Kansas Soldiers' Angels

UNCC veterans fill backpacks for soldiers

2010-11-14T11:05:00.001-08:00

UNC Charlotte Veterans and Soldiers' Angels

Photo: Logan Cason of UNC Charlotte

Many soldiers wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq arrive at combat theatre hospitals with nothing. When the uniform and protective equipment are cut off, the soldier is left in a hospital gown or underwear. Depending upon wound intensity, they are routed to the Lundstul, Germany military hospital - with nothing.

Meeting this need for our soldiers is the First Response Backpack. Created by the Soldiers' Angels and the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the backpack contains sweats, t-shirt, underclothes, blanket, toiletries and letters or cards from home.

UNC Charlotte Veterans Club and Solders' Angels sponsored a daylong packathon in the Student Union Lobby this week. Nearly 200 First Response Backpacks were assembled, while a generous public outpouring wrote the letters and Christmas cards. "Amazing - I could not believe all the people that came out," says Soldiers' Angels Regional Captain Marianne Walters. A Daisy Troop, teachers, UNCC students and employees and business owners turned out to make this happen. "A fourth-grade teacher took 250 cards for her school to fill out and adopted a soldier for her class," added Walters. A Charlotte Super Target took 2,000 to 3,000 cards for a storewide card-signing day.

This event was part of a week-long Veterans Day Showcase held at UNC Charlotte. For club information, go to: http://www.studentveterans.org/unc-charlotte. Check out http://www.facebook.com/UNCCharlotte to see pictures and events.

Soldiers' Angels is a national non-profit with 180,000 volunteers. Regional Captain Marianne Walters says we have many ways to support our troops: write letters, adopt-a-soldier, donate reading materials, vet packs and more. Walters participated in a North Carolina project in delivering lap tops to soldiers in the Fort Bragg Wounded Transition Battalion.

Soldier's Angels is in the midst of a Christmas Care Package drive. Contents include socks, packages of hot chocolate and apple cider, candy and a thermal mug. Donations are accepted through 30 November. For more information, e-mail Walters at http://mwalters@soldiersangels.org. The national site is: http://www.soldiersangels.org.

Valour-IT - Thank you

2010-11-14T11:02:00.001-08:00

Since 2004, Soldiers' Angels has been on site supporting wounded and ill service members aeromedically evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center for evaluation and stabilization before being transferred for continued care at military medical facilities in the US (or, in some cases, returned to duty downrange).

During that time, tens of thousands of patients have transitioned through Landstuhl after a short stay of just a few days. Many arrive able to walk, but others arrive on life support and leave the same way. And sometimes, families are flown here to say goodbye to their Hero who subsequently makes his final journey home in a flag-draped transfer case.

We never know what happens to most of our patients after they leave Germany and cannot afford to dwell on it - because new ones immediately arrive to take their places. They, too, deserve the undivided attention of our caregivers.

Our comfort is found in the faith we have that our fellow Americans back home will care for them as we have here.

The annual Valour-IT online fundraiser began in 2005, taking the form of a "competition" between blogging teams representing the 4 service branches - Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. All donations go into one fund which is of course used for members of all services. Here are the unofficial results of the 2010 online fundraiser.

Team MARINE: $38,470
Team ARMY: $26,505
Team NAVY: $12,127
Team AIR FORCE: $9,224
Unassigned: $7,546

2010 (unofficial) TOTAL: $93,872

Know A Great Nat'l Guard Employer?

2010-11-14T10:56:00.001-08:00

NOMINATION SEASON OPENS FOR
2011 SECRETARY OF DEFENSE EMPLOYER SUPPORT FREEDOM AWARD
National Guard and Reserve Members and Families Encouraged
to Nominate Supportive Employers

ARLINGTON, Va. – Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense agency, today announced the opening of the nomination season for the 2011 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. Guard and Reserve service members and their families are encouraged to nominate employers who have provided exceptional support of military employees above federal law requirements. Nominations are being accepted at www.FreedomAward.mil through January 17, 2011. The Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award is the highest recognition given by the U.S. Government to employers for the outstanding support of their employees serving in the Guard and Reserve.

The 2011 recipients will be announced in the spring and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 16th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony on September 22, 2011. Recipients of the 2010 Freedom Award met privately with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates while in Washington, D.C. Under Secretary of Defense, Chief Financial Officer Robert Hale and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis McCarthy presented the awards at a ceremony attended by members of Congress, senior military officials, business leaders and the Guard and Reserve service members who nominated the award recipients.

Almost one-half of the U.S. military is comprised of the Guard and Reserve. The Department of Defense shares these citizen warriors with their civilian employers, many of whom provide significant support to their employees who serve in the Guard and Reserve. The 2010 recipients included CEOs from seven large American corporations, a governor, a mayor, a state police director, the chancellor of a university, and four small business owners. These and past recipients of the Freedom Award provide an outstanding range of support to these shared employees ,including maintaining their full salary, continuation of benefits, providing care packages and family assistance to employees fulfilling their military obligation.

The Freedom Award was instituted in 1996 under the auspices of ESGR to recognize exceptional support from the employer community. “Every day we hear of employers providing outstanding support to the men and women serving in our Guard and Reserve and to their families,” noted ESGR National Chairman Mr. Jim Rebholz. “Now, more than ever, we encourage these service members to show their appreciation by formally nominating their employers for this most prestigious award.”

ESGR is a Department of Defense agency established in 1972 whose mission is to develop and promote employer support for Guard and Reserve service by advocating relevant initiatives, recognizing outstanding support, increasing awareness of applicable laws, and resolving conflict between employers and service members.

For questions regarding the Freedom Award nomination process [or to nominate an employer], please visit www.FreedomAward.mil or contact Beth Sherman, ESGR Public Affairs, at 703-696-1171, ext. 539 or by email at ESGR-PA@osd.mil.

Jokers Wild for the Troops

2010-11-14T10:55:00.001-08:00

Here's a great way for patriotic San Antonio-area supporter of the troops to celebrate Veterans Day...

Jokers Wild Band ("Country Music with Attitude") is headlining a Freedom Fest Concert and silent auction for Soldiers’ Angels and Homes for Our Troops in San Antonio Texas to celebrate Veterans Day. In addition, 16-year-old country music singing sensation Natalie Rose will make an appearance to sing the national anthem.

This free concert is open to all who would like to attend, and the event will include wounded warriors, active and retired military personnel, and national dignitaries. All funds raised through donations and auctions will go to the work of Soldiers’ Angels and Homes for Our Troops in support of wounded veterans.

The event will be held at the Texas Road House at 2893 Cinema Ridge in San Antonio. Thousands are expected to attend, so get there early! For more details, contact Mary LoPinto at mlopinto@soldiersangels.org.

100 Laptops for 100 Warriors

2010-11-14T10:53:00.001-08:00

On Veterans Day (November 11), Soldiers' Angels is honored to host a celebration of thanks for America’s veterans at the Soldiers’ Angels Support Center, our warehouse and support complex in San Antonio across from Brooke Army Medical Center.

In recognition of America’s wounded heroes and to give them a “hand up” as they adjust to life as a wounded veteran, Soldiers’ Angels will hand out 100 new laptops to severely-wounded military personnel at the event. The laptop distribution is funded by the third TRIAD grant Soldiers’ Angels has received for Project Valour-IT, which provides technology to support the recovery and reintegration of wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, including nearly 6,000 adaptive laptops in the last five and a half years.

Local members of the public are invited to the event, where they will be encouraged to pack care packages for deployed troops, fold small American flags, and write personal notes of gratitude that will be distributed to veterans and active duty personnel.

The sponsor for this event is Bank of America. Organizations partnering with Soldiers’ Angels for this event are Operation Homefront, Mission Serve, Grainger, Best Buy, Herr Foods, eFusjon Energy Club, members of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Miss San Antonio 2011 Dominique Ramirez, and local military and political leaders. Food will be served and attendees will have the opportunity to peruse the mementos and thank yous from the heroes Soldiers’ Angels has supported.

Soldiers’ Angels invites all San Antonio residents to this celebration of true American heroes, honoring those who have served and sacrificed in the defense of all Americans! For more information about this event, Soldiers’ Angels, or how to donate to help our troops, contact Soldiers’ Angels at mlopinto@soldiersangels.org.

About Operation Homefront: Operation Homefront provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors. A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers across 23 chapters and has met more than 267,000 needs since 2002. A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, $.95 of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes to programs. For more information about Operation Homefront, please visit OperationHomefront.net.

About TRIAD: Funding for the Soldiers’ Angels Project Valor-IT project was provided in part by the Texas Resources for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment (TRIAD) Fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation. For more than 40 years, the San Antonio Area Foundation, a publicly supported philanthropic institution, has been administering donors’ funds and granting gifts from those funds to worthy charitable causes that significantly enhance the quality of life in the communities they serve.

Drum Hike Stamps

2010-11-14T10:52:00.001-08:00

Former Soldier Troy Yocum is almost halfway through his 7,000-mile Drum Hike to raise funds for struggling military families.

Now you can help spread the word about this amazing veteran just by sending a letter--Troy now has commemorative stamps that are official U.S. Postage, perfect for sharing the Drum Hike story with friends, family and business associates... and even the mail handlers!

To see and purchase this great stamp featuring Troy and his dog Emmie, click here.

Christmas and Holiday decorations needed for the combat medical clinics!!!

2010-11-14T10:50:00.001-08:00

The only bright spot in this room are the Blankets of Hope sent by Soldiers' Angels.

Here are a couple of pictures of a typical clinic. Just think what some inexpensive garlands, a couple strings of lights, stockings, red bows, a small tree would do to cheer up the patients in this Combat Stress Clinic.

We are talking like $10-20 at Walmart to make a real difference!

if you can help, email me for addresses:

rgodskesen@soldiersangels.org

-Thanks!

Knitting, Crocheting & Crafting for Veterans

2010-11-08T16:16:00.001-08:00

It’s amazing how something so soft and cuddly can be so powerful…

“I am sitting here all toasty and warm because someone cared enough to make these booties. I love the lap blanket and booties I was given in the VA hospital. The idea that someone sat and made those items means the world to me.” - Hospitalized veteran Charlotte

Members of the Soldiers’ Angels VA Crochet & Craft team put their busy fingers to work showering love on patients at VA Hospitals and Health Centers across the country. By making “lapghans” (lap blankets), wheelchair/bedside/walker tote bags, hats, socks and other comfort items for hospitalized veterans, these Angels provide comfort and dignity while showing veterans of all eras that they are loved and remembered.

Under the leadership of Deb Delcorio, what started as a small team has continued to expand. “This team has grown in leaps and bounds in the last two years,” she says. “I am very proud of this team and I feel with time we can continue to grow. We have even been featured in Guideposts and some religious magazines!”

For the winter holiday season, these special knitters, crocheters and crafters really kick it into high gear, showering their local VA facilities with special gifts for Christmas, especially Blankets of Gratitude. The knitted and crocheted blankets express appreciation for each recipient’s military service. Now the team is calling for new members to help make this year and next year even bigger!

If you can help these “crafty” Angels with their plans to make sure our hospitalized veterans know they’re remembered and appreciated year-round, please join the team! Visit the VA Crochet & Craft team page for more info, as well as suggested patterns.

With the Living Legends Angels...

2010-11-08T16:15:00.001-08:00

The Soldiers’ Angels Living Legends team has the powerful and challenging task of ministering to military families who have lost a loved one on the battlefield. Members of this special team send sympathy cards/letters to grieving families to convey the compassion, sorrow and respect of all Angels to the families of each fallen hero. The team also extends the offer of several kinds of memorial and comfort items to the families.

This quilt, created by Living Legends Angel Sharon Wakefield to honor a fallen Marine
includes themes and patterns reflecting his Lakota heritage (click to enlarge).

Angel Fay, one of the over 300 volunteers who write personal letters to the family of each fallen hero, describes her experience as a Living Legends Angel. She says she is full of memories of each and every fallen hero and family she has encountered, and is so honored to be part of a team of amazing Angels that remembers them and supports their families…

In 2005, shortly after Cathy Woodruff asked for volunteers to join a new team called Living Legends who would write cards with messages of condolence and sympathy to families of our fallen heroes, seven people joined the new team. I was one of them. We began in May of that year. We would get a terse message from Cathy listing the name and age of our hero and the address of the family, surviving family members, and the name and address of the Soldiers’ Angel who had adopted the soldier (if any). There were no pictures submitted with the information we received, and most of us sent a card with a written, personal expression of sincere sympathy.

In a short time, Cathy added the planting of a tree or bush to the Living Legend team duties. Sometimes she would ask some of her team members to call families that were severely traumatized and on occasion I would call suffering family members. The early messages about KIA service members had come with so little information, but I would try to imagine Private John Doe of Alabama dying at age 19 and the ripple effect it had on his family. This wondering and the close contact with family members led me to ask Cathy if we could have pictures of our fallen heroes, and it made a great impact on the writers.

Probably the most touching and powerful addition to our team was that of our quilter Sharon Wakefield. Sharon has been our only quilter all these years. She single-handedly has sewn hundreds of quilts, each one different and specially-designed to honor each fallen hero. She has integrated trucks, helicopters, bears, planes, eagles, kneeling soldiers, Sunbonnet Sues, Suspender Sams, and beautiful blocks into her works of art. All of her quilts are posted on our team's memorial website by Angel Terri Rager.

Today, the information about our lost men and women sent to a Living Legends Angel is compete with their lifetime accomplishments, as well as service records. Unlike other American wars where personal records of fallen heroes didn't surface for decades, no one will ever have to write a book about the uncovered information of the fallen heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; Living Legends has written it all and posted mini biographies and quilts (where applicable) of every hero.

Through her quilting, our unbelievable Sharon Wakefield has gifted many families with a tribute to their lost family member. In cases where the family members of our lost soldier live within driving distance of her home, Sharon has often hand-delivered her gift to the grieving family! She is our unsung heroine!

Being a part of the Living Legends team has changed my life. Serving on this team has been a profound and moving honor.

Fay reports that her years as a Living Legends email have included a number of deeply personal and meaningful connections with grieving military families, an experience that is not uncommon among Living Legends Angels. One family sent to Fay a copy of their soldier’s “farewell letter” that began, “If you receive this letter, I have passed away…” In 2006 when she suffered a serious illness, one of the families Fay had written to sent her a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Since then, that family has sent her a Christmas card every year. “This sort of thing is not an anomaly,” she says. Some families even join the team because they want to pass the comfort they have received to other heartbroken families.

The Living Legends Angels obviously have a powerful impact on the grieving families they attempt to comfort. It’s an invaluable role, and one they fill with grace and strength. To learn more about this special group of Angels, visit the Living Legends team page.

Musical Wellness in a Warehouse

2010-11-08T16:13:00.001-08:00

Sponsored by the Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute, World-renowned music and wellness expert Dr. Barry Bittman will hold an exclusive lecture and seminar on how recreational music making can reverse the impact of stress on people’s life, hosted by Soldiers' Angels. The event will be held at the Soldiers’ Angels Support Center (warehouse) in San Antonio on November 15 at 6 p.m.

Entitled, “Stress Reduction Through Therapeutic Music Making,” Dr. Bittman’s seminar will showcase how recreational music-making experiences serve as enjoyable and accessible group music-based activities that unite people of all ages regardless of their challenges, backgrounds, ability or prior music experience. These benefits can be particular useful for America's wounded warriors and their families, which is why Soldiers' Angels recently kicked of a special music therapy project, thanks in part to a gift of seven Clavinova keyboards from Yamaha. The keyboards are used for musical events, recreation and music lessons for wounded soldiers at the Soldiers’ Angels Support Center.

As CEO and Medical Director of the Mind-Body Wellness Center, a comprehensive, interdisciplinary outpatient medical facility in Meadville, PA. Dr. Bittman’s interdisciplinary treatment strategies integrate the power of mind, body and spirit with conventional medical care.

For more information on Dr. Barry Bittman and his research, please visit the Yamaha Music and Wellness Institute website at www.yamahainstitutue.org.

DarkTime Tales for Military Kids

2010-11-08T16:12:00.001-08:00

Darktime Tales, a leading publisher of Children’s Books, is teaming with Soldiers’ Angels to bring its children’s stories to the families of American servicemen and women stationed around the World.

“We know how hard it can be for families, especially children during the holidays, to adjust to who are living the military lifestyle,” said Richard Horwitz, President, Darktime Tales Publishing, Inc. “Stories seem to bring families together. The effect is long-lasting as they can be told and then talked about with the family who is stateside. Teaming up with Soldiers' Angels allows us to bring the children of active service members and veterans our stories and audio books.”

Darktime Tales is donating $20 off coupons to 5,000 Soldiers' Angels families. The stories are full of magic, monsters and adventure, and are appropriate for children of all backgrounds, ages 8 and up. No additional purchase is required to use these coupons.

“We are honored to help facilitate this generous donation from DarkTime Tales,” says Patti Patton-Bader, founder of Soldiers’ Angels and a military child herself. “Children sacrifice right along with their military parents and this is such a beautiful way to not only recognize that sacrifice, but reinforce the bonds between deployed parent and stateside child

What makes Darktime Tales so different from other children’s stories is that the main character of the series, the Salesman, is never given a name, nor is he described physically. In fact, none of the characters in the stories are given names. The Salesman could be any shape or size (tall, short, etc.) or of any background...whatever the child imagines! This distinctive style of writing allows children to imagine the characters as anyone they want -- family members, people in their own communities, or even classmates. Swift developed this style to give children a voice as he conveys that stories are for sharing.

