“I just thought how horrible that these people (veterans) will die with these stories with them,” she said.

Merillat’s book will be a collection of war veterans stories from as far back as World War II.

“I want to do a coffee table book with big pictures and capture one or two stories from these veterans, talk about what it was like and use pictures old and new,” she said. “I want to make it very personal and put a face on these wars and stories that we don’t hear anymore.”

The book began to take shape in February when Merillat said she felt “there was a big need” and got serious about moving forward. She gave herself a two-year goal, and has narrowed in on a theme for the tome.

“I’m focusing on Texas veterans so I’m going to put a Texas theme on it,” she said. “I’m a big Texas fan.”

Part of the impetus to write the book came from her feeling that American troops need more recognition and support from the public.

“It seems like the media and government downplay troops when we should be honoring them,” she said. “They were people like you and me that were in extraordinary circumstances.”

For Merillat, a Magnolia resident since January, life has always been intertwined with the military, growing up “between Georgia and Texas,” and spending most of her childhood years moving around the South before she ended up in the Houston area where she has spent the last 25 years.

In addition to her father and brother having served in the Air Force, Merillat’s aunt serves in the Marines, her son-in-law is in the Air Force and her boyfriend is an Army pilot.

Merillat’s interest in volunteering and bringing awareness to military issues was jumpstarted after her 22-year-old nephew, John, was killed serving in Iraq in 2005.

“It’s so painful, still to this day, to realize he’s not here and why he’s not here,” she said.

As a writer and self-employed event planner and marketing consultant, Merillat pens three different columns about business and lifestyle for various magazines and works to promote awareness and educate the community about supporting the troops.

“Since he died, we’ve all tried to carry on what he did,” she said. “I write about it and I organize community events that are military-based.”

“My love for our country and our troops and everybody I know in the military is because they are ordinary people that are incredible in what they do and sacrifice.”

Currently in the process of gathering interviews, Merillat said she is shooting for 500 interviews, but at the moment is “not even halfway done yet.” She plans to travel throughout the state to collect them.

“I want to meet them all in person and talk face to face,” she said.

Merillat has contacted veterans associations and military associations throughout the area, telling everyone she knows about the project, and is also contacting Veterans of Foreign Wars groups in the area to try and find more veterans.

“It’s word of mouth right now,” she said.

She and her daughter, Steffani, have planned and organized “Run for the Fallen,” an event that invites participants to run or walk one mile in honor of a fallen service member. Proceeds from the fundraiser will go to the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund.

Merillat hopes her book will change the public’s perspective about the military and veterans.

“With the younger generations I hear a lot of apathy and people don’t seem to care,” she said. “I want there to be a fresh respect and honor for our troops and country.”

For more information, contact Merillat at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or www.houstonrunforthefallen.net.

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