War widows' courage inspires wide admiration

Bereavement counselor Eileen Stubblefield said other war widows have contacted her, but she hasn't added new faces to the first group, choosing instead to wait and form a second therapy session.

The Seattle Times profiled the women in May, providing a venue for them to discuss how people should relate to those who have lost so much in a war so far away.

The story was carried nationally, and readers responded with support and admiration.

"I am again at a loss for words that are certain to be worthy enough to honor your husband's and your sacrifices," one man wrote to the widows.

Bridges has become the most politically active in the group.

In June, she became president of the local chapter of the Gold Star Wives of America, a nonprofit organization with a single eligibility requirement: a spouse must have died while on active duty or from a service-related disability. There are about 400 members throughout Washington.

Bridges is also a board member of Patriots Pride Foundation of Washington State, a newly formed group that hopes to augment existing services for veterans, offering job training and grants to help former soldiers start their own businesses, among other programs.

Next year, Bridges will lobby in Olympia for legislation that would provide free tuition for the children of those killed in action who want to attend college.

In mid-December, Bridges, her family and hundreds of other war widows and their kids were treated to trip to Disneyland, paid for by the Rotary Clubs of Costa Mesa, Irvine-Spectrum and Newport-Irvine in California.

"It was wonderful to see so many people in the same boat," she said.

Alex Fryer: 206-464-8124 or afryer@seattletimes.com