Published: August 28, 2008 12:24 am            

Anchors away

Colleagues give MCC instructor send off for military service

Inside the auditorium at the Riley Health Education Center on the campus of Meridian Community College, scores of grown women suddenly got quiet like pre-teen girls and they prepared to spring a surprise on Jane Bland.

Bland, who was somewhat tricked to come to the auditorium, was caught off guard as she walked into the hall with all the women jumping up and yelling, "Anchors away!"

"This is such a wonderful surprise," said Brand fighting back her emotions. "You are all so fantastic and I love you all."

Brand, a commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, will be deployed overseas to a major military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany on Sept. 19. This going away party was one way her fellow nursing instructors at the school could say: "We'll miss you and we are proud of you."

"Losing Jane is a blow to our faculty but we've all pitched in to help make it possible for her to serve," said Betty Davis, the Dean of Nursing for MCC. "She has meant so much to us in the 12 years she has been an instructor here and she does more than anyone really knows."

Brand will be commander of the nursing staff at the hospital where young men and women injured in the War on Terror being waged in Iraq and Afghanistan go for extended medical treatment. Her reputation at MCC is such that Davis echoed the thoughts of all those in attendance.

"If my loved one was hurt over there I'd want Jane to care for them," Davis said.

Brand will be serving a one year tour.

        

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