“I came up with this concept so kids would see who they wanted in the characters, not who I wanted,” said Author, Scott Swift. “If I had named a character, say, ‘Brittney’, you would immediately get a picture in your head of who I was talking about. Even if I went on to describe how she looked, you would still have that initial picture in the back of your mind. This way kids get to imagine the characters as anyone they want. Uncle Paul, cousin Malik, or grandpa Chan - the Salesman is whoever the child wants him to be.”

Based on stories the author made up out of thin air each night at bedtime for his own children, the Traveling Salesman is a mystical, magical wizard of sorts who uses his wits and wizardry to escape tight spots and help those in need. Traveling from town to town, he sells everyday items enchanted with magical properties. But beware! If the items are misused, the consequences can be dire!

Each tale is a standalone story in its own right, but taken together they weave a rich and vibrant world inhabited by werewolves, witches, and magical creatures of every kind!

There are currently five audio books and fifteen stories in The Traveling Salesman series. Stories are available individually in PDF format and MP3 audio from www.darktimetales.com. Several stories are also available on the Kindle, iPad and Nook eBook readers. A paperback containing eight stories (The Traveling Salesman’s Darktime Tales Anthology) is also available from Amazon.com.

If you are a service member who would like to receive $20 worth of DarkTime Tales, or you would like to give them as a gift to military families, you can purchase them through www.darktimetales.com and use the coupon code ANGEL20 at checkout.

Don't Worry 'Bout Me, Mama

2010-11-08T16:08:00.001-08:00

Singer-songwriter Julie Kaylin has released a riveting new song to help support troops and their families. All profits from the sales of Kaylin’s powerful tune, “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Mama”, will be donated to Soldiers’ Angels. The “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Mama” mp3 can be streamed and downloaded at JulieKaylin.com.

“This song is inspired by the bravery of our troops, the love between a mother and her son, the emotions family experiences when someone close to them goes to war, and the important role military family members and troops play in giving each other strength,” Kaylin said.

“As the lyrics of ‘Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Mama’ closely parallel the ‘May no soldier go unloved’ motto of Soldiers’ Angels,” Kaylin continued, “I feel that donating to the Soldiers’ Angels is a great way for my music to help support the men and women who serve our country and honor their valor, as well as their family members’ courage.”

Blending country and soft rock rhythms, heartfelt lyrics, and polished vocals, Julie Kaylin's singing and songwriting skills have garnered awards and praise from industry veterans. “Julie has worked tirelessly on this new single and her ability for the craft truly shows with this release,” said Scott Winterroth, editor of CountryMusicChicago.com, an independent country music resource. “She truly has captured an emotional, heartfelt situation in a song, which is something that I believe will resonate with fellow country music fans.”

Julie Kaylin lives in the Chicago area and has performed throughout the Midwest, including at venues such as Six Flags Great America and Standard Bank Stadium. Her debut full length album is scheduled for release in the summer of 2011.

Soldiers' Angels salutes Julie for her support of the troops and her generous support of the mission of Soldiers' Angels!

Real Warriors Campaign

2010-11-08T16:07:00.001-08:00

The Real Warriors Campaign is currently highlighting veteran resources and events to honor those who have served. Their website shares resources for active duty, National Guard and Reserves, veterans, military families, and health professionals. In this month of Veterans' Day, they wish to bring particular attention to a three-part series about transitioning to the VA: Veterans Affairs Health Benefits Overview, Compensation, Pension and Other VA Benefits and Veterans Affairs in the Digital Age.

As Veterans' Day, November 11th, approaches, please take the opportunity to thank a veteran for the sacrifices they have made on our behalf.

Help for Halloween Overload - Contest

2010-11-04T19:37:00.001-07:00

Drowning in delicious Halloween delights? Worrying about all that candy's tendency to attach itself to stomach, hips and thighs while trying to keep the kids from a diet of 100% sweets?

Soldiers' Angels has the solution! Send your sweets to the troops! Just ship your extra Halloween candy (individually-sealed or in original bags) to Soldiers' Angels to share some sweet love with the troops (this is also a great time of year to pick up stores' extra candy at bargain rates).

Our military men and women deployed around the world always enjoy candy in their care packages, and this is the perfect time of year for shipping chocolate--the cooler weather means it's less likely to melt! Patriotic kids and parents can send extra Halloween candy to Soldiers' Angels, who will make sure it brightens the day of a service member far from home (please be sure to send "the good stuff,"--no crushed/melted candy or broken/torn wrappers, etc).

Soldiers' Angels asks all Angels to spread the word and get their community involved in sharing their Halloween candy to give our troops a taste of home. Watch for an exciting contest on Facebook, starting Friday: Every 30 minutes, a trivia question about Soldiers' Angels will be posted--people who are the first to answer a question correctly will receive a prize ranging from Angels Store gift certificates to care packages or donations to in the winners' names. Watch Soldiers' Angels Facebook Page for all the details!

If you live east of the Mississippi, please ship your Halloween candy to:

Soldiers' Angels

112 Greenhill Road

Ramseur NC 27316

If you live west of the Mississippi, please ship your halloween candy to:

Soldiers' Angels

8804 N PanAm Expry

San Antonio, TX 78218

Monday Night Football with Angels

2010-11-04T19:36:00.001-07:00

One of the many activities at the Soldiers’ Angels Support Center (San Antonio Warehouse) is a special gathering on Monday nights for wounded warriors and their families recovering at Brooke Army Medical Center across the street. Not every supporter of the troops can join them as they enjoy a Monday Night Football party each week, but now everyone can help them have a fun time.

Donations needed to fund these Monday Night Football (MNF) “tailgate parties” where wounded heroes and their families can kick back, get out of the cramped hospital environment for a bit and have a little fun. Up to 20 people have joined these events so far to enjoy the pizza, drinks, snacks and camaraderie. It's a great opportunity to relax and enjoy a bit of "normal life" amid a challenging time.

Wounded warriors who visit for MNF get the chance to win a prize through tickets funded by donations—each quarter of the game, two tickets are picked to win gift certificates and gift cards. Five dollars will fund one ticket for a wounded warrior and help the cover cost of these great events.

Joe Gonzales, SA Support Center staff member reports that the new Monday Night Football parties have been not only a superb diversion for recovering soldiers, but have helped the heroes recognize not only all the opportunities for support they have now, but how many people have been supporting them all along.

As part of each MNF party, attendees are given a tour of the warehouse to see the support that is available to them and their fellow soldiers. When they see the care package area they often say, “Oh yeah, I remember having an SA care package while I was deployed!” Attendees have also shown great interested in the new music center and often come back for music lessons and events or say, “I want to come over here and help out!”

Joe says, “They didn’t realize how close it was to the hospital and how cool it was. They love it. They say they wished they’d know about this before. One soldier said recently, ‘My wife hogs the TV on Monday nights. I would love to come down here on Monday nights and watch football instead!’”

To support this great project that means so much to the wounded heroes and their families receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical, please use the donate button below or send a check or money order to the address—every $5 donation helps a wounded hero smile and relax with something “normal” like a football game amid the challenges of recovery…

Moose Munch for the Troops

2010-11-04T18:44:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the generosity of gourmet gifts retailer Harry & David, troops far from home this holiday season will have an extra special treat in their Soldiers’ Angels care packages—Harry & David’s delicious and hugely-popular Moose Munch^® Bars.

The “Support Our Troops Moose Moose Munch^® Drive” previously resulted in over 115,000 bars sent to soldiers overseas and is returning just in time for the winter holidays. Harry & David stores nationwide are offering customers the opportunity to purchase two Moose Munch^® bars for $4 (one bar is usually $2.50) and donate one of the two bars for the Moose Munch^® Bar Drive along with a personal message to a soldier. Soldiers’ Angels will distribute this new round of bars in its Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care packages and Harry & David is assisting with shipping.

"We're delighted to support our troops on the front lines," said Steve Heyer, CEO of Harry & David. "The program gives our customers the opportunity to give back to soldiers who have already given so much of themselves for our country."

“This is a fantastic gift for deployed service members who will be so far from home during the Holidays and we are thrilled to be able to include the in our care packages,” says Soldiers’ Angels Founder Patti Patton-Bader. “Moose Munch^® Bars will be sure to bring a smile to the faces of these heroes.”

Soldiers’ Angels is aiming to send a Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care package to every deployed service member this holiday season. Care packages will include snacks, candy, hot chocolate, socks, a handmade blanket, a travel mug and a personal note.

To participate in the Support Our Troops Moose Munch^® Bar Drive, visit your local Harry & David store.

Portraits of Love for the Troops

2010-11-04T18:43:00.001-07:00

Underwritten by Fujifilm, Soldiers' Angels and professional photographers of the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) have teamed up once again to send a piece of home to our deployed troops--just in time for the winter holidays--through an effort dubbed Portraits of Love.

Volunteer photographers across the country, as well as JCPenny Portrait Studies, are opening their studios this September through November to offer free portraits to military families who have a loved one deployed overseas. The portraits will be uploaded to FujiFilm's website, and a free print will be sent to the family member in Iraq, Afghanistan or wherever they are deployed around the world. The ultimate goal is to send 10,000 free family portraits.

“This project is the photo industry’s way of giving back to our soldiers, and thanking them for the sacrifices they have made for our country,” said Jerry Grossman, the president of the PMDA who has spearheaded the effort. “Our industry is uniquely qualified to bring an important piece of home to our soldiers, and we’re pleased to be able to organize this effort.”

“It’s incredible how motivating a simple family photograph can be to a soldier who is far from home,” said Soldiers' Angel Toby Nunn, who has served two tours in Iraq. “This volunteer effort is one more way that we can help our soldiers cope with their situation,” he said.

This is the second time Soldiers' Angels has joined forces with Portraits of Love. Last year the project was so successful that it was extended from its expected end date all the way into December. Military family members can find participating photographers in their areas by visiting the Portraits of Love website (in order to attend the portrait session, families will need military IDs). Photographers interested in volunteering their time can also sign up on the site.

From the Mouths of Babes

2010-11-04T18:41:00.001-07:00

One of the most favorite things for a deployed Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine to receive is a letter from a kid. Parents with children who enthusiastically support the troops are very proud of their kids and often share those troop support experiences with Soldiers' Angels. Here are just a few...

Sarah H wrote to a soldier about her son:

My son Lucas is four years old and ALL boy, but he has a sensitive heart toward Soldiers, since his daddy was a Soldier before he was born. Recently there have been a lot of commercials on TV with Soldiers' greetings to home. Every time he sees them, he says "Merry Christmas to you, too!" There's also a commercial for a CD, All I Want for Christmas is a Soldier Coming Home. He asked me yesterday to help him write a letter to a soldier...it truly comes from his little heart.

...Just to let you know that even the littlest child is thinking of you and proud of what you're doing.

This is what Lucas wrote:

Tex adopted a soldier, which piqued the interest of his 12-year-old son, Trevor. After reading the soldier's letter to Tex, Trevor wrote his own letter.

Trevor sympathized with how hot it must be for the soldier and said, "I appreciate and admire your choice to protect our country. You put your life on the line for our freedom. The least I can do is write a note of thanks." He added that he didn't think he could ever do what the soldier does, and that he was praying for him. "May God's peace be with you. Thanks and good luck!"

Tex included a picture of Trevor and his friends.

Kids also support their troops through fundraising activities. Ashley P. helped a group of neighborhood children run a lemonade stand to raise money for Soldiers' Angels, complete with a very cute sign they attached to the back end of a vehicle in their driveway. The children also marched up and down the sidewalks with banners directing people to their lemonade stand.

Soldiers' Angels salutes all the kid Angels out there whose kindness, enthusiasm and tenderheartedness raise the morale of America's heroes! If you have a kid who would like to send support to a soldier, you can adopt a soldier yourself and supervise the child in sending letters and cards. Or if you have an entire group of children such as a church group, classroom or scout troop, email groups@soldiersangels.org for ideas and guidance on how to get them involved in troop support activities.

If you have a kid who just wants to send a card or letter to a soldier, this upcoming Holiday Season is the perfect time to jump in and a deployed hero grin! You can send unsealed cards and letters inside larger envelopes (we need to be able to read it before placing it in a care package) to:

Soldiers' Angels
4408 N PanAm Exprwy
San Antonio, TX 78218

Angels and the 10th Mtn Division

2010-11-04T18:40:00.001-07:00

Soldiers’ Angels has once-again stepped in to help veterans, spouses and dependents who may have fallen through the cracks of support available for veterans and families. Mike Plummer, President of National Association of the 10th Mountain Division explains:

An Unintended Inequity

The 10th Mountain Division was reactivated in Feb 1985 and since that time has been the most deployed division in the United States Army. By design and by hard won reputation, the division will remain extremely active in the years ahead in the Global War on Terrorism.

Here is the problem … the bi-laws of the 10th Mountain Division Foundation Scholarship Fund do not allow for current members of the 10th Mountain Division to be eligible for scholarship monies that have been collected and invested over the last 65 years. Rightfully, the original World War II Veterans who donated the money want it to go to their descendants. Since there are no Korean, Vietnam, Granada, Panama or Desert Storm 10th Mountain Veterans, we don’t have that funding source to help us make up the shortfall.

This leaves the 10th Mountain Division (Light) without a self perpetuating scholarship fund like the rest of the Army's active duty divisions have. This is an unfortunate situation that has created an unintended inequity for those who serve America in the 10th Mountain Division.

In order to correct this inequity, the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, Inc. a 501(c)(19) organization formed a fund raising committee in 2006 to raise $5 Million for a self perpetuating scholarship fund. To date over $500,000 has been raised and the Association has been able to award five $5,000 scholarships in 2007, six in 2008, seven in 2009 and eight this year. The plan is to add one each following year.

Officials from the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division stand with three recipients (center) of $5,000 scholarships for post-WWI 10th Mtn. veterans and families.

Unfortunately at the rate the fund is currently growing it will take ten more years to achieve the $5 million required to provide a self perpetuating fund. With over 3,500 Soldiers currently deployed to Afghanistan and another 7,500 deploying this fall, the need for a self perpetuating fund scholarship fund is now.

The purpose of this article is to ask members and friends of the Soldiers Angels to assist us in shortening the time it takes to achieve our fund raising goal. We need your donations and your help in identifying and contacting potential donors whom may be willing to make a donation or bequeath.

Donations should be made out to the Northern New York Community Foundation and on the “For” line, write 10th Mountain Division Scholarship Fund. Please mail checks to:

Northern New York Community Foundation
HSBC Building, Suite 400
120 Washington Street
Watertown, NY 13601

Or, if you want to use a credit card click here.

Once your check has been processed you will receive a confirmation of receipt and the income tax information you need to deduct your tax-deductible gift. If you wish to donate stocks or property, please call Mr. Rande Richardson 315-782-7110 and he will advise you on how to maximize the tax benefits of your gift.

If you want more information on the: National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, Inc., please visit our web site or the Northern New York Community Foundation. If you have any other questions, please contact me Mike Plummer at: plummike@aol.com.

Soldiers’ Angels has been proud to stand with Mike and his organization. With the support of SA (and other donors), they recently awarded eight $5,000 scholarships to 10th Mountain veterans, spouses and children to assist them in attending community colleges and universities.

100,000 Blankets of Belief

2010-11-04T18:36:00.001-07:00

For the last two winter holiday seasons, our deployed heroes have loved receiving their homemade Blankets of Belief from Soldiers' Angels, so we’re doing it again this year! The blankets are a wonderful reminder to the troops that we believe in them as they face the challenges of deployment to a war zone during the Holidays.

Anyone can help make a blanket for a hero. If you sew, knit, crochet, or just hold a pen, you can wrap a hero in love from home.

A chief warrant officer wrote from Iraq when he received his blankets:

Christmas came early this year and I just wanted to say thank you. If only you could have seen the looks on my troops' faces when all those boxes came in. I have never seen such a giddy group of grown men. The blankets were snatched up first.

A soldier wrote from Afghanistan after receiving blankets from Soldiers' Angels for his unit:

It can be very cold at night and we don't have heat in our tent. We have cold weather sleeping bags but they are not comfortable to sleep in because they are so narrow. They are too short for some of our tall guys. We can finally get out of the sleeping bag and stretch out while still keeping warm because we now have blankets.

In Iraq, winter nights are quite cool, and temperatures in Afghanistan can reach -20 degrees Fahrenheit! Conditions at many bases in Afghanistan are very austere, and so as more troops are deployed there, the appreciation for blankets from home grows.

Working together, we can make sure each deployed hero knows "We believe in you!" If every Angel made just one blanket, we'd have enough to send a blanket to every single deployed Soldier, Sailor, Airman, Marine and Coast Guardsman. It's a great project to share with family, friends, scout troops, sewing guilds, and church teams.

Blankets can be either sewn or quilted, and we even have instructions for no-sew blankets--check out the Blankets of Belief page for all the details! Knitter and crocheters, please email crochet@soldiersangels.org to learn how you can get involved.

