Bosque Farms
The Village of Bosque Farms is a “village in motion” according to one resident.

Ruth Vollmer is part of a group of more than two dozen village residents and businesses who have come together to support one of their own —­­ 22-year-old Senior Airman Michael Malarsie.
“It’s amazing because we have people of all ages — his friends in their 20s, middle aged and elderly — pulling together,” Vollmer said. “It is amazing the energy for this young man and his family.”
In early January, Bosque Farms residents Jim and Roxann Malarsie were informed that their son had been critically injured in an explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) during an attack on his unit near Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan.
Since then, Michael Malarsie has undergone numerous surgeries on his eyes in an attempt to save his vision, had his jaw wired shut and metal plates placed to heal his fractured face and shrapnel the size of a penny removed from his face.
The wires and metal plates have been removed from inside his mouth, and small pieces of shrapnel continue to work their way out of his tissue.
Although unable to save his eyesight, the blog written by the Malarsie family reports that Michael has had his ups and downs during his ordeal, but has kept his spirits up and continued to aggressively work on his recovery.
Now friends and family in Bosque Farms are rallying around the Malarsie family in a demonstration of community and support by hosting a no-holds-barred fundraiser on Saturday, March 13. All proceeds go to support Michael and his medical needs.
The fundraiser will be from noon to 7 p.m. at the Bosque Farms Rodeo Arena.
Malarsie is continuing his recovery at the Western Blind Rehabilitation Center (WBRC), a 32-bed residential facility located at the Palo Alto Division of the VA Palo Alto Health Care System.
More than 200 veterans, men and women of all ages, participate in the program each year. All are legally blind, and receive specialized treatment to adjust to and manage sight loss.
The program provides housing for a family member while the veteran undergoes rehabilitation, so Malarsie’s mother, Roxann, is able to be near him.
Jim Malarsie said Michael is doing well, and continues to make progress both medically and in his rehabilitation efforts.
“He has good days and bad days, just like we all do,” Malarsie said. “It’s a challenge, but he continues to face it and move ahead.”
He said Michael is sometimes frustrated with the rehab program because of its slow pace.
“Most of the vets there are older, Vietnam and Korean War era, and as a 22-year-old who is used to playing video games and multitasking on computers and cell phones, he gets a little frustrated,” Jim Malarsie said. “The program is built around people who are not as in tune with technology. There are two or three guys there with Michael who are pretty aggressive with technology, and they can do things in two days that might take others two weeks.”
A recent exercise assembling a leather belt, Malarsie said, his son completed as fast as possible.
“He didn’t get why he had to do it. There are other things, like the computer classes, he wants to do more,” he said. “Those kinds of things are building brain-hand coordination instead of the usual hand-eye coordination.”
Jim Malarsie equated his son’s progress to a set of stairs — sometimes there were flat points, but there was always another step up for the solider.
“He’s an inspiration to me,” he said.
Malarsie will continue in the in-patient rehabilitation program in California for an undetermined amount of time, his father said. Next week, he will undergo a medical evaluation by the military to determine what areas of his rehab need improving.
“He is still active military, and on paper he’s stationed in Fort Riley, Kan.,” Jim Malarsie said.
There are schools affiliated with the National Federation for the Blind that could provide Malarsie with additional training and education after he completes the VA program, Jim Malarsie said.
“Because of his continuing medical issues, we opted for the VA system,” he said. “A school is still an option after the VA. It’s my general feeling that the guys coming out of that program learn how to get around and move.
“But we want more for Michael,” the airman’s father said. “We want him to be fully trained, and able to hold a job — to live a life, not just survive.”
Next week Jim Malarsie and his youngest daughter, Erin, will be visiting Michael in California. While there, they will get to see all the high-tech gadgets Michael has received to assist him now that he has lost his sight. He has a laptop that speaks to him, letting him know what is on the screen and what he is typing.
Another tool allows Michael to scan a piece of fabric to “see” what color it is. He is expecting a cell phone soon that will also read messages aloud to him.
