 2012

3320 Mesa Road

Map and Directions | Register

Description:

Join us on February 22 for a one of a kind exclusive event. LifeQuest is proud to host it’s 2nd annual Music Camp hosted at the Garden of the Gods club in Colorado Springs, Colorado. LifeQuest has partnered with 4 singer/songwriters including Jay Clementi, Darden Smith, Radney Foster and Georgia Middleman with ten post 9-11 veterans. It promises to be a weekend of sharing and open hearts as the group will write songs about the veterans’ war experiences. Witness this powerful and one of a kind event for yourself. We are inviting the public to a dinner and Jam session at the Garden of the Gods Club. You will be the first to hear these new and incredible songs. For just a $500 donation, you will experience a delicious dinner and a night to remember full of tears and inspiration. You do not want to miss this one!

If you have any questions, please contact Alicia at alicia.pino@lqtransitions.org. To learn more about the music camp please click here.

Register

Brandon Adam, an Iraq Veteran who is a participant at LifeQuest recently had a story featured on him on KRDO. Watch his video by following the link below. Warning, it has been known to invoke tears.

Check out Brandon’s incredible story online on KRDO by clicking here

You can read his biography on our website by clicking here

The Rocky Mountain Western Artfest is this Friday 11/11/11 on Veterans Day at the

Norris Event Center on the 2nd floor in the VIP room

1045 Lower Gold Camp Road

Colorado Springs, Colorado 80905

The event will include free appetizers, and drinks. The event is family friendly. The artfest will benefit the Pikes Peak or Bust Rodeo and LifeQuest Transitions. The event will feature artist Eric Fetsch.

Please RSVP to Michelle Roth at member9675@aol.com