Together, let's ensure all of our heroes deployed this upcoming holiday season know we remember them and believe in them!

Easy Holiday Shopping

2010-11-04T18:34:00.001-07:00

Soldiers’ Angels has a great way to support the troops while reducing your stress and cutting that holiday shopping list down to size. Once again, SA is offering the opportunity to sponsor a holiday care package for the troops as a gift.

Don't we all know at least one person who has everything, one who is really hard to shop for this time of year? Think how great it would be to honor them by sending some warmth and support to one of our heroes...

You can donate a Wrapped in Holiday Spirit (WiHS) care package in the name of a friend or loved one, and Soldiers' Angels will send you a beautiful certificate to present to them in commemoration of your gift in their honor.

Just head over to the Angel Store and place your order. With just one purchase of $25 (including shipping and handling), you can support America's heroes and cross another name off your Holiday shopping list. How many people would you like to cross off your shopping list for just $25 without even changing out of your pajamas?

When you order your WiHS package(s) in someones honor, be sure to select the "honorary donation" option, and SA will immediately send your certificate of honor.

To support a hero this Holiday Season, visit the Angel Store and start crossing off that list of presents for your friends and family!

Pilot Shows Double Wings

2010-11-04T17:15:00.001-07:00

Retired Captain Gary Barnhill of the U.S. Air Force is continuing to serve, acquiring a “second set of wings” as a Soldiers’ Angel.

CAPT Barnhill discovered Soldiers’ Angels through the Soldiers’ Angels Germany blog and was "deeply touched by the service that Soldier's Angels provides to our guys and gals in their hour of need." He maintains a tight bond with his fellow pilots from their time in service, and feels a connection to those still serving today. It is that connection that has motivated an incredible string of gifts for Soldiers’ Angels Germany.

His new mission in retirement is finding high quality clothing at great prices for wounded warriors transitioning through Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. CAPT Barnhill's brother Jim served 32 years in the National Guard and Reserves, and has supported Gary’s mission.

How has the mission gone so far? CAPT Barnhill is measuring his cashier's receipts by the foot!

For the full story of the Barnhill brothers’ amazing resourcefulness and generosity, see the Soldiers’ Angels Germany blog.

Angel of Valor

2010-11-04T17:13:00.001-07:00

Sometimes Angels are valorous, too...

In 2006 Angel Amy, whose physical challenges confine her to a wheelchair, helped another Angel support her adopted Marine by asking the owners of the New England Patriots to send him Patriots gear to raise his morale. Amy kept in touch with the Marine over the years, and earlier this year he reported he was having difficulty coping with a previous deployment but was in therapy. “I told him I was glad he was getting help and that I would be here to support him in any way I could,” Amy recalls.

“You know, you inspire so many, even us Marines,” he said in reply. Amy expressed surprise, assuming that meant he had told other Marines about her. “Just a few,” he replied to her statement. How can a Marine even think about giving up when you set so many things straight...there are no disabilities.”

Amy assured him that if it inspired Marines, he was welcome to “tell all the Devil Dogs you want about me.”

The Marine mentioned a combat event he’d experienced and said, “If it weren’t for the strength you have given me through your life, I would have stopped way before I did in my little tiff in Afghanistan.”

Of course Amy thanked him for the compliment, and added that she was honored to have inspired him.

“Wish I could give you the honors I received from [that combat action],” he mused before pausing to think. “Perhaps I can, come to think of it. I may send you something.... I don't know if any other of your adopted troops have ever given you the thanks you deserve—the things you and so many of the Angels give is ever endless.”

What this heroic Marine sent was his Navy and Marine Corps Commendation with Combat Distinguishing Device, the medal he had received for the combat action he mentioned.

According to the citation, Marine X (he has asked that he remain anonymous) received the medal “for heroic achievement while serving…in support of operations in Afghanistan…X’s convoy was attacked by an improvised explosive device destroying two vehicles and injuring several Marines. X’s quick thinking and reaction assisted in identifying insurgents that triggered the device and attempting to trigger another. Despite being wounded from the blast, X directed fire and eliminated the threat. At the completion of the engagement he did refuse medical treatment until all other injured Marines were taken care of and coordinated logistical efforts to medically evacuate personnel and equipment in order to accomplish the mission at hand. X’s outstanding initiative courageous actions and loyal devotion to duty reflected credit upon him and were keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.”

The Commendation Medal with Combat Device is a “mid-level” award authorized for valor. It is awarded to a person who distinguishes himself/herself by heroic or meritorious achievement or service in the military. The acts or services must be accomplished or performed in a manner above that normally expected and sufficient to distinguish the individual above those performing similar services.

Amy says she has received thank yous over the years , but nothing like a medal for valor!

Marine X says that giving his medal to Amy seemed appropriate, considering the valor she displays in fighting past her physical challenges. “I will always have the honors from the Corps,” he says. “But I always think those behind the scenes really deserve the respect and honor.”

Guns of Valour-IT

2010-11-04T17:07:00.001-07:00

For the fourth straight year, gun enthusiasts and bloggers have turned their love of firearms into laptop computers for wounded warriors. Patriotic Americans gathered in Reno Nevada for the Gunblogger Rendezvous from September 9-12 and once again made Soldiers' Angels Project Valour-IT their fundraising focus.

This year the Rendezvous raised nearly $5,100 for Valour-IT through registration fees, donations, and raffles (in addition to direct donations that attendees and blog readers were encouraged to make online). The National Sports Shooting Foundation set the bar with a donation of $1,000 for Valour-IT.

Participants in the Rendezvous enjoyed range visits and shooting competitions, “show and tell” opportunities with their favorite firearms and accessories, and a tour of a local outfitting company in addition to lively fellowship at meals and latenight gab sessions. Soldiers’ Angels co-founder Jeff Bader was on hand for one of the days to thank donors, meet the attendees, and talk about the importance of Valour-IT for wounded warriors.

The Gunblogger Rendezvous is an annual "real life" meeting of an online community of about 125 bloggers who discuss firearms and 2nd Amendment issues. Each year they include a charitable aspect to the festivities, and for the last four years that has been Valour-IT.

Blogger “Mr. Completely,” who coordinated the event, reported it was the “best ever” Gunbloggers Rendezvous. “Thanks again to everyone who made it possible,” he wrote on his blog, “and thanks to Soldier's Angels and Project Valour-IT for all the great things they do for our troops.”

Soldiers' Angels is proud and honored to receive such consistent and generous support from patriotic Americans who have found a way to celebrate their rights and favorite pastimes while supporting the troops!

Photos from True Blue Sam the Travelin' Man blog, one of the Rendezvous attendees.

Drum Hike Headed to Southern California

2010-11-04T17:04:00.001-07:00

Calling all Angels and other patriots in California... You're invited to help a hero and veterans' families!

Former soldier Troy Yocum is currently in Utah, headed to California on his 7,000-mile "Drum Hike for Heroes"--he has already completed over 2500 miles! He will cut across the bottom tip of Las Vegas and be in California by early November, where several big events are planned to celebrate his hike and raise funds for the military families who are his mission.

On November 3, Troy will be in Twentynine Palms, home of the word's largest Marine Corps base. There he will be joined in his march by supporters and veterans, including the mayor, law enforcement and first responders, local high schools, the Patriot Guard Riders and community organizations such as Rotary and Kiwanis. There will also be a $20 dinner with various VIP guests to help Troy raise money for military veteran families in need. For more information or to RSVP for the dinner, email Kimberly brown at kapb55@live.com (more info here; Facebook here).

On Veterans Day, November 11, Troy will be marching in the San Diego Veterans Day parade and appearing at the Veterans Museum & Memorial Open House. There will be live entertainment and fundraising activities to support military families, including two special families who will be honored at the event. They are looking for as many Angels as possible who would like to march in the parade or assist with entertainment, food and activities at the open house. For more information click here or contact Susan Lawson at ctlca26@gmail.com.

Troy will be stopping at cities and towns all along the way from Twentynine Palms to Los Angeles and down to San Diego. To see his route and current location, click here. To plan an event anywhere from Los Angeles to San Diego, contact Susan Lawson at ctlca26@gmail.com. As Susan says, "He has a list of cities walking and he needs fundraising events--at minimum, people meeting him along the way to support him and stick $5 in the donation box. Let's get busy - he's out there counting on help!"

Double Your $10 at JustGive!

2010-11-04T17:00:00.001-07:00

Since Soldiers’ Angels has teamed up with JustGive.org, it has received over $2300 through JustGive and its many partners. As they celebrate 10 years of online charitable giving, they are offering a very special bonus for all who donate to Soldiers' Angels through their free donation system.

JustGive will add an extra $10 to each donation of $10 or more made from October 10 through October 20 at this link. Donations must be made through that link, after searching under the name "Soldiers Angels," and each person can donate only once.

This is a great way to spread the word about Soldiers’ Angels and double your $10 donation! Just imagine how much money Soldiers’ Angels could raise if each person donated just $10! Please post this special link on Facebook or send it by email, Tweet about it, and share it at work. Encourage everyone to forward the link and inspire friends to join the cause. Celebrating the joy of giving, while doubling your giving power!

How to make 352 Blankets in 8 Hours

2010-11-04T16:57:00.001-07:00

The 5th Annual Blankets of Hope marathon at the Ascension Catholic Church in Bowie, MD was held on September 25th, 2010.

Each year has been bigger than the last, and this year was no exception. Patriotic Americans of all varieties showed up to make blankets for wounded heroes—men, women, young, old, couples and a variety of races all spent a Saturday making over 300 blankets to send to Soldiers’ Angels Germany. “The first year they made 43 blankets and were so excited and proud of themselves,” says Lisa Dodson, who coordinated the event. “This year it was 352 made in eight hours! Every year the event grows and grows.”

The 150 volunteers in attendance, most of whom had participated in previous blanket-making marathons , drove up to 90 miles to be there. They were very enthusiastic and especially motivated by a story shared at the event. During a fundraising effort outside a local grocery store earlier in the year, a man had rolled by in his car to say, “I received one of those blankets earlier this year. Thank you, thank you.” He then reached out the window to press something into an Angel’s hand and drove away instantly. It was a $100 bill.

“I start getting questions within a month afterwards about when the next one will be,” says Lisa. They get so excited! It really brings people together, and everyone leaves feeling so good about what they’ve done.”

Lisa and her husband spent the last year soliciting donations from friends and family that own businesses or have good relationships with businesses they use regularly. Companies, schools, a restaurant, individuals, local Lions Clubs and the local American Legion all pitched in with fundraising support that resulted in fabric for 180 blankets. In addition, each attendee at the event was asked to bring enough fleece to make at least one hand-tied blanket if at all possible.

Despite the economy, Lisa was able to raise more money than last year, with individual donations showing the greatest increase. Pico Textiles of California also stepped up, shipping hundreds of yards of fabric at no cost. Thanks to those donations they were able to make about 20 more blankets than last year, even though slightly fewer people participated. Lisa also points out two fellow Angels who were particularly helpful in planning and preparations: Maureen Barber and Valerie Potter, who acted as Lisa’s assistants, getting out the word in the local Bowie newspaper, churches, bulletin boards, etc.

Congrats to the Angels and their patriotic friends in Bowie! Great Angeling!

Books for My Father

2010-11-04T16:54:00.001-07:00

Author Richard Jackson is making a special donation to Soldiers’ Angels in celebration of his father, a tailgunner in WWII who passed away on Easter Sunday this year. Richard’s two newest thrillers are now available on Kindle, and he will be donating $2 from each download to Soldiers’ Angels in tribute to his father’s service.

Power & Deceit tells the story of equipment failures and successive explosions in a West Virginia mine that lead to more questions than answers. As business executive Rick Henderson digs into the issues, he uncovers an international web of greed and corruption that could bring down the giants of the industry—if he lives long enough to tell about it.

In The Reckoning, former CIA operatives go up against terrorists who have killed the Vice President and are planning a more deadly attack on Washington, DC. Things get even more difficult when they discover that the man behind the terrorists is the Iraqi President.

Both books are available for Kindle on Amazon.com, with $2 from each download going to Soldiers’ Angels.

Richard found Soldiers’ Angels while looking online for information on how to donate hardcover copies of his books for deployed soldiers. After talking to the father of a service member in Afghanistan who had reported “There’s never anything to read,” Richard decided to donate 1700 copies of his books to be sent in Soldiers’ Angels care packages for the troops.

In addition to the military connection through his father, Richard has a brother-in-law who was a Cobra helicopter pilot in Vietnam and a niece and nephew who attend the Air Force Academy. "We can never forget the service of our military and the safety and comfort they provide people here and abroad," he says.

Help Op Homefront Play Santa!

2010-11-04T16:51:00.000-07:00

Soldiers' Angels has been proud to work with Operation Homefront over the years. Now they have a fantastic project that brings a little extra joy to the upcoming Holidays for thousands of military families across the country and they're counting on Angels to help to make it happen.

OP Homefront needs hundreds of people to pick up donations from local Dollar Tree Stores and deliver them to a distribution point for the families. Please read below for all the info.

Operation Homefront and Dollar Tree have teamed up to help military families provide toys for their children at Christmas.

Over 3,900 Dollar Tree and Deals stores around the country will be collecting toys from November 1st through December 6th, 2010. We have a goal to collect 6+ million toys. This is why we need your help!

Here’s how the program works:

You can register to be a volunteer for the Dollar Tree and Deals stores in your area, by clicking here.

You will then be required to enter your name, military affiliation, and contact information. Once you have created a username and password, and entered the necessary contact information, you will be able to access a listing of Dollar Tree and Deals stores within a 100 mile radius of where you live. You will then be able to select up to 15 stores you would like to serve as the pickup point of contact.*

Beginning November 1, 2010, store customers will be given the opportunity to purchase toys for military families. Once the items are purchased, they are placed into a drop box located near the checkout counters.

In order to streamline the process, it is recommended that the volunteer contact the Dollar Tree store manager before the kick off of the campaign to work out a pick up schedule. It is possible to have a pickup schedule of once or twice a week depending on the volume of toys the store collects.

Once you have picked up the toys, you can distribute them to the Operation Homefront chapter that services your particular state.

*Operation Homefront Chapter staff and volunteers have priority in selecting stores. Operation Homefront reserves the right to make adjustments to registered volunteers, i.e. limit the number of stores picked up by one person or make any other necessary alteration if in the best interest of the program.

Thank you for your help with this program!

For questions, contact Brad Claus at Brad.Claus@operationhomefront.net or 210-659-7756.

1606

2010-11-04T16:49:00.001-07:00

As this is published, 1606 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines are waiting for an Angel to adopt them. These American heroes need to know they haven’t been forgotten. Even if they are in a relatively comfortable living situation, it is vital that they know we are thinking of them here at home.

A young Airmen recently wrote from a base in Iraq known for good living conditions. He asked simply for American snacks and “brain teasers,” and explained that he is based in England when he’s not deployed:

I wanna say thank you for not forgetting us. I've been back to America many times and can’t tell you how many times I hear bad things about the troops. I’m glad to know someone still cares.

And like so many of his brothers and sisters, Adam is more concerned about others than himself. He finished his note with this comment:

BTW, if you have a choice in picking me or a Soldier/Marine in Afganistan, or one at what we call an FOB, then please pick them.

This Airman knows he has it good, but he also knows he needs the reassurance that he still has the support of patriotic Americans back home. Whether they’re lining in tent on an outpost in Afghanistan, or in one of Saddam’s old palaces in Iraq, our military men and women need to know that they are remembered and appreciated.

1500+ people waiting for adoption is among the highest numbers Soldiers’ Angels has ever seen. If you can’t adopt someone yourself, please tell a friend about this great way to make sure America’s heroes know that during these hard time, their sacrifices are not forgotten.

To adopt a soldier when you are already an Angel, go to approvedangels.com. If you are not yet an Angel, start here, read, then click on "Join Soldiers' Angels."

Lucky Us

2010-11-04T16:46:00.001-07:00

Singer-songwriter Helene Cronin has written a beautiful song in support of America’s military men and women, Lucky Me. It has touched the hearts of thousands and thousands of troops, and now Helene is spreading the joy even further by donating to Soldiers’ Angels.

Lucky Me describes the gratitude of Americans who realize they are fortunate to be safe at home, protected by the men and women who are deployed in war zones and uncomfortable situations far from home. It is available by digital download on on CDbaby.com and iTunes.com, and 25% of Helene’s proceeds from each digital sale will be donated to Soldiers’ Angels.

The song is a true story based on Helene’s trip back from a seemingly unsuccessful networking visit to Nashville with her songs. Standing at the counter at the airport, she happened to strike up a conversation with the soldier standing near her. He mentioned he was headed back to Iraq and asked where she was going. “I'm going home,” she said, discouragement in her voice. “Lucky you,” he replied.

His response hit her hard. “How lucky AM I,” she thought, comparing her destination to his. “I had just been handed a gift in what he said to me.” The conversation stayed in her head as a song idea for two years before she sat down to write. “Then it just poured out,” she says. This summer, after some rewriting, she recorded a simple guitar/vocal demo of the song in Nashville.

Helene's sister, who is a videographer, created a video version of Lucky Me that is making a big splash on Facebook and YouTube. The version of the video seen here includes photos from a soldier currently serving in Afghanistan and a former Marine who served in Iraq. Both men contacted Helene after hearing the song and allowed their photos to be used to make a new video because they appreciated the song so much.

