A Dad Missing His Kids

My name is Earl. I am originally from the great City of New Orleans, Louisiana and I am proud to have served that community as a police officer before, during and after Katrina and as an elementary school teacher in the New Orleans Public School System. I am the father of three wonderful and beautiful young boys and the step father to another great son and daughter. My first two sons are twins and are from my first marriage and my third son and two step kids are from my current marriage to an amazingly supportive wife. Currently I am deployed overseas in the Middle East serving this great nation as a sailor in the United States Navy. My wife is currently serving as well in the Army and is stationed in the northeast. I have spent most, if not all of my life serving, mentoring and being an advocate for young children. Through experience I have learned a few lessons on how to serve in the best capacity. I have always encouraged parent participation, community involvement and being surrounded by positive friends.
My first marriage unfortunately did not work out but it did produce the greatest gift in the world... “CHILDREN” and for that reason alone it was not a failure. As we all know divorce can be ugly and even uglier when kids are involved. But, it is our responsibility to do what’s best for our kids and when we cannot agree it is up to society to place equitable parameters via the court system. The courts are tasked with a great burden in identifying whats in the BEST INTEREST OF THE CHILD(REN) and to uphold in every aspect with good reason. Throughout this country and in every state the court system has said that children benefit from both parents being active in their lives, provided there is no violence, addition or other form of unsafe issues. In this day and age, the BEST INTEREST of the children is sometimes determined by the amount of resources one has to obtain legal representation. Because of this, the most financed party gains an advantage and what is actually in the best interest of children, is often lost in legal limbo.  Currently I have not been able to see my young sons for at least two years, even though we do have a court order providing visitation. For the last two years, my ex-wife has been suggesting that the wording I've been submitting to state my intentions and plans prior to a visitation with my sons is insufficient and thus she refuses to allow visitation. I have reached out to her  at least dozens of times to provide me her preferences regarding the wording. I even wrote to her attorney and the court (also a dozen times with not one response) to provide me clarity on what is necessary for me to state to ensure that my visitation with my sons isn't denied. I even filed motions in which my request for clarity went unaddressed, leaving my ex-wife room to continue to deny visitation. Currently my sons have a grandfather, three aunts, an uncle, a brother, two step siblings,  a host of cousins and relatives they have never met. It is beyond reason to keep any child away from that amount of healthy love. The funds from this campaign will go towards acquiring quality legal representation to ensure that my rights as a father are honored.  I will use your donations to hire an attorney and pay for all legal fees. I appreciate everyone who can support this cause.  Any unused portions of this campaign will be donated to fund gun buy back programs to support healthy and safe communities for all of our kids.

It is my goal when I return from this deployment, I will have the resources and finances to aggressively fight to see my kids.