By Jennifer B. Waters, Editor and Development Dept. Staff Member
We here at KBAQ and KJZZ feel that all of our supporters are special, but those who make the decision to participate in the Planned Giving program by including one or both of the stations in their estate plans are truly extra-special. However, even within that unique category, some people and their stories just stand out. This edition of the newsletter, we would like to introduce you to Kjytrrynna and Colleen Celner.
Kjytrrynna and Colleen grew up in New York, born into a family with two generations serving in both world wars. Their grandfather served in WWI and their father flew B17 bombers out of England during WWII--in the same flying group as the Memphis Belle.
The sisters went to Catholic boarding school and the nuns took them to their first opera at the Metropolitan Opera House. When the opera dragged on just a little too long for young Colleen, who was all of 7 years old, she suddenly--and loudly--blurted out, "When is that fat lady going to stop singing?" At that, the diva did stop singing, and the nuns flew down the aisle, grabbed the girls by the ears, and dragged them out to the bus where they had to sit for the next two and a half hours: "They never took us anywhere again. That was our introduction to classical music!"
One day when Kjytrrynna and Colleen were older, Colleen was turning the radio dial and came across a Metropolitan Opera broadcast, at which she "had an epiphany." She called Kjytrrynna to come and listen, telling her, "This is the most beautiful music I've ever heard."
The family moved from New York to the Valley of the Sun when the sisters were in their late teens. Colleen says that the family had "always been a big one for the arts…we always had culture provided to us." For many years they didn't own a television. "Our friends were books and we were encouraged--for as far back as I can remember--to read," Colleen says, "We would have table discussions about what books were being read by family members."
The sisters both graduated from Notre Dame with RN degrees and followed in the paths of their father and grandfather, both joining the Army in October of 1967. They were sent separately to Ft. Sam Houston in Texas for training in language, customs, tropical medicine, and what Colleen refers to as "slice and dice meatball surgery." They were then both sent to Vietnam, serving from 1967 to 1972.
After arriving back home, Kjytrrynna returned to Notre Dame to work at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, working primarily with burn patients. Colleen later went to work at Barrow's Neurological Hospital in Phoenix as a neurological nurse. But when Desert Storm was in progress, Kjytrrynna responded to the need, serving in Saudi Arabia, "pretty close to the front lines…working 72-hour shifts." It was during that period of time that Colleen and the rest of the family began to make weekly tapes to send overseas. They would record messages from family members, extended family, and neighbors…as well as jazz and various NPR programs from KJZZ. They also sent letters and drawings by their youngest sister, "Zuzu," nicknamed after the girl in It's a Wonderful Life who carried rose petals in her pocket.
Last year, when the need arose to support American troops in Afghanistan, Kjytrrynna--thinking again about how much trained medical personnel is needed in any war--felt that "as long as any of our boys were at war, there would be a need for medical staff" and that she should go. Colleen notes that generally they are very desperate for medical help: "Doctors, nurses, paramedics, firefighters, anyone healthy and having any background in medical education or training." She laughs and says that her favorite part of the requirements was that one was "physically erect," that if you could stand on your own two feet and had any training at all, you were needed.
There is a lot of secondary decision-making that goes along with the choice to serve in a war. When all of the other business is taken care of, it must realistically be considered that one might not come back. Colleen says that planning her will was something that Kjytrrynna "put off until the very last minute," until the night before she had to depart. She said that she wanted to leave something to each of her brothers and sisters, and maybe the Humane Society because of her love for animals. They talked about options and Colleen said, "You know, we've been listening to KBAQ for a long time and they could probably use the support." Kjytrrynna agreed, saying "They have given me many years of pleasure through their music." Kjytrrynna then made arrangements to include KBAQ in her will prior to leaving the country.
Kjytrrynna left for Afghanistan in June of 2002 for a one year term of service. She is currently serving as an Army nurse at the 27th Evac Hospital outside of Kabul and once again Colleen and the family are recording tapes and sending them overseas every week, along with Zuzu's drawings. Colleen records classical music from KBAQ, All Things Considered and Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion from the NPR programming on KJZZ, and she says she also "throws a little jazz on there" from the evening KJZZ music programming. They--and we--are all hoping to welcome Kjytrrynna back home, safe and sound, this year.
Colleen Celner is currently finishing a book, with a working title of Marching with the Devil to the Mekong Delta, based on 24+ diaries that she kept during her term of service in Vietnam; she has two more books in the works. Kjytrrynna is also working on a book that is compiled from her diaries.
Editor's note: We would have run a photo, but the Celner family recently had a fire and lost all of their photographs. At the time of printing, we were notified that Kjytrrynna may "re-up" (as her sister puts it) for another one-year term of service at the end of this one. Colleen says, "It's very hard to leave. These people that you work with become like your family and you have this guilt that you're leaving them behind. You know that they will be alright without you, but you become very attached." Whatever your decision, Kjytrrynna, we wish you well.