“It has been an amazing experience to see how this song has connected with people,” says Helene. "I’ve heard from every military branch and vets from the Korean War, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and their family members about how much this song means to them. It’s beyond politics. It has united people around our soldiers and our military, and I feel honored to be a part of that."

Soldiers’ Angels is honored to stand with Helene in her appreciation of those who sacrifice for all of us, and grateful for her generosity.

Cooperating to Support the Troops

2010-11-04T15:03:00.000-07:00

Cooperating to Support the Troops

Thanks
to two other organizations teaming up with Soldiers' Angels, troops are
going to get some delicious snacks while the money saved is being
applied to other military support projects!

It began when Dan Leon, founder of the
Hero Organization, approached Herr Foods. Soldiers’ Angels has been
spending a great deal of money to buy snack-size packages of food to
include in care packages shipped from San Antonio to troops around the
world, so Leon asked if Herr’s might like to raise its visibility with a
regular donation through Soldiers’ Angels.

Community Marketing Specialist for
Herr’s, Hans Thomas is responsible for sampling for marketing purposes
and recognized the opportunity Leon presented. A Marine Corps combat
veteran himself, he realized he could help support his fellow warriors
while also meeting his employer’s goals. “As a company, we’ve had
employees who have served in the military and Herr’s is a big supporter
of the community,” Thomas says. “It ties right in with what we like to
do to support the troops and thank them for their service while also
introducing them to a product they will see on the shelves at the store.
“

Herr’s is now sending one shipment per
month of pretzels and various flavors of potato chips that will be
included in care packages to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, about 600
bags of snacks. “It’s wonderful when a corporation like Herr’s that
can provide products desperately wanted and needed overseas,” says
Soldiers’ Angels Warehouse Manager Sean Thomas (not related to Hans).
“It also helps lighten the financial load on Soldiers’ Angels and
demonstrates that not only do individual citizens care, but corporations
do, too.”

Soldiers' Angels salutes Herr Foods and
the HERO Organization, and looks forward to continuing to work with them
both in support of the troops.

Nonpoint Rocks for the Troops

2010-11-04T14:59:00.001-07:00

Soldiers' Angels extends its deepest appreciation to musicians of Nonpoint for their generous donation. All profits from their new single, "Frontlines" will be split 50-50 between Soldiers' Angels and the USO. Thank you, Nonpoint, for being such great supporters of the troops!

NONPOINT RELEASE OFFICIAL ‘FRONTLINES’ VIDEO
BAND DONATES PORTION OF DIGITAL SINGLE SALES TO MILITARY CHARITIES

LOS ANGELES - Ft Lauderdale hard rockers NONPOINT have unveiled the official video to their new single, “Frontlines.” Inspired by the bravery of our military, lead vocalist Elias Soriano explains, “When I wrote the concept for Frontlines, I wanted to make sure the focus was on the commitment of what our soldiers do for us. The weight they carry, and the intensity they hold steadfast to protect people they don’t even know.”

NONPOINT will be donating proceeds of the digital single sales of “Frontlines” to the USO and Soldier’s Angels foundations. Jeff Bader of Soldier’s Angels says, “We are honored NONPOINT is donating proceeds from their new single to support Soldier’s Angels. The circumstances surrounding this generous gift from the band seems to be a natural fit. Many of our returning veterans tell us that the warriors on the frontlines regularly listen to Nonpoint!”

“I say this with as much meaning as I could possibly have,” says Soriano. “God bless the men and women of our military, and thank you for allowing me to be what I am, and do what I do. Every single one of you are the reason I’m free to do so.”

NONPOINT - Frontlines (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Clean Energy Helps the Troops

2010-11-04T14:49:00.001-07:00

Soldiers’ Angels has what might
sound like an unusual request, but ultimately it’s simply another easy
way to support the troops!

Dear Angels:

We need your vote now
to help ERRA win the $50,000 General Electric (GE) Ecomagination
Challenge, a chance to win 1 of 5 $100,000 prizes, and a chance to share
in a $200 million fund that GE and its partnering venture capital firms
Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Emerald Technology Ventures,
Foundation Capital and Rockport Capital have set up to fund promising
ideas and technologies focused on improving America's utility grid.

Upon the full funding and commercialization of ERRA's vast portfolio of clean energy technologies, it
is ERRA's expressed desire to richly support works around the world to
address military-related needs ranging from deployed support to wounded
care, to remembrance of the fallen and a wide variety of assistance for
military families.

Your vote for ERRA will help lower our
national security threat, by finally breaking the grip of big foreign
oil and positively shifting the world’s energy markets toward clean,
renewable, and sustainable energy like no other company that has ever
come before it.

Your vote for ERRA will help our nation
avert inevitable future confrontations and wars, or at the very least an
intensified international competition for limited fossil fuel
resources.

Your vote for ERRA will help to avoid
future environmental disasters like BP's Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in
the Gulf of Mexico.

Please go to: http://www.errainc.com/ge.htm for instructions on how to register and vote now!

You'll need to register on the General
Electric site in order to vote, but the process is free, 100% secure,
quick and easy. If you include an image in your profile, you'll even
show up as a supporter on ERRA's Ecomagination page. Voting and then
passing this email on to your Family & Friends is something that
could also make a huge difference. You can even post comments about
ERRA's technologies on the GE site if you like. The deadline to vote is
September 30, 2010, so please vote now!

Please vote for all 5 of ERRA's entries in this challenge. All 5 of ERRA's entries will have the following icon beside them:

Thank you in advance for your votes, and your continued support of our Soldiers everywhere!

Patti Patton-Bader & Jeff Bader

Co-founders of Soldiers' Angels

About ERRA Incorporated

Led by James Hogarth, CEO, ERRA is a
clean technology company, headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, committed
to the commercialization of its vast portfolio of green, renewable
energy products powered by its patented and proprietary reversible
hydride technologies.

Staffed primarily by distinguished
retired US military officers, ERRA’s management team has a very unique
global perspective on our nation’s need for reducing it’s dependence on
fossil fuels. ERRA's Chief Operating Officer (COO) Lt. General Robert R.
Dierker, a retired United States Air Force three-star general states
"In my opinion, this company (ERRA) has the potential to finally break
the grip of big oil and positively shift the world’s energy markets
toward clean, renewable, and sustainable energy like no other company
that has ever come before it."

ERRA shares one large unified heart
concerning the support of our US Service Men and Women everywhere, both
active and retired. We intimately understand that "Greater love has no
one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." (John
15:13.) We strive everyday to honor and support this immeasurable
commitment from our troops!

Current instability in the largest of
the oil-producing regions of the world is among the most imminent
threats to US national security, as well as energy and economic
independence. ERRA believes strongly in the national effort to create an
alternative source of power generation, storage, and delivery,
especially in our nation’s transportation sector, as well as our
commercial and residential markets. Much more than launching just a
leading alternative clean energy company, we at ERRA are working
diligently to avert an otherwise inevitable confrontation, or at the
very least an intensified international competition for limited energy
resources.

For additional information regarding the
YESS Battery, or about the balance of ERRA‘s vast portfolio of clean
technologies, please visit www.errainc.com

Please go to: http://www.errainc.com/ge.htm for instructions on how to register and vote now!

Special Edition Supports Troops

2010-11-04T14:46:00.001-07:00

Author and independent journalist
Michael Yon will soon publish his second book on Iraq from the years he
spent reporting there, Iraq: Inside the Inferno.
Yon and his publisher, Richard Vigilante Books, have been longtime
supporters of Soldiers’ Angels and now they’ve using this new book to
create a very special gift!

A limited number of boxed, signed, and numbered deluxe editions of Iraq: Inside the Inferno
will be offered for sale prior to the publication of the “regular”
version of the book next year. Yon and his publisher are contributing a
total of $5 from the sale of each book to Soldier's Angels. The goal
is to sell 10,000 copies, resulting in a $50,000 donation.

Iraq: Inside the Inferno covers
Yon’s reporting in Iraq from 2005-2008. “It will tell, with words and
pictures, the dramatic story of how we won the war in Iraq — not
primarily with our overwhelming technology, not with shock and awe
destruction, but with the far more important force of American values,”
says Yon.

“This 220 page, full color book will be
printed on the finest paper used for art books and bound using timeless
techniques of the book-makers' craft,” says Yon. It is a
collector’s-quality edition that will ship in early December and would
make a great gift for anybody who supports the troops and is interested
in the real story of the Iraq war.

The collector's edition of Iraq: Inside the Inferno is available only through Richard Vigilante Books online.

Huge “Angel Thanks” go out Michael Yon and Richard Vigilante Books for their continuing support and dedication!

Vote $50,000 for Soldiers' Angels!

2010-06-04T12:12:00.001-07:00

Soldiers' Angels is calling on fellow Americans to spend a few moments every day between June 1 and June 30, 2010 to help our nation's veterans secure employment through Hire a Hero - Soldiers' Angels SAVE (Support a Veteran's Employment).

Hire a Hero - Soldiers' Angels SAVE (Support a Veteran's Employment).

Soldiers' Angels is competing for a $50,000 grant to be awarded by Pepsi Cola, Inc, as part of its Refresh Everything project. Winners of this competition are determined by the number of votes received at Pepsi's Refresh Everything Website. Vote today and everyday for Hire a Hero- Soldiers' Angels S.A.V.E.

Vote now--vote daily--vote wingtip-to-wingtip.

Start spreading the news to your friends & family and tell them to vote*. There's no time to lose, voting ends June 30, 2010.

Hey folks, please vote for my friend Soldiers' Angels's awesome idea to change America!

*Please note that as of June 1, 2010 rules for the Pepsi Refresh Project have been updated to expressly prohibit proxy voting. To ensure a fair, accurate count of votes, the site is monitored by an outside company. Any idea that uses proxy voting, which includes but is not limited to creating multiple or dummy accounts and voting on behalf of other users, may be disqualified.

Letters for Lyrics Continues

2010-06-04T12:09:00.001-07:00

‘Letters for Lyrics’ National Letter-writing Campaign Continues This Memorial Day Weekend
Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band partner to send 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed around the world

More than 25,000 letters collected in the first two weeks
Approximately 70,000 letters collected to date
Write a letter and receive a “Breaking Southern Ground” CD featuring three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band
All U.S. Ram Truck dealerships and most Zac Brown Band concerts serve as collection points and provide letter-writing stations
Soldiers’ Angels to deliver letters to U.S. troops on behalf of the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band
Second installment of “For Those Who Serve,” the exclusive documentary of Zac Brown Band's USO tour, directed by Darren Doane, debuts at www.ramtrucks.com/en/letters_for_lyrics

More than 70,000 people have shown their appreciation to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world by submitting letters at their local Ram Truck dealership or Zac Brown Band's recent concerts. However, for the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band that is simply not enough. The Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band partnered for “Letters for Lyrics,” a national letter-writing campaign aimed at U.S. soldiers deployed around the world. Together, they want to send 1 million letters of appreciation to U.S. soldiers and they will not stop until they reach that goal.

In exchange for writing a letter to a U.S. soldier, participants receive a special compilation CD titled, “Breaking Southern Ground.” This exclusive CD features three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band, as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown’s label, Southern Ground Artists – Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.

“The Ram Truck Brand has been moved by the kindness and gratitude that has been expressed so far to our men and women in the military,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “As we head into Memorial Day – a holiday that remembers those who dedicated their lives for our freedom – I encourage everyone to take a few moments this week to visit their local Ram Truck dealership to write a letter of support to our military men and women who show commitment and valor to this great country.”

"We're so proud of the immediate response we've received for 'Letters for Lyrics' over the past two weeks. The support our fans have shown and the stories they've shared with us about how the campaign has moved them to show their appreciation is truly inspirational." said Zac Brown. "This Monday, as we observe Memorial Day, we'll show our respect for the U.S. men and women who have given their lives in the military service and send our thoughts to those out there protecting our country and way of life. We ask that everyone help us show your appreciation for their heroic efforts."

Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit organization, will deliver the letters on behalf of the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band. Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-led organization with over 225,000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, along with veterans and their families.

“We are proud of the way America stands wingtip-to-wingtip in support of our American service members and encourage everyone to head to their local Dodge Ram Trucks dealership or Zac Brown concert and participate in one of the greatest collaborative troop support outreach projects in the history of the global war on terror,” said Patti Patton-Bader, Soldiers’ Angels Founder.

As part of the “Letters for Lyrics” campaign, RamTrucks.com will debut the second video installment of “For Those Who Serve,” a documentary of Zac Brown Band’s visit to U.S. soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf. This exclusive behind-the-scenes video is directed by Darren Doane, the CMT-nominated director of Zac Brown Band's live “Pass the Jar” DVD (Southern Ground/Atlantic) and their music video for the No. 1 hit "Toes." Doane traveled with the band to the Persian Gulf to document the moving experience, capturing footage of the band performing for the troops and meeting with the men and women in uniform. Chapters from Doane's documentary will debut on RamTrucks.com throughout the campaign.

About Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band were named GRAMMY's "Best New Artist” in 2010. They also earned four Academy of Country Music Award nominations including one for "Entertainer of the Year." The band's double platinum-certified, major label debut ‘The Foundation’ (Atlantic) - one of Billboard's Top 20 albums of 2009 - features the band's first four #1 singles. Currently on the road with their "Breaking Southern Ground" national tour, Zac Brown Band will also join the Dave Matthews Band to perform at select shows across the U.S. this summer including New York's Citi Field. Zac Brown Band is represented by ROAR, a Beverly Hills-based management company. Additional information can be found at www.zacbrownband.com.

About Soldiers’ Angels

Soldiers’ Angels is a full service deployed troop, military family, wounded and veterans service organization serving all those who serve all of us with over twenty very effective programs. We specialize in the unique needs uncovered by other agencies, military benefits and medical insurance. Founded in 2003 by Patti Patton-Bader, the mother of an army soldier deployed to Iraq, Soldiers’ Angels has grown from a small care package organization to major source of aid for all those who serve or have served in our Armed Forces. Last year, we provided over 25 million dollars worth of assistance. Our slogan, "May No Soldier Go Unloved," encapsulates the motivation behind Soldiers' Angels. By working together and sharing a common vision of service, the volunteers of Soldiers' Angels continue to demonstrate active care and concern for veterans, the wounded, deployed service members, and their families. From our very inception, the focus of Soldiers’ Angels has been: Helping bring home healthy soldiers. Visit www.soldiersangels.org, www.facebook.com/SoldiersAngelsOfficial and www.twitter.com/soldiersangels to find out more.

About the Ram Truck Brand

With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest, most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.

The Ram Truck brand will add to its award-winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks, Motor Trend's Truck of the Year. The new heavy-duty trucks provide customers with first-time innovations and features along with new standards of strength, utility and driveability, building on the Ram's leadership in the heavy-duty pickup segment.

Introduced in 2008, the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to "outsmart" and "out-tough" the competition with its bold exterior design, crafted and refined interior, engineering excellence, superb innovation and best-in-class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.’s (SVI) 2009 Total Quality Index™ (TQI) in the full-size truck segment. According to the survey, the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15-year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.

The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a "new crew" of commercial-grade work trucks: the new 2011 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all-new crew cab, the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis, and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.

Follow Ram Truck and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on:
Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrysler
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo
Streetfire: http://members.streetfire.net/profile/ChryslerVideo.htm
Ram Trucks: http://www.ramtrucks.com
Ram Zone blog: http://www.ramzone.com

Combat Worn & Absence Torn

2010-06-04T12:07:00.000-07:00

Soldiers' Angels is proud to highlight this great organization that does so much for military families struggling with the aftermath of deployments and combat or wounds...

Forest Home: For the Combat Worn and Absence Torn

Sometimes when you're ready to die in a foreign land – and don’t – you leave your life there anyway.

Instead of the life you once knew, you still come home to explosions, fires and horror. Smells, screams and moans. Buddies who are no more.

Few know what memories Bryan Nelson (a true hero whose name has been changed to protect his privacy) brought home from Iraq. What they do know is that as a United States Marine, he was in a Humvee in 2007 when a bomb went off and sent him back to Southern California like a piece of melted shrapnel.

It was after more than a year of his sporadic rage that Nelson and his wife, Cindi, embarked on what she called “our last week of marriage." Together, they drove off to Forest Home, a retreat in the mountains above San Bernardino, CA, where 500 acres of God's country and His message have been reaffirming and restoring souls for more than 70 years. The non-denominational retreat had just begun reaching out to families from nearby military bases throughout Southern California and Arizona.

Phil Brown, who now manages fund-raising for the retreat’s military program, remembers vividly his first visit to a week of Forest Home’s “family camp.” He had just joined the development staff and was introduced to 30 military families who were being hosted for a mere $100 per family.

"I thought what Forest Home was doing was absolutely awesome," he recalls.

At one point, Brown was taken aside by the wife of a Marine staff sergeant who explained in no uncertain terms what a week at Forest Home meant for combat-torn and absence-worn spouses and their children.

“She told me what we were doing was wonderful -- but did we realize how many more military families needed this?" Brown says. "Just one week of rest, fun, and time each day for the parents to be alone for awhile without the kids?

“She said we were helping build stronger marriages in the military, and stronger marriages helped build a stronger defense for our country. She was quite emotional and emphatic."

