We are Veterans Memorial Reef – Veterans Serving Veterans

Thomas Marcinowski Jr. joined the US Air Force in 1987 as a medic, serving on Active Duty during Desert Storm, Operation Provide Comfort, and Provide Hope. He transferred from Active Duty to the Air Force Reserves to attend East Carolina University while flying around the world as an Aeromedical Evacuation Medic.

Upon graduation, he went on to earn his degree as a Physician Assistant and joined the North Carolina Army National Guard. He was activated in the early days of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving in a combat area with the Infantry as the Battalion Aid Surgeon.

He completed the US Army Flight Surgeon Course and finished his career as the NC deputy state flight surgeon in 2012.

Thomas left practicing medicine in the civilian sector to join the VA to continue serving and providing medical care to his fellow veterans. He remains active in the community. He serves as Vice President of another non-profit organization, keepthebeatalive.org, and volunteers in school and Boy Scout fundraisers.

Jessica moved to the Wilmington NC area in 2015 from a small town in southern Ohio to start business with her business partner stationed at Camp Lejeune. She is currently one of three business partners that owns and runs No Limit Pub Poker Tour. Jessica first came across Veterans Memorial Reef in May of 2022 at one of their Poker Charity Events. In August 2022 Jessica’s company No Limit Coastal NC held a charity poker tournament to help raise funds for Veterans Memorial Reef. She decided to continue her journey with Veterans Memorial Reef as a volunteer until April 2023 when she became a member of the Board of Directors. Jessica looks forward to continue to work alongside all the people who believe in our MISSION and to see it succeed beyond anything we can imagine.

Chrissy Sanford became a member of the Veteran Memorial Reef Board of Directors in December, 2022.  She joined the US Army in 1991 when she received a direct commission into the US Army Reserves, Army Nurse Corps.  Her duty responsibilities in the 312^th Field Hospital included Weight Control Officer, multiple Company Commands, Range Control Officer, and Training Officer.  She transferred to the 414^th Civil Affairs Battalion where she deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2006-07.  There, she served as the Baghdad Provincial Reconstruction Team Education Liaison to the Iraqi government and 414^th CA BN Public Health Officer.  She retired as an Army Colonel in 2011 after 20 years of military service.  Her military service took her around the world, mostly participating in medical missions.  Her military awards include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, and several others.

While serving in the US Army Nurse Corps, she practiced as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Duke University Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department, faculty at the Duke University School of Nursing, Wilmington Health Access for Teens, and was a Pediatric medical provider at the Betty Cameron Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, NC.   Her formal education includes degrees from Tompkins-Cortland Community College, North Carolina Central University, UNC Greensboro, and Duke University.

Chrissy is active in several community organizations including Honor Flight of the Cape Fear Area, Military Officers Association of America and volunteers at the Wilson Center.  Her commitment to Veterans and their families is unparalleled.