Retired Col. John Dhane and his wife, Denise, have been married for 33 years. Together they raised two children, spent 21 years in the Army, started a successful orthodontic practice in DuPont, and have managed to change how local communities support the military.

"We're taking it one step further than the magnetic yellow ribbon on your car," said Denise with a smile. "People want to help, but they don't know how so we tell them." She is describing the organization Operation Make a Soldier Smile, which she and her husband created in 2006. The group acts as an intermediary for individuals looking to show support by coordinating large-scale donations through the various channels on base to which the Dhanes still have access.

"What triggered it was seeing all these kids who sometimes had one parent deployed - or even both - and the affect it had on the family," she said. "We see them for 24 months, and so we bond."

Dhane Orthodontics sees a large number of military patients. In fact, military and military dependents make up 75 percent of their clients. The hands-on and understanding approach they take when dealing with military patients has resulted in positive recommendations throughout Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

What started out as wanting to send a few care packages to the deployed parents or spouses of their clients soon became a full-blown operation that transformed a community of waiting families into a community taking action. They began asking around to find more deployed soldiers, who at that time were in the 3rd and 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, and soon enough the list was endless.

"It has always been a huge community effort. People from the entire South Sound just come out of the woodwork to help," she explained. Whether that means packing boxes, donating items to send or her own favorite assist - helping with the countless post office runs.

With so many soldiers deployed and the high number of losses resonating in the surrounding towns last year, involvement and donations picked up even more. Schools in the area gathered supplies while box assembly had to move to the city's public safety building since the orthodontic office was getting tight on space.

In addition to running their own organization, Denise never stops assisting fellow causes in support of the armed forces. She is working with the Fort Lewis AUSA on the Single Soldier Project, which is preparing to welcome home 7,500 single soldiers returning before September. For more information or to contribute to this drive, visit www.ausafortlewis.com.

When she heard that Operation Gratitude in California had 2,500 boxes for the single soldiers of the 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team but no way to transport them, she stepped up. Soon enough Denise had managed to find a tractor-trailer and driver - with some out-of-pocket expense to the Dhanes personally. CalPortland's DuPont aggregates facility also joined the effort by donating forklifts and drivers to unload the truck.

"It takes the effort of an entire community to support these soldiers," she said.

Most recently, Denise went to New Orleans Saints' quarterback and Superbowl MVP Drew Brees' house in an attempt to get him to record a personalized video welcoming home the JBLM Stryker brigades. Though Brees was out of town, Denise is not done trying. Truth be told, the Dhanes are never done trying.

"I believe that you can't just sit there and not do something. Supporting the soldiers and the families - that is the true mission for us," Denise said.

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