Brown was deeply moved. “The kids love it, and the adults love it," he says. "All the meals are prepared for them, there are no dishes to do, no cleanup to do, a babysitter for free every night, a program for the kids every morning while the parents can go hear a speaker, relax, or just go for a long walk alone among the pine trees."

After a family lunches together, there's all afternoon to nap or go to the lake, pool, trout pond, ropes course, merry-go-round, miniature golf, or playground. Many go trail hiking and horseback riding in the splendor of the San Bernardinos.

"The civilians love having military families in camp," Brown says. "They embrace them, they adopt them for the week, they build friendships that continue today. Usually, it's the mother who comes to camp alone with her kids because their father is deployed. It’s a very difficult time for a single mom worrying 24 hours a day about her husband in Iraq and now, Afghanistan."

Forest Home hosted 85 military families in 2007 and 100 in 2008. There were 110 last year, and another large group is expected this summer.

Unfortunately, the program is severely strapped for money – and time is short.

"We had a foundation that gave us a $60,000 matching grant each of the last three years," Brown says. “But because they do not usually give to religious organizations, they ceased their giving as of the end of 2009."

The total cost for a family of four to attend Forest Home’s week-long camp (meals, lodging, programs, baby sitter assigned to each family) is about $2,000.

"I, as the lead fundraiser for the military program, have been unable to find a replacement for that grant," Brown says. "Our big challenge for the summer of 2010 is trying to find new donors to help replace that $60,000. Perhaps the patriots in our society will rise up and help us by donating $25, $50, $100 or $1,000 at a time. That is our hope and prayer. We already have 60 military families signed up and 17 of those are on a list awaiting additional funding from donors.”

Anyone who was there Independence Day of 2009 surely knows what a week at Forest Home means to the military. So grateful were the families of Edwards Air Force Base, its brass had formally appealed to the high command in Washington for a major thank you to the staff of Forest Home. And on July 1 -- at precisely 1:10 p.m. -- two magnificent F-16 jet fighters sliced out of the crystal sky and thundered 1,000 feet above the canyon floor as families stood on the lake’s beach, awestruck, looking up, dabbing tears from their eyes.

Certainly, Cindi and Bryan Nelson know.

On a summer Sunday night in 2008, she, Bryan and two of their four daughters had arrived at the gates of Forest Home. They knew nobody there. She had heard of its military program from another family at Camp Pendleton. She called, and was urged to come.

By Wednesday – after each had talked separately to camp pastors – Cindi and Bryan were reconsidering their futures. By Thursday, they thought they had a chance. And Friday night, during the traditional closing ceremony – in an announcement before all the families who had shared the week together – Cindi and Bryan agreed to make a commitment to Christ and to make their marriage work. Nearby, overjoyed, their daughters wept at the sight of their mother and father hugging and holding hands for the first time in so long a time.

“Forest Home was the last and only chance for Bryan and me,” Cindi says. “We didn’t have the money, but they brought us there anyway. We thank God for all those who with their donations to Forest Home, saved our marriage. A lot more families are out there, just like we were. Life is tough on a military family today. Really hard.

“We know.”

Contributions may be sent to Forest Home Development Department via check at 40,000 Valley of the Falls Drive in Forest Falls, CA 92339. Checks should be designated to “Military Family Scholarships.”

Credit cards accepted as well. Donors may also donate by going to our website at www.foresthome.org.

Towels (and More!) for the Troops

2010-06-04T11:59:00.000-07:00

Once again, Jersey Towel Supply has stepped up to help Soldiers' Angels support the troops!

In just a few weeks, the currently-deployed 36th Sustainment Brigade of the Texas National Guard will be returning to three days confined to base and barracks before they can truly go home, but JTS and SA will be ready to welcome them. As National Guard Soldiers, the 280 men and women of the unit will need to complete the standard three days of National Guard demobilization procedures and checks at Ft. Hood, during which they will be confined to post and staying in very basic barracks. In order to make those last few days a little more bearable--when home is so close and yet so far--JTS and SA have donated bedding, towels, toiletries and snacks to increase the comfort of every Soldier.

Soldiers' Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader first contacted Mike David of Jersey Towel Supply over two years ago when she needed sheets and towels to make the barracks of returning single soldiers warm and friendly. Mike stepped up and is now continuing to work closely with SA and his suppliers to process monthly requests at discounted prices and ship them to APOs, FPOs or the Soldiers’ Angels warehouse for local distribution.

Mike has also added a Soldiers’ Angels link to his Jersey Towel Supply website, as well as his site that sells military clothing: militaryman.com. Though Mike has no personal military connections, he’s happy to help and sees it as his patriotic duty. “I’m an American and I believe in supporting the troops,” he says.

Real Warriors, Real Strength

2010-06-04T11:54:00.001-07:00

May 2010 marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Defense Centers of Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury’s (DCoE’s) Real Warriors Campaign, which focuses on combating the stigma associated with seeking treatment for psychological health and traumatic brain injury concerns.

The Real Warriors Campaign Web site features articles and resources on a variety of psychological health issues, as well as video profiles of service members who reached out and received treatment, and went on to maintain successful military and civilian careers. By sharing their stories, these Real Warriors are proving to their fellow service members that they are not alone, that reaching out makes a difference and that individuals who have sought psychological health care can continue successful careers.

The Real Warriors Campaign makes reaching out easy. The Web site includes a live chat feature which any service member, veteran, family member or health care provider can utilize to connect confidentially with the DCoE Outreach Center for psychological health and traumatic brain injury information and resources. The DCoE Outreach Center can also be accessed tool-free 24/7 at 866-966-1020 or by e-mail at resources@dcoeoutreach.org. Service members, veterans, families and health professionals can also connect with each other through the campaign’s message boards.

The Real Warriors Campaign is proud to include Soldiers’ Angels as a partner in their efforts, and Soldiers' Angels is proud to encourage all Angels to spread the word about this important campaign.

Care Packages to the Rescue!

2010-06-04T11:51:00.000-07:00

What can a care package do?

Almost one month ago, a Staff Sergeant (SSG) contacted Soldiers' Angels...

My infantry company is deployed to a remote outpost in Afghanistan. We spend most of our time living and working with the Afghan National Army, living a very meager existence. We don't have showers or running water. We live twenty men to a tent, and live out of the back of our armored vehicles or from our rucksacks.

We are very far from home. Anything you could provide my Soldiers would be greatly appreciated. Some of my men do not have families in the States who can support them. Our communication back home is infrequent and unreliable. Letters and packages are our lifeline, and the only way we know that we are not out here alone.

Nobody wishes for the end of war more than those of us who fight in them, but we are determined to finish what was started, and honor those who have served and fallen before us by completing this mission the best way we know how. Your support is invaluable.

The SSG and his men were put on the list for adoption, and since they were in such tough conditions, Soldiers' Angels rushed out a shipment of care packages immediately so that they could receive some assistance while they waited to reach the top of the adoption list and receive their individual Angels.

This weekend Soldiers' Angels received a response from the SSG, probably the first time he'd had email access since his initial application. He wrote:

I just wanted to thank you for the support you have given me and my platoon. We received a shipment of twenty-three well thought out, perfectly arranged care packages a week or so ago. The entire camp was jealous of my giant pile of mail and until I told them that it was going to be divided up amongst the men. The boxes were either gone or empty in the matter of a half hour, with many of the Privates amped on the "Monster" drinks in the boxes, or bouncing off the walls all hopped up on sugar.

As I said, every package was perfect and every item was something that we can use. You seem to have this down to a science. My platoon, and the rest of the company greatly appreciates the support you have given us. It makes this a little easier. (and the men are slightly cleaner now)

I would have to agree that all of you truly are like angels to my Soldiers.

There are so many ways to help these brave heroes who are facing the challenges of combat, miserable living conditions, and absence from home and loved ones. Please consider how you can get involved.

Adopt a soldier -- help bring home a healthy hero!

One-time Care Package Adoption -- a great option if you can't take on the responsibility of long-term support right now. You can have the fun of assembling a great care package whenever you have the opportunity, without having the expense and concern of a big commitment. To get a hero's address for a one-time care package, email donnasoldiersangels@gmail.com.

Sponsor a Care Package -- the ultimate in simplicity when it comes to showing your support for a deployed service member. You can have a pre-made care package sent in your name with a note of support to a soldier waiting to be adopted. Just visit the Angels Store, pick your favorite package, and tell us to send it to "Any Soldier." We'll make sure it gets to one of the heroes on the waiting list. Packages start at $20, a great bargain when you realize shipping ($10-$13) is included!

How ever you choose to show your support to America's deployed men and women, remember that showing them America has their backs is the best thing you can do for a soldier's mental health and morale. As one military wife recently wrote in a Thank You note, "May it be small or large, a gift from the heart warms the soul."

Please help warm the soul of a hero--every loving act truly makes a difference!

At a Hero's Bedside

2010-06-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

Maryann of Soldiers' Angels Germany gives us a vignette from life in the hospital that handles most every service member evacuated from the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones, and offers a glimpse into the hearts of our heroes...

The True Heart of the American Soldier

He'd gotten blown up. Sustained burns to the face and hands and suffered blast inhalation. Breathing in superheated air is not good for the bronchial tubes and lungs. He’s being mechanically ventilated.

I watch him struggle even when completely sedated, but some patients have a real rough patch before extubation. To make sure a patient can breathe on his own, first the docs need to dial back on the meds.

This is called "waking him up".

Still out of it, he gradually becomes more and more aware of his pain and the discomfort of the breathing tube. He feels like he's choking. Constantly. And he's too out of it to understand why.

His hands are restrained so he can't pull the tube out. But he keeps lifting them, trying. His legs squirm. He lifts and turns his head.

Then the RT (respiratory therapy) guy comes in and tells the patient he’s turning off the ventilator as a test, and if it goes well, the tube can be removed. He now has to breathe on his own, sucking in air through the narrow tube. He must be scared to death wondering why he can hardly breathe.

"You probably feel like you're breathing through a straw, right?"

The patient nods. He looks unconscious but he's tracking everything.

The RT encourages him, "This is all you, man... you're doing great. Keep going!"

After 5 minutes the RT deflates the outside of the tube so the patient can now breathe around it as well as through it, which is better, but as he slowly comes around the agony of the tube becomes unbearable.

He has to breathe like that for 20 minutes.

I keep telling him, "You're in the Army hospital in Germany. You have a tube down your throat... don’t fight the tube… try to relax!" He does... but he’s so dopey that he forgets after about one minute and starts struggling again.

It’s time. A small group of nurses and docs gather outside his door. You hear them say, "Ok, we gonna do this guy now?"

They flow into the room, tell him they're pulling the tube, and that he should try to cough when they say ‘go’.

"Ok, here we go... COUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGH!!!!"

When it's out they place an oxygen mask over his face and he gags and chokes and gasps for air and coughs up huge globs of junk which they suck out with a suction tube.

He finally lays back, exhausted. People slowly leave. But his nurse stays - as always - hovering, watching his vitals, carefully checking all of his many lines and the machines connected to them.

I move back to his side and he tries to say something, but his throat's raw and he can't talk. I lean in, apologizing because I can't understand.

"How much... how much... longer?"

I know these guys. He wants to know how much longer he has to stay here before he can go back downrange.

Exchanging glances with his nurse, and deliberately misunderstanding, I tell him he'll be out of the Intensive Care Unit in a couple of days. Even in his sedated state he knows exactly what I've done and gives me the dirtiest look imaginable.

Then, "fffff.... mmmm fffff.... "

He's saying, "Friends... my friends... "

I tell him everybody from the truck's ok. He did good, everybody's ok.

His face screws up like a child's as he breaks down and cries with relief.

I watch as the tears roll down over the ointment covering his face, over the seared redness of his skin, over the blisters on his nose and lips.

* * *

It's hard for people on the outside to understand. They always seem to focus only on the "terrible things" that we see. But we also have to honor to see something else: The true heart of the American Soldier.

To read more about Soldiers' Angels Germany and the heroes they support, visit the team's blog. If you'd like to help the Angels in Germany who watch over the wounded and ill soldiers and the medical personnel who care for them, click here.

Drum Hike in Indiana

2010-06-04T11:39:00.001-07:00

Troy is headed to Indiana!

As Iraq veteran Troy Yocum hikes his way to Indiana on his 7,000-mile trek across the country, he will be joined by fellow veterans of the legendary Indiana National Guard “War Hawks” of the 151st Infantry. Sponsored by Soldiers’ Angels, the goal of Troy’s Drum Hike is to draw attention to and raise money to assist struggling veterans and their families.

The 151st Infantry is the unit with whom Troy deployed to Iraq in 2007, and the unit of Vietnam veteran and Drum Hike participant, “Purple Heart Parachutist” Dallas Wittgenfeld. Company D of the 151st Infantry War Hawks trained and deployed as Special Operations Airborne Rangers in Vietnam during 1968-69, becoming one of the conflict‘s most combat-decorated companies in the Army. The unit’s history stretches all the way back to the Pioneer Era and the Battle of Tippecanoe.

Honoring their shared legacy, Dallas will be parachuting into locations along with route with a giant American flag as Troy stands by to welcome him. Together they also plan to spend time at the Camp Atterbury Museum on May 6, 2010 to honor the 151st’s heroes of their fight in Vietnam, and Dallas is looking forward to sharing stories and showing Troy the pictures of his brothers who did not make it back. They also plan to welcome and spend some time with as many of their fellow 151st veterans as can join them that day.

An Airborne Ranger with four decades of experience, Dallas served in Company D, 151st and is a native of Decatur, IN. He has jumped out of planes, helicopters and hot-air balloons, and was the poster-featured parachutist in Normandy, France during D-day commemorations. He will jump in Indiana in honor of all members of the 151st, past and present. “As I pack my giant flag parachute in support of Soldiers’ Angels and the 151st, I will think of all the Purple Heart veterans who are not here today,” Dallas says.

As part of the events, a small number of “Drum Hiker Collector Flags” that are for sale along the Drum Hike route will be parachuted down with Dallas, and both he and Troy will be available to autograph them. The flags are can also be purchased online through the Soldiers' Angels Store.

For more information about the Drum Hike and parachute events in and throughout Indiana, DrumHike.com.

The Meaning of the flag draped coffin...

2010-05-24T22:02:00.001-07:00

All Americans should be given this lesson. Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought. Our founding fathers used GOD's word and teachings to establish our Great Nation and I think it's high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation's history. Pass it along and be proud of the country we live in and even more proud of those who serve to protect our 'GOD GIVEN' rights and freedoms.

I hope you take the time to read this ...

To understand what the flag draped coffin really means ... Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers.

Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?
Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!

The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.

The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.

The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, 'Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.'

The 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie. It is with their heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death, that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit.

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nations motto, 'In God We Trust.'

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning.

In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why.

Share this with the children you love and all others who love what is referred to, the symbol of 'Liberty and Freedom.'

MAY GOD PROTECT US ALWAYS.

ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL.

Here we go!!!

2010-05-24T21:55:00.001-07:00

This is our OFFICIAL BLOG site for Soldiers' Angels. Please feel free to use as you please. Send in comments, and anything that you feel would be beneficial to those reading. Please remember that Soldiers' Angels is not a political entity. We cannot have any political comments or photos on this site. Please help us stay within this guideline to keep Soldiers' Angels at the high standard they have worked to hard to achieve.

May for Military Appreciation & Mental Health

2010-05-24T21:49:00.001-07:00

May is Military Appreciation Month as well as Mental Health Month. Never before have these two themes been more appropriately celebrated together, given the challenges faced by many members of today’s military and our veterans.

Military Pathways, a Department of Defense funded program, is commemorating Military Appreciation Month and Mental Health Month in May by launching a web-based greeting called “i-Salute.” The site allows friends and family to send an online greeting to active duty soldiers, veterans and military families in honor of their service and sacrifice, while providing access to a variety of online health services including anonymous mental health self-assessments.

To send an i-Salute, users can visit www.i-Salute.org, where they can choose a custom greeting and write their own personal message.

Military Pathways also offers service personnel and their families the opportunity to take anonymous, mental health and alcohol use self-assessments online, by phone and through special events held at installations worldwide. The self-assessments are a brief series of questions that help those in need of assistance find it, without the stigma that is often attached to seeking care.

“Our goal is to help individuals identify their own symptoms and access assistance before a problem becomes serious. Simply enough, service members, veterans and their families won’t have the same fear associated with seeking help if presented with an anonymous process of screening,” says Connie DiCocco, Executive Director of Screening for Mental Health, Inc., the non-profit that runs the Military Pathways program.

The self-assessments address posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, generalized anxiety disorder, alcohol use and bipolar disorder. After completing a self-assessment, individuals receive referral information including services provided by the Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs, such as TRICARE, Military OneSource and Vet Centers.

To send an i-Salute or take an anonymous self-assessment, visit www.i-Salute.org.

Talking with Heroes in Afghanistan

2010-05-24T13:00:00.001-07:00

Internet talk show host Bob Calvert has just returned from a trip to Afghanistan, interviewing and recording American soldiers telling their stories. He was sponsored in part by Soldiers’ Angels, who supported his trips to Iraq in years past.

