{"id":80596,"date":"2020-08-07T07:38:37","date_gmt":"2020-08-07T11:38:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/?p=80596"},"modified":"2020-08-08T06:05:46","modified_gmt":"2020-08-08T10:05:46","slug":"a-meant-to-be-relocation-for-owego-couple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.owegopennysaver.com\/PS\/2020\/08\/07\/a-meant-to-be-relocation-for-owego-couple\/","title":{"rendered":"A \u2018meant-to-be\u2019 relocation for Owego couple"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Tioga County Gold Star parents Charles and Barbara Bilbrey are in the process of moving from Owego to Hinesville, Georgia.&nbsp;The Bilbrey\u2019s have been active in many memorial services and other activities in honor of veterans, and also in memory of their son, Charles Jr., who was killed in action in Iraq on July 26, 2007 while serving in the U.S. Army.<\/p>\n<p>SPC Bilbrey was on a volunteer mission, committing time on a day off to secure a roadway in an Iraqi village.&nbsp;Twenty-one-year old Bilbrey, along with two other soldiers, were killed when their HUMMVV tripped an IED, or Improvised Explosive Device.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Sharing her son Charlie\u2019s story, Barbara remarked, \u201cHas been an opportunity to talk about him and keep his memory alive,\u201d adding, \u201cI believe that as long as someone says his name, he lives on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Charlie\u2019s service and sacrifice will always be remembered, too, as an inductee at the New York State Senate Veterans Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n<p>Looking back, Barbara explained that Charlie first knew he wanted to be in the Army as early as age 12, and following a visit to West Point.&nbsp;Young Charlie was also active for many years with Boy Scout Troop 38.&nbsp;<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p>At Owego Free Academy Charlie played football, lacrosse, and managed the basketball team.&nbsp;Yet, it was a switch to track that gave him a running advantage, and something he had planned on in order to prepare himself for basic training after graduation.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am heartbroken about leaving Owego,\u201d Barbara remarked, and explained that a job opportunity her husband has accepted is, \u201cHard to come by up here.\u201d&nbsp;For herself, she feels confident that she will find another job in her field of nursing.<\/p>\n<p>Charles and Barbara moved to Tioga County in 1989.&nbsp; Barbara is originally from the New York City area and Charles grew up in Endicott.&nbsp;They eventually settled on Owego\u2019s south side for nearly two decades, and where four children were raised and attended Owego schools.&nbsp; Children Brianne, Shannon and Patrick will remain in the Owego area, along with their grandchildren.<\/p>\n<p>When asked what the couple will miss most about the Owego area, Barbara shared, \u201cWe will miss the people.&nbsp;We will miss the small communities that take care of each other,\u201d and further added that she will miss chatting with people she enjoyed running into around town.<\/p>\n<p>Hinesville, located about an hour southwest of Savannah, is only a short distance from Fort Stewart, and where son Charlie was stationed before he was deployed.<\/p>\n<p>The Bilbrey\u2019s first visited Fort Stewart in January of 2007.&nbsp;They returned in September that same year for a memorial service in honor of Charlie, and to gather his belongings that had been left there in storage.<\/p>\n<p>Barbara explained that as the first anniversary of Charlie\u2019s death approached in 2008, the family was at a loss about how to get through that day. Ironically, the couple, although unknowing to each other at first, both had the idea of taking a trip to Fort Stewart with their other children&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The Bilbrey\u2019s have since traveled annually to Fort Stewart, and where they visit their son\u2019s memorial on base and also eat at Charlie\u2019s favorite restaurants. At the fifth and tenth anniversaries, the 5\/7 Cavalry, Charlie\u2019s unit, joined the Bilbrey\u2019s for quiet prayer services in memory of Charlie and the two other soldiers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCharlie\u2019s unit, and truly all of the 3rd Infantry Division have been very good to us,\u201d Barbara said, adding, \u201cSo, my husband\u2019s job offer in nearby Savannah told us both that we were meant to be there at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A two-week quarantine is necessary once the couple arrives in Georgia, and where, Barbara mentioned, a spike in COVID-19 cases has been seen.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHaving spent the last five months working with COVID-19 (as a nurse), I realize the challenges and risks that come with it,\u201d Barbara said, adding, \u201cThey are still trying to find their balance in Georgia.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Otherwise the Bilbrey\u2019s look forward to milder winters in Georgia, although dealing with hurricanes will be a new experience.&nbsp;They also plan to participate at Fort Stewart events, among others, once they are settled and events can be resumed.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>A final note about Owego, Barbara remarked, \u201cThis will always be home for our family, and we will be back to visit,\u201d adding, \u201cThis community has stood by us and behind us for the last 13 years to ensure that Charlie is not forgotten.\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Tioga County Gold Star parents Charles and Barbara Bilbrey are in the process of moving from Owego to Hinesville, Georgia.&nbsp;The Bilbrey\u2019s have been active in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":80597,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-80596","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.2 - 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