Iraq veteran's wife gets thank-you makeover
Husband says she sacrificed for family
Eden's Apple Salon owner Tobie Dyer-Theis (right) discusses hair styles with Tawnya Vincent. Vincent got a free makeover as a thank you from her husband, who recently returned from Iraq. / Dee Moore | Statesman Journal freelancer
When Sergeant Richard Vincent of Salem returned from Iraq after being deployed for a year, he wanted to thank his wife, Tawnya. He gave her a full spa day at Eden's Apple Salon and Day Spa. / Submitted
When Sgt. Richard Vincent of Salem returned from Iraq after being deployed for a year, his first thought was how happy he was to be home. His second thought was to find some way to thank his wife, Tawnya, for her efforts to make his homecoming so wonderful.
"She made it much easier on me while I was in Iraq because I never had to worry about anything," Vincent said.
He believes that the spouses of military personnel never get the credit they deserve for how hard they work to hold their families together while their partners are gone.
"That's the biggest thing, and they don't get credit for it," he said.
Vincent wanted to do his best to thank his wife for all she had done for him and their family. "My wife is my soul mate. She is my best friend," Vincent. "She's the rock of the family."
He emailed dozens of salons and spas in the area asking for their help. He request was a simple one: that the salon devote an entire day to giving his wife the full treatment.
What he received from Eden's Apple Salon and Day Spa on Liberty Road S was a gift from heaven. Not only did the salon spend the day devoted to pampering Vincent's wife, it also gave his little girls — 6-year-old Taliyah and 4-year-old TiAnnah — a haircut and style. All of this was free.
"I have friends and family in the military, and I appreciate all they do for us," said salon owner Tobie Dyer-Theis. "We want to try to repay them as best we can for their service and sacrifice. We value our freedom and appreciate their service."
A member of the Oregon Army National Guard, Vincent served with Charlie Company 7-158 Aviation in the medevac unit while in Iraq. He has since returned to his original post at Joint Forces Headquarters in Salem, where he works in the finance department.
He left again recently to go to Denver for classification training, but it was only a two-week trip. Vincent has spent a little more than half of his marriage away from home.
Dyer-Theis said many of her own family members serve in the military so she understands their sacrifice better than most. Her husband is a veteran of the first Gulf War.
When her Dyer-Theis' employees heard about Vincent's request, they all decided to get in on the action. Tawnya received a cut, color, style, a facial, pedicure, manicure and pro makeup job.
While Richard Vincent was in Iraq, Tawnya cared for their two daughters and sent Richard a care package every other week. She also worked a job at Marion County Sheriff's Department in the Parol and Probation office.
She got a bit of a break on Friday after the makeover; the girls went home with grandparents. Tawnya also enjoyed a donated lunch.
When she found out what her husband had pulled off, Tawnya was a little awestruck. While she was amazed by the magnitude of the gift, she was not surprised by it.
"He said 'It was the least I can do for you,' " she said. "He would give me the moon and stars if he could give them to me. He always tries to do very thoughtful things for me. He's a pretty great guy."
But Tawnya maintains that while her husband was gone, she simply did what was necessary and that it wasn't anything special.
"I have friends who are single mothers. I did the same things they do. It's what you do for your family."
Copyright Statesman-Journal 2010
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100825/COMMUNITIES/108160016
"She made it much easier on me while I was in Iraq because I never had to worry about anything," Vincent said.
He believes that the spouses of military personnel never get the credit they deserve for how hard they work to hold their families together while their partners are gone.
"That's the biggest thing, and they don't get credit for it," he said.
Vincent wanted to do his best to thank his wife for all she had done for him and their family. "My wife is my soul mate. She is my best friend," Vincent. "She's the rock of the family."
He emailed dozens of salons and spas in the area asking for their help. He request was a simple one: that the salon devote an entire day to giving his wife the full treatment.
What he received from Eden's Apple Salon and Day Spa on Liberty Road S was a gift from heaven. Not only did the salon spend the day devoted to pampering Vincent's wife, it also gave his little girls — 6-year-old Taliyah and 4-year-old TiAnnah — a haircut and style. All of this was free.
"I have friends and family in the military, and I appreciate all they do for us," said salon owner Tobie Dyer-Theis. "We want to try to repay them as best we can for their service and sacrifice. We value our freedom and appreciate their service."
A member of the Oregon Army National Guard, Vincent served with Charlie Company 7-158 Aviation in the medevac unit while in Iraq. He has since returned to his original post at Joint Forces Headquarters in Salem, where he works in the finance department.
He left again recently to go to Denver for classification training, but it was only a two-week trip. Vincent has spent a little more than half of his marriage away from home.
Dyer-Theis said many of her own family members serve in the military so she understands their sacrifice better than most. Her husband is a veteran of the first Gulf War.
When her Dyer-Theis' employees heard about Vincent's request, they all decided to get in on the action. Tawnya received a cut, color, style, a facial, pedicure, manicure and pro makeup job.
While Richard Vincent was in Iraq, Tawnya cared for their two daughters and sent Richard a care package every other week. She also worked a job at Marion County Sheriff's Department in the Parol and Probation office.
She got a bit of a break on Friday after the makeover; the girls went home with grandparents. Tawnya also enjoyed a donated lunch.
When she found out what her husband had pulled off, Tawnya was a little awestruck. While she was amazed by the magnitude of the gift, she was not surprised by it.
"He said 'It was the least I can do for you,' " she said. "He would give me the moon and stars if he could give them to me. He always tries to do very thoughtful things for me. He's a pretty great guy."
But Tawnya maintains that while her husband was gone, she simply did what was necessary and that it wasn't anything special.
"I have friends who are single mothers. I did the same things they do. It's what you do for your family."
Copyright Statesman-Journal 2010
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100825/COMMUNITIES/108160016
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