During his 10 days in Afghanistan, Bob worked out of Bagram and Jalalabad, visiting a number of smaller FOBs and outposts, and spending time high in the mountains. He interviewed soldiers and civilians, including members of 2-77 and 4th BCT out of Fort Carson, CO. Bob spoke to “grunts,” chaplains, military leaders, members of a Civil Military Operation Brigade, a State Department employee working with Taskforce Mountain Warrior, local Afghans such as those running a radio station, and more.

You can follow Bob’s reports on Facebook and TalkingWithHeroes.us, where he will be posting his videos from the Afghanistan trip soon. His weekly radio broadcasts covering military personnel and their families can be heard on TalkShoe.com, where he has archived hundreds of shows.

“I want to give a special thank you to those who helped make this trip possible from small amounts to higher amounts of funding and also with very important items that were donated to make this trip possible,” Bob says. Besides Soldiers’ Angels, sponsors for Bob and his vital work of helping American heroes tell their stories included www.return2work.org (who is assisting with video production/editing), www.blackhawk.com, www.freedomhunters.org, www.newsblaze.com, www.5jump.com, www.sportmanswarehouse.com (Colorado Springs), www.militaryconnection.com, and a number of generous individual supporters.

Soldiers’ Angels salutes Bob for his tireless work in bringing a voice to America’s heroes as they serve and sacrifice!

Angel Connections

2010-05-24T12:59:00.001-07:00

Soldiers' Angels has a new way to keep Angels connected with each other and aware of the latest Angel news and events!

With the help of CommuniCause, a new "social media widget" has been added to the upper right-hand side of www.SoldiersAngels.org. It invites visitors to join the Soldiers' Angels Facebook fan page, follow on Twitter, connect with Linked In, or follow the latest on the official SA blog. It will soon appear on all pages of the website and then be available for supporters to place on other websites and blogs.

The addition of the widget follows the recent upgrade of the News RSS feed and informs military personnel, Angels and other supporters of the troops about important options available for working together, keeping up with the latest news and discovering the kinds of support available for military personnel and their families.

CommuniCause is in the final phases of implementing the $25,000 Social Media Makeover Soldiers' Angels won last year. The new social media widget is the first visible example of their work, much of which will be more apparent behind-the-scenes and is designed to help Soldiers' Angels identify and improve the most effective ways to reach out to new Angels, let troops know how we can support them, and keep current Angels informed.

Keep your eyes open for more news on the CommuniCause project!

Author and Publisher Team Up for Troops

2010-05-24T12:56:00.001-07:00

Author and Soldiers’ Angel Denise Patty-Brennan and Publish America are offering a special deal to benefit the troops and men and women of any age who like a good story.

Through at least Jul 31, 2010, Brennan will donate 20% of her royalty payment on her dramatic novels purchased through PublishAmerica’s online bookstore to Soldiers’ Angels when the buyer uses the promotional code “soldier30.” In addition, Publish America is cutting the price of her books by 30% and will match Brennan’s donation dollar-for-dollar! The more books sold, the higher Brennan’s royalty percentage and the more money she and Publish America will donate to Soldiers’ Angels!

Giving is a natural part of Brennan’s life. “I’ve always done local or national charitable work,” she says. “Growing up, I always said if I ever had any kind of money, I wanted to be able to do something with it.” Among other activities, she donates to a homeless shelter in her hometown of Philadelphia and fosters a Guatemalan child.

Just over a year ago Brennan’s sister discovered Soldiers’ Angels through an ad she saw in a magazine. Brennan is now on her fourth adopted soldier, has participated in the Chaplain Support Team and helped create back-to-school backpacks for military kids last Fall. “I especially like the one-on-one with adopting a soldier,” she says.

Brennan has worked in her father’s garage door business for 23 years, but writing has always been a part of her life. “I always loved to write,” she says. “but I never thought about writing a book until three years ago.” Inspiration hit, and she carried a copy book with her wherever she went, taking advantage of every spare minute to jot down a little more of the story. It took her a year and a half to complete and much to her surprise, it was accepted by the first publisher she approached.

So far, Brennan has three published books (Quest of Hope: 153 A.G.C., O'Brien's Chance, Carver's Chance and Malone's Chance in production for this summer), with a fifth one in the writing stage. Regardless of setting, her books are ultimately dramas about people and relationships. She has developed a strong following online in the US and Europe.

To take advantage of this offer to support the troops and Soldiers’ Angels through Brennan’s book sales, be sure to click here and use the code “soldier30” upon checkout (purchases through other sites will not be counted). Brennan and PublishAmerica encourage everyone to share this link and the soldier30 code with their friends and family!

A "Little Angel" Work

2010-05-24T12:54:00.001-07:00

Young Brady B is only 11 years old, but he's doing rather grown up things: Angel work and volunteering to support his political* beliefs. He recently attended a political rally where he combined his two passions. Here's his report...

Sarah Palin was in South Carolina endorsing Nikki Haley for governor. She is a very good candidate for the job. I hope she is our next governor! Her husband, Mike, is a US Marine. He is very proud of what he does. My mother gave him a Soldiers' Angels dog tag necklace and Soldiers' Angels bracelet. She also thanked him for his service.

It was such an honor to meet Mrs. Palin. I gave her a Soldiers' Angels dog tag necklace, a Soldiers; Angels rubber bracelet, and an official Soldiers; Angels business card, in honor of her son’s service. She was so thrilled to receive it! I told her a little bit about what us Soldiers' Angels do. I asked her and Mrs.Haley to sign my shirt. They agreed. I was so happy!

Mrs.Palin is very nice and so is Mrs.Haley. I was the only person to speak with them, because they were being rushed off by their bodyguards. Even though I am 11 years old they took their time to speak with me!

Congratulations to Brady for doing such a great job spreading the word about Soldiers' Angels and thanking the military personnel and families who keep us safe!

*Note: Soldiers' Angels does not endorse any party or candidate, but we DO endorse 11-year-olds who care.

A Chain of Angel Events!

2010-05-24T12:52:00.001-07:00

An elementary school in North Carolina wanted to support the troops and jumped in with both feet in late 2009, starting a chain reaction. Teacher Rhonda Skopelitis, Student Council sponsor, did a great job leading the way as students collected and decorated over 30 beautiful boxes for deployed heroes, along with dozens of handmade cards and notes.

But what to do with all those loving gifts? Unfortunately, no one seemed to know the answer. As weeks went by, the students set the boxes aside as they tried to figure out what to do. Then a soldier who had heard of Soldiers’ Angels crossed their path. First Sergeant Hiwatha Clark told them to contact the local Soldiers’ Angels Community Network Coordinator (CNC), Christine Distelhorst.

This is where it gets funny—Christine isn’t sure how 1SG Clark knew her name and email address, but she guesses 1SG Clark works at one of the local recruiting stations where Christine has dropped of goodies for the recruiters and done other Angel work.

When Christine heard about the generous students and their beautiful gifts, she gathered several more Angels and her son to go to the school and pick up the boxes for delivery to the Soldiers’ Angels warehouse in North Carolina. The chain of good stories continued as the local news channel covered the care package pick-up and told Christine they would like to cover any local Soldiers’ Angels events!

It all started with one person who had an idea to support the troops even though they weren’t quite sure how to do it, and a local Angel who took the time to thank her military recruiters for their hard work. It affected a group of deployed heroes who are going to receive wonderful gifts from an elementary school… and ended with a way that even more people are going to find out how they can support the troops themselves and start the chain of Angel events all over again!

Letter from a Sailor

2010-05-24T12:51:00.001-07:00

When Keith signed up for care packages last Friday, this is what he wrote...

Hello, my name is Keith. My unit and I are currently deployed in Iraq and are counting the long days until we come home. Sometimes over here you feel like nobody remembers that there is a war going on, or seems to care about the people who fight in it. It's nice here to have some things from home that you cannot get here. When you have these things it makes being in this place just a little better.

Keith went on to list the kinds of things "that it would be nice to have," simple things like drink powder and snacks. Then he closed his note with, "Anything would be wonderful, even if it's letters or emails to feel a connection to back home. Hope to hear from you. - Keith"

Over 1,000 "Keiths" are waiting to be adopted right now. As he explains so well, it's the little things that make deployed life a bit better. Even a letter or an email...

If you can't send a one-time care package for "any soldier," or adopt a hero*, consider joining the Letter Writing Team or visiting the forum to get involved with ePals. Every little bit means a lot...

*If you're already an Angel, sign in at www.approvedangels.com and click on "Adopt a Soldier."

Fraternities, Sororities... and Angels

2010-05-24T12:49:00.001-07:00

Every year Pi Kappa Alpha (PKA) fraternity at University of Connecticut picks a sorority “Dream Girl.” This year, they made sure she was an Angel as well—PKA selected Soldiers’ Angels as the official nonprofit of their Dream Girl events.

The Dream Girl competition is a week’s worth of activities and events designed by PKA to determine their “dream girl”—a girl PKA says embodies their ideals—including charity fundraising projects. PKA has a strong military tradition, draws on military concepts in its structure and has fraternity brothers serving in Afghanistan, so choosing a military-related nonprofit to benefit from the competition was a natural.

Girls from eight sororities competed this year through a donation “Penny Wars” and Operation Care, bringing in about $1000 in donations and over 97 completed care packages for the troops. During the Penny Wars, each girl put out a donation jar for Soldiers’ Angels in her name; gathering coins gave her points while bills removed points. “Competition was pretty intense this year,” reported Shawn Corapi, PKA's Vice President - External, as supporters and sorority sisters of each girl put lots of dollar bills in competitors’ jars to reduce their points. With some of the competitors having family members serving overseas, “It was personal for some girls,” he added.

Events also included a beauty pageant, which featured Soldiers’ Angels through videos, pamphlets, wristbands, and other attention-getting items.

The reaction to Soldiers’ Angels as the Dream Girl competition nonprofit was very positive. “I can’t even describe it,” exclaimed Corapi, who reported that this year’s fundraising far exceeded past efforts and donations continued to pour in after the close of festivities. “It was unbelievable what people did. One girl raised $300 herself in Penny wars…unbelievable. People cried during the Soldiers’ Angels video. It was pretty intense.”

PKA was also happy to see the competition and information about Soldiers’ Angels featured on the front page of the campus newspaper. “It was one of the greatest experiences we all ever had with Dream Girls,” said Corapi.

Another fraternity at UC is now interested in Soldiers’ Angels, and Corapi hopes that SA will continue to be supported by UC fraternities long after he graduates. As for PKA, they are very motivated to develop a vision of what they could do together with other PKA chapters: Corapi will be presenting his concepts to national leadership this summer in hopes of getting the fraternity involved in supporting Soldiers’ Angels on a national scale.

Soldiers’ Angels sends a huge salute and thank you to members of Pi Kappa Alpha, University of Connecticut for their leadership in remembering and supporting the troops with such creativity and enthusiasm!

Zydeco Angels in San Diego

2010-05-24T12:43:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, San Diego-area Angels joined in the Gator by the Bay festivities to raise money for Soldiers’ Angels and draw attention to the importance of supporting the troops.

Gator by the Bay, an annual New Orleans-style Zydeco, Blues and Crawfish party along San Diego Bay, celebrates the great food, music and dance of the Gulf Coast. This year, area Angels raised $1457 by selling Angel/patriotic items and opportunities to “spin the wheel” for prizes like pins, bracelets, and candy. Two people even donated enough for an entire First Response Backpack for the wounded! Angel volunteers at the event also had the chance to meet local Sailors and Marines who have benefited from Soldiers’ Angels and introduce potential new Angels to the organization.

The next event for San Diego Angels will be 5 days at the Discovery Zone interactive exhibits as part of the USS Midway Museum Legacy days, where they will be encouraging visitors to sign and decorate blankets of hope for First Response Backpacks.

Needed for Drum Hike: Your Community!

2010-05-24T12:41:00.001-07:00

Drum Hike is well-underway and Troy is now hiking through Indiana. There are so many easy and fun ways Americans can get involved with helping Troy meet his goal of hiking 7,000 miles across the country to raise money for veterans in need. Local involvement is vital!

Patriotic Americans are needed to...

March with him for a little bit while he’s in their town
Attend local MLB or Minor League baseball games where he will be appearing
Contact local first responders and encourage them to hike or ride with him
Join Patriot Guard Riders as they welcome him
Help him plant a tree in memory of a fallen hero
Alert their local VFW, Scouts, and other community organizations
Help find a deserving vet for an Extreme Home Makeover along Troy's route (DEADLINE IS MAY 21--click for details!)
Work with local Angels to set up a “support the troops” event, fundraiser or patriotic rally to greet Troy when he arrives
And more!

For more activities and all the info on how to get your community involved, including Troy's itinerary, see www.DrumHike.com or email cvink@soldiersangels.org.

Let’s show Troy our support and help him get the visibility he needs to raise $5,000,000 for America’s veterans!

Blogging for the Angels

2010-05-24T12:30:00.001-07:00

The You Served military blog has been a longtime supporter of Soldiers' Angels and for the last few months has been conducting regular auctions to raise donations for SA--selling such items as books, t-shirts and collectibles. Bloggers Troy, Marcus and CJ even arranged to shave their heads recently after their bidders reached a fundraising goal!

Their latest auction succeeded beyond their wildest dreams, bringing in over $1,000 on a donated copy of the new book, Rage Company, paired with a new iPad from the book's publisher.

That wasn't even the best part, though! Marcus explains:

The winner of the auction, after paying the winning bid, has made the decision to not accept the iPad they rightfully won and just accept Rage Company. What is to come of the iPad? I, Redshirt, will put it great use, don’t worry. Just kidding! Another copy of Rage Company along with the iPad is back on the You Served auction block!

At the time of this writing, the second round of bidding on a Rage Company and iPad combo is at $355.

Marcus' words in expressing the thanks of You Served apply to Soldiers' Angels as well:

Thank you from the bottom of my heart to this week’s winner. Your generosity is truly appreciated by everyone here at You Served. You, along with everyone that has won our auctions, are shining examples in this sometimes dark world, and I truly wish that there were more people like all of you. Perhaps if there were, we wouldn’t be fighting a Global War on Terror, perhaps oppression of freedom wouldn’t exist. Again, thank you. You all have earned your places on our Wall of Honor.

Soldiers' Angels sends a huge salute to Marcus, CJ, Troy and all the people who contributed to this excellent fundraising work in support of the troops! Click here to join the effort and get your shot at a great new book and a brand new Apple iPad!

Letters for Lyrics: Ram Trucks, Zac Brown & Angels

2010-05-24T11:53:00.001-07:00

(r-l): Angels Dianne Moore, Jill Walls and Jeff Bader joined Fred Diaz (4th from left), President and CEO of Ram Truck Brand, and Zac Brown Band for the kick-off of "Letters for Lyrics."

On May 7, executives from Chrysler Group LLC, Zac Brown Band and Soldiers' Angels stood wingtip-to-wingtip to announce the launch of Letters For Lyrics, a massive, nationwide effort to send one million letters to support our U.S. troops stationed across the world.

The project begins May 10 and in exchange for a letter, participants will receive a "Breaking Southern Ground" CD featuring three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band and songs from artists signed to the Southern Ground label. Visit your local Dodge or Ram Truck Dealer to write a card and get your CD, or join the Band at one of their concerts this summer.

As the organization that will deliver the 1,000,000 postcards to from Americans across the country to our servicemen and women around the world, Soldiers’ Angels is honored to be part of this exciting endeavor. For video of today’s event and for more info on the Letters for Lyrics program, including the latest official news, please visit Chrysler's Blog and ZacBrownBand.com.
Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band Launch ‘Letters for Lyrics’
National Letter-Writing Campaign to U.S. Soldiers

• Write a letter and receive a “Breaking Southern Ground” CD featuring three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band
• Goal to deliver 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world
• All U.S. Ram Truck dealerships will serve as collection points and provide letter-writing stations
• Letters to be collected at Zac Brown Band Concerts
• Soldier’s Angels to deliver letters to U.S. Troops on behalf of the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band
• Exclusive documentary-style footage of Zac Brown Band's USO tour directed by Darren Doane to debut on RAM Truck Brand's Letter for Lyrics site

ATLANTA, May 7, 2010 - The Ram Truck Brand, in partnership with Zac Brown Band, kicks off “Letters for Lyrics,” a national letter-writing campaign targeted to U.S. soldiers. The goal for the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band is to send 1 million letters to U.S. troops deployed around the world.

In exchange for writing a letter to a U.S. soldier, participants will receive a special compilation CD titled, “Breaking Southern Ground.” This exclusive CD features three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band, as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown’s label, Southern Ground Records – Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey.

“The Ram Truck Brand is grateful for the commitment and courage that U.S. soldiers give to this country each day,” said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. “Our company has been steadfast in its support of America's armed services; we know these letters will help brighten a soldier’s day. We encourage our employees, suppliers and our customers to visit a local Ram Truck dealership to write or drop off a letter for these soldiers who protect our right to freedom.”

"We've had several opportunities to perform for the troops over the past year and each time we were deeply inspired by their positive attitudes and dedication to protecting our country and preserving our way of life," said Zac Brown. "We were so moved that we knew we needed to recognize their efforts in a big way. Our hope is that by combining our experience overseas, our music, and the good people at Ram Truck Brand, we will be able to rally a movement of support for our brave service members abroad."