“He says he still wants a guide dog,” Jim Malarsie said. “He will need saddlebags to carry all his stuff around.”
Of the local fundraising efforts, Jim Malarsie says he is simply a spectator.
“I went to one meeting. I was completely overwhelmed,” he said. “You could have knocked me over with a feather.”
In addition to local businesses, artists and residents donating to the Saturday event, a few well known NFL players are getting involved.
Recently, Jim Malarsie arrived home to find a FedEx package at his house. Inside was an autographed football from former 49ers Steve Young and Jerry Rice to be auctioned off.
“That was so cool. They’re like Batman and Robin,” Jim Malarsie said. “We are just very grateful and overwhelmed. I think I have more bad days that Michael does. I’ll be OK, but then a wave will come over me. This is the kind of thing you read about that happens to someone else.”
He pauses, then in a choked, small voice says, “I just want to thank everybody for their thoughts and prayers and simple words. They have meant so much.
“My heart goes out to anyone who doesn’t have that family and community support,” he said. “I saw that at Walter Reed. Some of those young men didn’t have anyone.”
With a full day of events planned, ending with a dinner, silent and live auctions and raffles, the 500 $10 tickets for the dinner are almost sold out, Vollmer said.
“We are holding back 100 to sell at the door, but I think everywhere else is pretty much sold out,” she said.
Vollmer said dinner tickets may still be available at Sopa’s Restuarant, who is catering the dinner for free. Malarsie is a former employee of the local eatery.
“Everything has been donated — tables, chairs, food, decorations. The Village of Los Lunas Transit Department said we could use some of their shuttles in case we have to do some of the parking off site,” she said. “People donated porta-potties and lights for the parking lot. It’s just been amazing.”
Some of the highlights of the day will include an exhibition Little League game starting at noon to honor Malarsie as a former player and All-Star, and from 1 to 3 p.m., Bosque Farms native boxer Holly Holm will be on hand for pictures and autographs.
There will be a magic show at 3 p.m., face painting and food vendors during the afternoon and a kids jumper from 1 to 3 p.m.
A Color Guard ceremony will be held at 4 p.m. just before dinner is served. The auctions and raffles will begin after 6 p.m.
Raffle tickets are $5 each, and are being sold at Sopa’s Restaurant, Hays Honey and Apple Farm, and Bosque Farms Floral Shop, all located in Bosque Farms. The winner will be drawn at the event.
The family is also selling some very special T-shirts, featuring the exact note Malarsie wrote to the surgeon after they explained to him that they were unable to save his eyesight.
The note read, “I just want to thank you all very much.”
Due to his injuries, Malarsie had a tracheotomy tube in his throat for several weeks after his was injured and communicated through written notes. If you would like to purchase a T-shirt for $20, contact Malarsie’s sister, Lisa, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Vollmer said the goal is to make this a community event to show their support for Michael and his family.
“My son is a Marine. This could be anyone’s son or daughter,” she said. “This is us as a community, stepping up.”
And plans to honor and assist Malarsie go beyond the fundraiser, Vollmer said. The group coordinating the event this month is also talking about holding a welcome home parade for the airman, and local contractors have volunteered to do whatever work is needed on the Malarsie home to assist Michael.
“This is amazing, and that’s the way it should be,” Vollmer said.
Another village resident and member of the fundraising group, Lillie McNabb, is asking the entire county to participate in a yellow ribbon blast.
“We aren’t selling these, and no one is really handing them out regularly, but we are asking every person, every business, every home in the county to display a yellow ribbon,” McNabb said. “This is something that comes from the heart. And this isn’t just for Michael Malarsie — it is for all of our past and very present veterans. I love our vets, each and every one of them.”
The family’s blog, www.mmalarsie.blogspot.com, has frequent updates on his recovery and lists the following address for well-wishers to send letters or gifts to Malarsie — M. Malarsie or Roxann Malarsie, Fisher House Room #129, P.O. Box 1886, Los Altos, C.A., 94022.
For more information on the fundraiser, visit www.michaelsbenefit.blogspot.com.