by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Salvation Army majors James and Karol Seiler relocated to Jacksonville last June, but the couple will be officially welcomed into the community during a ceremony Thursday at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens.
“We’re looking forward to it,” said James Seiler. “Ceremonies like these are usually pretty unique because they showcase the flavor of the community. We’ll also have the opportunity to meet with many of the civic leaders in Jacksonville.”
The Seilers, who Salvation Army officials say have “jumped in with both feet” to replace Area Commander Frank Gordon, who served in an interim capacity since last fall.
“We’re very excited to be here,” said Karol Seiler. “There is so much happening in Jacksonville right now and we’ve had the pleasure of working with some really dedicated people who have the best interest of The Salvation Army at heart. They’re very supportive of us.”
Married for nearly 22 years and affiliated with the non-profit group for just under 20, the Seilers have served at various posts in The Salvation Army, including Baltimore, Annapolis, Atlanta and Dallas.
“It was tough to leave Dallas because we were stationed there for nine years,” said James Seiler, whose grandparents and great-grandparents were all Salvation Army officers. Karol Seiler’s parents were also officers.
“We have two boys and they think of it as our home base.”
Bryan, their eldest son, is currently attending Wheaton College in Chicago and Andrew is a junior at Episcopal High School.
Despite multiple moves, the Seilers said they understand that reassignments are simply a part of The Salvation Army calling.
“You are transferred as different needs arise,” said James Seiler. “Depending on where you go, the programs can vary tremendously. They even differ from county to county. That keeps it exciting, but I feel like they’ll leave us here for a while.”
With a background in business and finance, James Seiler suspects his ability to crunch numbers made him a prime candidate for reassignment and that those skills will be called upon frequently here.
“Like most non-profits, we’re facing some financial conundrums in the shadow of Sept. 11,” he said. “I’ve toured most of the community facilities here and I’ve seen many wonderful programs. We want to do all that we can to help them succeed.”