Darren Doane, the CMT nominated director of Zac Brown Band's live 'Pass the Jar' DVD (Southern Ground/Atlantic) and their music video for the #1 hit "Toes," traveled with the band to the Persian Gulf to document the moving experience – capturing footage of the band performing for the troops and meeting individually with the men and women in uniform. Bringing the experience home, Doane has constructed several mini-documentary style videos which will be posted to RamTrucks.com starting today and updated throughout the coming weeks.

"This unique endeavor is derived from respect and admiration, from both the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band, for the men and women in the military,” said Marissa Hunter, Head of Ram Truck Brand Communications, Chrysler Group LLC. “It is our hope that these letters serve as a source of appreciation and comfort.”

Letters will be collected at Zac Brown Band concerts and all U.S. Ram Truck dealerships. People interested in writing a letter can visit any Ram Truck dealership where special “Letters for Lyrics” stationery will be provided.

Soldiers’ Angels, a nonprofit organization, will deliver the letters on behalf of the Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Brand. Soldiers’ Angels is a volunteer-led organization with over 225,000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, along with veterans and their families.

“By standing wingtip to wingtip, the Ram Truck Brand, Zac Brown Band and Soldiers’ Angels will be able to help build morale to heroes in combat zones one million fold,” said Soldiers’ Angels founder and president, Patti Patton-Bader. “We are truly grateful to the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band for their help in ensuring that our heroes know they are loved and appreciated.”

The “Letters for Lyrics” campaign is part of an integrated marketing campaign for the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty and is supported with broadcast, print, digital and social media efforts that will run concurrently.

About Zac Brown Band

Zac Brown Band were named GRAMMY's "Best New Artist” in 2010. They also earned four Academy of Country Music Award nominations including one for "Entertainer of the Year." The band's double platinum-certified, major label debut ‘The Foundation’ (Atlantic) - one of Billboard's Top 20 albums of 2009 - features the band's first four #1 singles. Currently on the road with their "Breaking Southern Ground" national tour, Zac Brown Band will also join the Dave Matthews Band to perform at select shows across the U.S. this summer including New York's Citi Field. Zac Brown Band is represented by ROAR, a Beverly Hills-based management company. Additional information can be found at http://www.zacbrownband.com/.

About Soldier’s Angels

Soldiers’ Angels is a full service deployed troop, military family, wounded and veterans service organization serving all those who serve all of us with over twenty very effective programs. We specialize in the unique needs uncovered by other agencies, military benefits and medical insurance. Founded in 2003 by Patti Patton-Bader, the mother of an army soldier deployed to Iraq, Soldiers’ Angels has grown from a small care package organization to major source of aid for all those who serve or have served in our Armed Forces. Last year, we provided over 25 million dollars worth of assistance. Our slogan, "May No Soldier Go Unloved," encapsulates the motivation behind Soldiers' Angels. By working together and sharing a common vision of service, the volunteers of Soldiers' Angels continue to demonstrate active care and concern for veterans, the wounded, deployed service members, and their families. From our very inception, the focus of Soldiers’ Angels has been: Helping bring home healthy soldiers. Visit www.soldiersangels.org, www.facebook.com/SoldiersAngelsOfficial and www.twitter.com/soldiersangels to find out more.

About the Ram Truck Brand

With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest, most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet.

The Ram Truck brand will add to its award-winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks, Motor Trend's Truck of the Year. The new heavy-duty trucks provide customers with first-time innovations and features along with new standards of strength, utility and driveability, building on the Ram's leadership in the heavy-duty pickup segment.

Introduced in 2008, the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to "outsmart" and "out-tough" the competition with its bold exterior design, crafted and refined interior, engineering excellence, superb innovation and best-in-class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.’s (SVI) 2009 Total Quality Index™ (TQI) in the full-size truck segment. According to the survey, the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15-year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers.

The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a "new crew" of commercial-grade work trucks: the new 2011 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all-new crew cab, the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis, and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability.

Follow Ram Truck and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on:

Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chrysler
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo
Streetfire: http://members.streetfire.net/profile/ChryslerVideo.htm
Ram Trucks: http://www.ramtrucks.com
Ram Zone blog: http://www.ramzone.com

Military Moms

2010-05-24T11:51:00.001-07:00

Mothers—where would we be without them? Where would Soldiers’ Angels be without ours?

On this day that recognizes mothers, motherhood and maternal bonds in general, as well the positive contributions that they make to society, Soldiers’ Angels salutes its very own “Angel Mom,” Patti Patton-Bader.

Soldiers’ Angels was founded by Patti, a self-described “ordinary mother” of two American soldiers. Her son Brandon was deployed to Iraq in 2003 when he expressed concern that some soldiers in his unit did not receive any mail or support from home. Being a loving and caring mother, Patti decided not to allow a situation like that to continue. She quickly contacted a handful of friends and extended family and asked if they would support a soldier or two. Within just a few months, Soldiers' Angels went from a mother sending a few extra care packages and letters, to an Internet community with thousands of Angels worldwide, and became a 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2004.

This Angel salute extends to a large group of mothers across the globe: Gold Star Moms, Blue Star Moms, deployed moms, Blue Star Families, Angels who are moms, sponsors/donors who are moms and moms in combat hospitals around the world caring for our wounded heroes... the list goes on.

In the United States, Mother's Day was first suggested in 1872 by Julia Ward Howe (famous for writing the words to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic"). Then Anna Jarvis held a ceremony in 1907 in Grafton, West Virginia, to honor her mother, who had died two years earlier. She then began a campaign to create a national holiday honoring mothers. Jarvis and her supporters wrote to ministers, businessmen and politicians, and were finally successful in their efforts. In 1914, President Wilson declared the second Sunday in May to be Mother's Day.

Where would we be without moms? Certainly a lot of good things of this world would be missing!

Have a great Mother’s Day!

Patti Patton-Bader, with other military moms and Donnie and Marie Osmond,
after Patti was named America's Favorite Mom on Mother's Day in 2008.

One Person Makes a Difference

2010-05-24T11:49:00.001-07:00

As Patti shared in this week's Founder's Notes, the needs of our troops for support are coming in fast and furious. It's so important for everyone to pitch with whatever skills and gifts they have.

For those who think they can't do much because times are tough or "I'm only one person" or "the need is too great," Roger Godskesen of Soldiers' Angels Medical Support has a story...

This is Tess Hogan, who is a 5th grader at Columbia Elementary School located in Kings Mills, OH. As a way to help her grow and learn community values, she decided she would like to do a volunteer project. She and her parents read about Soldiers' Angels, and Tess decided she would like to organize a school collection project to donate items for the First Response Backpacks for wounded soldiers overseas.

Tess stepped up and at a young age did all the organizing for the drive, which resulted in a large haul of items:

Her parents will help her package up all the donations, which will be shipped to our Soldiers' Angels warehouse. From there, they will be put into backpacks and care packages, which will be shipped to Combat Support Hospital in Afghanistan and distributed to wounded soldiers.

I guarantee that some young, injured soldier who is 6,000 miles from home, is going to be very touched that one patriotic young girl cared enough to let him know the folks back home are thinking about him.

Be sure to click the link to get the full story and all the pics of Tess' project!

For ideas on how you can get involved and show our soldiers that you care and are thinking about them, check out the Group Activities page or use the Soldiers' Angels website sidebar to take a look at the many Angel Teams and Projects that support the troops. You can always donate here--every dollar helps!

125,000 Cups of Joe for the Joes!

2010-05-24T11:41:00.001-07:00

Soldiers' Angels salutes Green Beans Coffee for their ongoing support of the troops as a sponsor of Soldiers' Angels and creator of the "Cup of Joe" program for deployed troops. Congratulations on cup number 125,000!

Americans Say Thanks to GIs Deployed In Iraq & Afghanistan by Ordering Up 125,000 'Cups of Joe'

Green Beans Coffee Co. has delivered more than 125,000 cups of fresh-brewed, organic coffee to armed services personnel deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan thanks to the generosity of thousands of Americans who have participated in the company’s "Cup of Joe for a Joe" program, launched early last year.

Virtually all of Green Beans Coffee’s 70+ cafes are located on American military bases in seven countries, including the U.S., and more than half are in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many are situated on forward operating bases, places of extreme danger and where there are few amenities for the troops.

Under the Cup of Joe program -- or COJ as the troops call it -- anyone with two dollars to spare can buy a cup of super premium, organic coffee for a GI deployed on or near a U.S. Military base in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). What makes this program especially rewarding is the ability for the purchaser to send a personal note of thanks with the gift of a coffee drink. As a result, troops taking their breaks at the nearest Green Beans Cafe get recharged not only with a cup of fresh-brewed coffee but also by expressions of appreciation for their service and sacrifice from caring supporters. Many GIs express their gratitude in return emails, which have led to ongoing pen pal correspondence in some cases. A portion of their email letters are posted on the company's website and Facebook page.

“The expressions of thanks in both directions are heartwarming and often poignant,” said Jason Araghi, the company’s Co-Founder. It’s been particularly gratifying to see how such a small gesture has meant so much not only to the servicemen and women, but to the givers as well.”

From Kirkuk, Iraq, a soldier wrote: “Trust me, it’s not insignificant. It’s a big morale booster to receive something like this, you don’t even realize. Thank you for supporting your soldiers.”

Another, in Baghdad, thanked the giver for their support and understanding. “As simple as it seems, a cup of coffee and a nice note go a very long way to making it a little less hard to be so far away from our homes and families.”

And from Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, a GI wrote last summer; “I can tell you that nothing brings joy to my day like an espresso chai latte on ice from Green Beans. Thank you for your generosity.”

Buying and receiving a COJ is a simple, three step process that begins on the Company’s website, www.greenbeanscoffee.com/coj. The buyer first indicates how many cups of coffee they want to send to the troops. A gift of one cup of coffee costs $2 while a “round” of JOE’s for thirty soldiers costs $60. Of course, givers can write in any other amount. Then, if they would like the COJ to be delivered with a personal note, they enter a message of thanks and encouragement and indicate if they would like their email address displayed so that the GI can respond. Billing details are the third and final step.

It’s just as easy for the troops to participate. To receive a COJ, servicemen and women can sign up for the program on the Green Beans website or in a cafe on their base. Within hours, they will receive an email from Green Beans Coffee letting them know that a COJ is waiting for them at the Cafe. Once they acknowledge this email though a provided link, the coffee is then ready to be picked up. If the giver has included a personal note with their return email, the GI will see it at that time and be able to respond with their own note of thanks.

Founded in 1996, Green Beans Coffee Company is committed to bringing great coffee service to military personnel stationed around the globe and creating a warm environment where soldiers can relax and feel at home. The company operates 70+ cafes in the US and at military bases in six countries throughout Southwest Asia, the Middle East and East Africa. In response to customer demand, Green Beans Coffee is currently expanding its footprint in the U.S. market and around the world by offering its super premium coffee products, fresh baked goods, and healthy meal options in airports, metropolitan cities, and suburban communities.

Green Beans Coffee Company believes in giving back to its customers that serve their country. A portion of every sale is donated to one of three excellent organizations that help military families: Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors www.taps.org, Soldiers’ Angels www.soldiersangels.org, and Children of the Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund www.cfsrf.org.

Heart and Soul for Struggling Vets

2010-05-24T11:39:00.001-07:00

Will Gardner, a beautiful tale with a lot of heart and Trooper, a story with a lot of soul
By Shelle Michaels

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) states the nation’s homeless veterans are predominantly male, with roughly five percent being female. The majority of them are single; come from urban areas; and suffer from mental illness, alcohol and/or substance abuse, or co-occurring disorders. About one-third of the adult homeless population are veterans.

America’s homeless veterans have served in World War II, the Korean War, Cold War, Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Afghanistan and Iraq (OEF/OIF), and the military’s anti-drug cultivation efforts.

in South America. Nearly half of homeless veterans served during the Vietnam era. Two-thirds served our country for at least three years, and one-third were stationed in a war zone.

Although flawless counts are impossible to come by – the transient nature of homeless populations presents a major difficulty – VA estimates that 107,000 veterans are homeless on any given night. Over the course of a year, approximately twice that many experience homelessness. Only eight percent of the general population can claim veteran status, but nearly one-fifth of the homeless population are veterans.

Enter Hollywood:

Actor Max Martini has written a screenplay entitled 'Will Gardner', about a homeless Iraq war veteran that motorcycles across America "picking up pieces" of his life lost since combat. Martini notes that he "wrote this to raise awareness of a crisis in our country. No man or woman that has served us should ever be found living on the street." He continues by saying that "homelessness amongst war veterans is an alarming situation that we have here in America. It is desperately in need of attention. The statistical numbers of homeless veterans on the streets are staggering." This screenplay will come to life over Memorial Day weekend in Washington, DC where it will be filmed.

Martini was seen starring in the newly syndicated series for CBS, ‘The Unit’, created by David Mamet and produced by Shawn Ryan of ‘The Shield'. This followed a recurring role on Fox’s hit series ‘24′ and the Steven Spielberg produced mini-series ‘TAKEN’. Martini can be seen on the big screen in John Dahl’s highly anticipated film ‘The Great Raid‘ (Miramax - August 12, 2005). Set in the Philippines in 1945, the film tells the true story of the 6th Ranger Battalion who aimed to liberate over 500 American prisoners-of-war from the notorious Cabanatuan Japanese POW camp in the most audacious rescue ever. Martini co-stars opposite Benjamin Bratt and James Franco as “Wojo”, a risk-taking first sergeant who is an invaluable member of the Battalion. He was also in 'Saving Private Ryan'. For more information on Martini please check out his website http://maxmartini.com/

Acting and film production runs in the family with Martini's brother Christopher Martini spending time promoting his own documentary called Trooper, which was recently awarded the Bronze Remi Award at Houston International Film Festival. This movie is about Murphy O'Shea, an Iraq Veteran, who has a hard time re-adjusting to society upon his return from a long tour. His world crumbles when he discovers his father, Bill, a Vietnam Veteran, is dying. Trooper is a story of a father and son, two veterans from two very different Wars, helping each other to get through each day, and heal the wounds of War.

Christopher Martini says that "Our men and women in uniform are the most courageous and patriotic people I have ever met in my life. I wanted to show a man who displays courage, despite all the physical and psychological problems he is experiencing. The story emerged from my respect to the men and women who risk their lives every day, so we can stand on the sidewalk and breathe."

More on his work is available at Triple Martini Productions. The trailer of Trooper can be viewed on YouTube .

Soldiers' Angels commends and supports the message of both of these Hollywood entertainers in utilizing their talent to showcase the day in and day out life of Post Traumatic Stress and Homelessness in America. Founder Patti Patton-Bader says, "Veterans need a coordinated effort that provides secure housing, nutritional meals, basic physical health care, substance abuse care and aftercare, mental health counseling, personal development and empowerment. Shedding light on these issues in a positive large scale manner is just what America needs right now. Americans need to see the truth, the day in and the day out; the struggles that our warriors face upon returning home from war."

Drum Hike in Indiana

2010-05-24T11:37:00.001-07:00

Troy is headed to Indiana!

For more information about the Drum Hike and parachute events in and throughout Indiana, DrumHike.com.

May is for Military Appreciation

2010-05-24T11:36:00.001-07:00

As an all out effort to support National Military Appreciation Month (May 2010), Soldiers' Angels is asking Americans to show their appreciation for our military by adopting a deployed service member.

This year, as always, our service men and women need to know they are truly appreciated for their role in protecting and defending our nation’s freedom. It doesn't take much time to become involved.

WHEREAS, The freedom and security that citizens of the United States enjoy today are direct results of the blood shed and continued vigilance given by the United States Armed Forces over the history of our great nation; and

WHEREAS, the sacrifices that such members of the United States Armed Forces and of the family members that support them, have preserved the liberties that have enriched this nation making it unique in the world community; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress, in two thousand and four, passed a resolution proclaiming May as National Military Appreciation Month, calling all Americans to remember those who gave their lives in defense of freedom and to honor the men and women of all of our Armed Services who have served and are now serving our Country, together with their families; and

WHEREAS, the months of May and June were selected for this display of patriotism because during these months, we celebrate Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Military Spouse Day, Loyalty Day, Armed Forces Day/Week, National Day of Prayer, Memorial Day, Navy Day, Army Day and Flag Day;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Patti Patton-Bader, Founder of Soldiers' Angels, do hereby proclaim the period May 1, through June 14, 2010 as a special time to show appreciation for our military and proclaim it as NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH at Soldiers' Angels.

Patti Patton-Bader

Founder, Soldiers' Angels

Puppy Dog Tags for the Troops

2010-05-24T11:32:00.001-07:00

To raise money for and bring awareness to the needs of our returning veterans, Troy Yocum is hiking across America with his faithful dog, Emmie, who is accompanying him every step of the way on his nationwide Drum Hike for the troops. Emmie has been named an Honorary Penny's From Heaven Foundation Soldiers' Angel Support Dog for wounded troops and anyone who reaches out needing a snuggle, a friendly face, or a little comfort.

To celebrate Emmie and help raise money for Troy's cause, Penny's from Heaven Foundation is offering Emmie Dog Tags commemorating her 15-month journey. You can purchase Emmie Dog Tags at Penny's from Heaven, with all proceeds going to support Troy's efforts.

Emmie Dog Tags are two dollars apiece and may be used in the conventional manner, as a key ring, or as decoration on a dog's collar. Order them for all your doggy friends--both two-footed and four-footed!

Angelic Faces of America

2010-05-24T11:31:00.000-07:00

For the 4th year in a row, Soldiers’ Angels from around the country joined World T.E.A.M. Sports for the two-day, 110-mile Face of America bike ride. This bike ride from Washington, DC to Gettysburg, PA is designed to create a team among people with and without disabilities, and honors military service members wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan by using sports to help them reintegrate and enjoy physical activities. This year's ride was held on April 24-25. To support World T.E.A.M. Sports' programs, non-wounded riders paid an entrance fee and committed to developing sponsor donations.

A number of Soldiers’ Angels participated as both riders and support staff. Toby Nunn, Kathleen Peddigree, Greta Perry and Kathy Sweeney (along with her brother Jack, her 17-year-old daughter Julie, and her Marine son Pat along with his wounded friend) rode the 110 miles. Melissa Boe, Monica Dillon, Lynette Roncin, Kathi McClenney (with her daughter, April), Lisa Dixon, Dee Jerge, Ann Gleavy, Lynda O’Rourke, Christine Mulligan and Laura Vogel took the lead among the contingent of Angel volunteers with stand-out efforts in support of the riders.

Angels from across the country supplied handmade banners to encourage the riders. On site, Angels manned registration tables, set out banners and refreshments at each rest stop and the end of the ride, and worked behind the scenes to make sure things ran smoothly. “There was a huge Angel presence,” Lynette reports, and they spent 16-hour days hard at work “with not one complaint.” Soldiers’ Angels also sponsored the dinner for the riders on April 24th.

Melissa, Monica and Lynda drove the wheelchair-accessible transport vehicles that picked up riders if they went down during the ride, and went ahead to the rest-stops to make sure that riders’ wheelchairs or prosthetics were ready to go when they dismounted their bikes. It was a physically-demanding job that included support and assistance for all riders who encountered challenges on the course. Christine Mulligan also played a vital role, organizing all the ambulances standing by for the trip and functioning as one of the principal emergency contacts if anything went wrong.

Rider Greta was thrilled to be in the company of her fellow Angels, as well as so many heroes and patriotic Americans. “It was inspiring to ride with the wounded heroes, right alongside them,” she says. She particularly enjoyed beginning at the National Mall in DC near the Reflecting Pool and riding through the streets of DC, as well as the celebratory atmosphere at the end.

“Many towns participated as groups—standing on corners, honking horns, waving banners and cheering people on," Greta reports. "We were riding through patriotic America. It made you almost want to cry at times. It was raining and they were still standing out there, cheering.”

The large numbers of Soldiers’ Angels at the event also provided opportunities to talk about many different ways people can support the troops. The Angel riders said they “went off and socialized” as much as they could, telling people about the organization. Most of the veterans, especially the wounded, had already heard of Soldiers’ Angels, and many civilians they spoke to were interested in learning more. They also reported that the Angel t-shirts in their gift bags were very popular, with many participants wearing them on the second day of the ride.

Overall, everyone who participated came back a little different. “It’s a life-changing experience, to accomplish something like that and to do it with such amazing people,” said Greta, referring to both the wounded and others riders who tackled the physical challenge of 110 miles in two days. She plans to ride again next year and says she’s looking forward to more Angel riders participating. As for Lisa, Monica, Lynette and Lynda, they have been volunteering for the past four years and are committed to doing it for as long as the ride continues.

To get involved with next year’s ride, see World T.E.A.M. Sports, or email Lynette at lroncin@soldiersangels.org. Media background here.



Giant Baby Shower in San Antonio
2010-05-24T11:25:00.001-07:00
  	 		 	      	On Mother’s Day weekend, some very special mothers-to-be will be receiving the royal treatment from Operation Top Knot.  Expectant military moms in the San Antonio area will be the guests of honor during a mass baby shower held at the new Soldiers’ Angels facility in San Antonio.  Volunteers will treat guests to cake, flowers with surprise notes from their spouses, giant baskets of gifts, and various prizes and activities as an expression of their support for military families in this time of war.
 Operation Top Knot has spent seven years supplying handmade gifts and throwing “virtual” and mass baby showers for expectant mothers who are military personnel or are expecting while their husbands are deployed or wounded.  Last fall, OTK threw the largest baby shower in America, hosting 52 expectant mothers from Nellis Air Force Base.  Now they are bringing their loving formula to the new, veteran-run facility in San Antonio.
 OTK team members use their talents to support infants and expectant mothers of military families. They knit, crochet, sew, quilt, and design blankets, baby clothes and other homemade gifts. They also assemble and deliver or ship gift baskets for mother and child.   Additionally, they help deployed fathers celebrate by sending them "It's a Boy!" or "It's a Girl!" bubblegum cigars.
 “So often Top Knot volunteers never meet the people they are supporting, so the opportunity to experience a personal touch through this giant baby shower is very exciting,” says OTK Team Leader Jody Shervanick. “We’re thrilled to bring this special support to the San Antonio area, especially during Military Appreciation Month when we are focused on the daily sacrifices and challenges borne by all members of a military family.”    
 The shower will be held on May 8 at Soldiers’ Angels in San Antonio, 4408 N PanAm Expressway, from 1 p.m. to 3 pm.  The press is welcome to attend.  For more information, contact Jody Shervanick at 702-862-6064 and optopknot@soldiersangels.org, or Lindsay Varn at 512-851-8554.
 
 





Sons of the Fallen
2010-05-24T11:01:00.001-07:00
 		 	      	
 Conrad Ricketts, Executive Producer of “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” with the support of Schwans and Ford are partnering on a one night cinema event that takes audiences on an inspiring and compelling journey to a picturesque Rocky Mountain camp where 25 boys gather for a week of camp to honor the memories of their fathers who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
 In this touching one night in-theater tribute to our Military and their families on Tuesday, May 18 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern / 7:00 p.m. Central / 6:00 p.m. Mountain / 8:00 p.m. Pacific (tape delayed), Come and experience an evening of music by Clint Black and a LIVE fireside discussions with the boys and the celebrity camp mentors, current “The Celebrity Apprentice” contestant and former professional wrestler Bill Goldberg, actor Ryan Merriman (“Final Destination 3”), and host of “Sons of the Fallen” and former Indy Car racer Joey “T” Truscelli. This event touches on the all too familiar losses that military families often suffer; this historic evening focuses on the resiliency and courage of the human spirit.
  
           
 
Boys like these live in every community across the United States and this program will inspire the hero in all of us to make a difference.
 Please click here for more info and theater locations.
 
 





Drumming Up a Day for the Deployed
2010-04-26T14:35:00.001-07:00
Soldiers' Angels is gearing up for the 5th Annual Day of the Deployed this Fall by working harder than ever to make it a nationally-recognized day to honor America's brave men and women in uniform who are selflessly putting their lives on the line to protect and defend America and all who are lucky enough to enjoy the freedoms this country offers.
 Part of Iraq veteran Troy Yocum's drum hike is focused on bringing national recognition to Day of the Deployed.  Throughout his Hike, Yocum is carrying a custom Louisville Slugger baseball bat for Mayors and Governors to sign.  These signatures proclaim their request that the president declare Oct. 26 a national day of honor for America's uniformed heroes.  Yocum will present the bat to the White House on May 11, 2011.
 Day of the Deployed began North Dakota in 2005, the creation of Shelle Michaels, Soldiers' Angels National Communication Director.  It has been adopted by the governor of North Dakota and many other states where it is marked by events honoring local service members and the encouragement that citizens find an active way to support the military personnel and families in their neighborhoods.
 To learn more about plans in their area and get involved in this special day, Americans are invited to visit Day of the Deployed on Facebook or email dayofthedeployed@soldiersangels.org.
 The 5th Annual Day of the Deployed is recognized on October 26, 2010 by Soldiers’ Angels and many politicians across the nation, who are declaring this day of honor with the following proclamation: Proclamation Day of the Deployed October 26  WHEREAS, this nation is kept strong and free by the loyal citizens who preserve our precious heritage through their positives declaration and actions; and 
 WHEREAS, our deployed service members have courageously answered their nation’s call to service by defending our freedoms on foreign lands; and
 WHEREAS, Americans are encouraged to reaffirm their patriotism and allegiance to our flag and country, and honor the brave men and women currently deployed to protect and preserve our way of life; and 
 WHEREAS, since 2006 Soldiers' Angels has honored our deployed heroes with a day set aside in recognition of their hard work, dedication and commitment to the United States of America; and 
 NOW, THEREFORE, Soldiers’ Angels hereby proclaim October 26 as DAY OF THE DEPLOYED throughout the United States of America and where ever our service members are serving.
 Patti Patton-Bader, Founder
Shelle Michaels, National Communication Officer 




Angel Beauty Suports the Troops
2010-04-26T14:34:00.001-07:00
Angel Morgan DiAnn Brodbeck is caring the Soldiers' Angels banner high this weekend in the Miss San Antonio pageant.  She is currently completing a degree in communication and marketing, and hopes to continue her education at University of Texas in San Antonio by pursuing a masters degree in educaiton.  
 Morgan has been volunteering with Marissa at the Soldiers' Angels warehouse in San Antonio, and she has made supporting the troops through Soldiers' Angels her platform.  She writes in her pageant application:
 ...The newest aspect of my life is Soldiers' Angels, and I am so excited to be a part of the organization.  The men and women that are keeping our country safe should be appreciated on a daily basis.  I hope to get more involved in the future.  I love the people I have met so far.  One of the things that drew me to the organization was the fact that they give so much love and comfort to the individuals that serve our country.    My great-grandfather, Ditcher, served under General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge during WWII.  He always said he was his favorite General.  I feel connected to him because the founder of Soldiers' Angels is General Patton’s granddaughter, Patti Patton-Bader.  I am excited for the future and hopefully I will be a helping hand in their organization...
  Soldier’s Angels Platform
  The United States of America is protected by our military. Men and women face challenges everyday to keep our homeland safe and productive.  The price we pay to live free is because of these courageous individuals.  Anything, we can do to support the armed forces and show them appreciation is a great encouragement for these great fighters.
  Showing these men and women and their families how grateful we are is what the non-profit organization, Soldiers’ Angels, prides themselves on.  Patti Patton-Bader is the founder of Soldiers’ Angels and has a mission to assist the military and their family members by providing love and help in any situation.
  San Antonio, Texas is a new place of business for the Soldiers’ Angels organization and is working hard to serve our community.  Everyday hundreds of care packages are sent out over seas.  One thing that makes this organization unique is their adopt a soldier program.  Volunteers have the ability to sign up and “adopt” a soldier.  Each week they write their soldier a letter as well as send a care package twice a month.
  Soldiers’ Angels is an opportunity for me to be able to express my appreciation for our countries protectors.  As an ambassador for this organization I am making the community of San Antonio aware of their mission, “May No Soldier Go Unloved.”  As Miss San Antonio I believe this platform will be greatly noticed and supported.  There are about 3% military in San Antonio’s population and I want to make sure those individuals and their families know Solders’ Angels is here for whatever they may need.
  This organization holds a special place in my heart because I have family and friends who have served or currently serving our country in the military.  Soldiers’ Angels is not only local but international.  Patti Patton-Bader wanted to make sure everyone in the armed forces knew they were loved and thought about.
  I will make it my mission as Miss San Antonio to show our community that no soldier goes unloved!
 Best of luck to Morgan as she competes this weekend!  Angel wings are cheering her on!




Author and Publisher Team Up for Troops
2010-04-26T14:32:00.001-07:00
Author and Soldiers’ Angel Denise Patty-Brennan and Publish America are offering a special deal to benefit the troops and men and women of any age who like a good story. 
 Through at least Jul 31, 2010, Brennan will donate 20% of her royalty payment on her dramatic novels purchased through PublishAmerica’s online bookstore to Soldiers’ Angels when the buyer uses the promotional code “soldier30.” In addition, Publish America is cutting the price of her books by 30% and will match Brennan’s donation dollar-for-dollar!  The more books sold, the higher Brennan’s royalty percentage and the more money she and Publish America will donate to Soldiers’ Angels!
 Giving is a natural part of Brennan’s life.  “I’ve always done local or national charitable work,” she says.  “Growing up, I always said if I ever had any kind of money, I wanted to be able to do something with it.”  Among other activities, she donates to a homeless shelter in her hometown of Philadelphia and fosters a Guatemalan child.  
 Just over a year ago Brennan’s sister discovered Soldiers’ Angels through an ad she saw in a magazine.  Brennan is now on her fourth adopted soldier, has participated in the Chaplain Support Team and helped create back-to-school backpacks for military kids last Fall.  “I especially like the one-on-one with adopting a soldier,” she says.
 Brennan has worked in her father’s garage door business for 23 years, but writing has always been a part of her life.  “I always loved to write,” she says.  “but I never thought about writing a book until three years ago.”  Inspiration hit, and she carried a copy book with her wherever she went, taking advantage of every spare minute to jot down a little more of the story.  It took her a year and a half to complete and much to her surprise, it was accepted by the first publisher she approached.
 So far, Brennan has three published books (Quest of Hope: 153 A.G.C., O'Brien's Chance, Carver's Chance and Malone's Chance in production for this summer), with a fifth one in the writing stage.  Regardless of setting, her books are ultimately dramas about people and relationships.  She has developed a strong following online in the US and Europe. 
 To take advantage of this offer to support the troops and Soldiers’ Angels through Brennan’s book sales, be sure to click here and use the code “soldiers30” upon checkout (purchases through other sites will not be counted).  Brennan and PublishAmerica encourage everyone to share this link and the soldiers30 code with their friends and family!




Have Your Coffee & Give It, Too
2010-04-26T14:31:00.001-07:00
 May is Military Appreciation Month and in appreciation for the troops, MoJo Coffee Roasters is donating a portion of their online sales to Soldiers' Angels.
 MoJo is donating 1% of their remaining April and all of May online sales (www.mojoroast.com) when customers type "Facebook" in the note section of their orders.
 Personal coffee roasters that roast only the finest Arabica coffee beans for their customers, MoJo offers Organics, Cup of Excellence, Fair Trade, and Estate coffees. They also have natural water processed and Swiss Water processed decafs, and go to great lengths to ensure a quality product. 
 What are you waiting for? Order your coffee online and support the troops!! 





Riding for Fisher Houses
2010-04-26T14:29:00.001-07:00
John has been an avid cyclist for a number of years.  Now he's kicking it into another gear entirely...
 "This summer I will embark on a road-trip across America in order to realize a personal dream," he writes on his blog. "I will depart San Antonio, Texas and ride to Boston, Massachusetts and back. In an effort to truly test my physical abilities, I am giving myself a 3 month deadline."  John will start his trip on May 7, 2010 and expects to finish in early August, 2010. His friends have wondered what would motivate him to do something like this, but John has a ready answer.  "It's about freedom, the freedom to do whatever you want and to go wherever you want...However, this freedom is not without cost. After talking with some family, I decided to use this ride celebrating my freedom as a way to say Thank You to those that help preserve that freedom: our United States Armed Forces."
 As John rides from San Antonio to Boston, he will attempt to raise awareness and funds for the Fisher House Organization, which supports families of wounded heroes recovering at military hospitals around the country. 
 You can follow John's planning and progress on Youtube or Twitter, and contribute to his fundraiser here.





Pay it Forward for Brinestone
2010-04-26T14:28:00.001-07:00
Veteran-owned IT and computer company Brinestone is an important part of the Soldiers' Angels mission.  Owner and CEO Matt Bernard (himself a veteran) employs transitioning veterans, helps fill SA's requests for Valour-IT laptops and other technology that assists troops and their families, and is now working on the massive SA database that tracks the efforts of hundreds of thousands of volunteers.
  Click here to see a VA documentary on Matt and Brinestone
 
 Now Angels and others supporters of the troops have a chance to pay it forward.  Brinetone's local Chamber of Commerce has just released the nomination forms for various business awards here in New Hampshire.  If after seeing the video you think Brinestone is making a difference and is worthy of recognition as 
 They can mail or fax the form, it just needs to be in by May 3rd. If you can also add to come and become a fan of the Brinestone Facebook page that would be wonderful. 
 The Chamber of Commerce in which Brinestone is a part of has just released their nomination forms for business awards. If you have 6 minutes take a look at the documentary that the VA did on Brinestone. If you think we are making a difference and are worthy of being recognized as Souhegan Small Business of the Year, please nominate them (deadline has been extended to May 3).  It takes just five minutes!
 Here's some info you will need to fill out the form (anyone can nominate a business):
 Name of Nominee: Brinestone
Town: Milford
Category of Nomination: Small Business of the Year
Nominated in the past?: no




At a Hero's Bedside
2010-04-26T14:26:00.001-07:00
Maryann of Soldiers' Angels Germany gives us a vignette from life in the hospital that handles most every service member evacuated from the Iraq and Afghanistan war zones, and offers a glimpse into the hearts of our heroes...
 The True Heart of the American Soldier
 He'd gotten blown up. Sustained burns to the face and hands and suffered blast inhalation. Breathing in superheated air is not good for the bronchial tubes and lungs. He’s being mechanically ventilated.
 I watch him struggle even when completely sedated, but some patients have a real rough patch before extubation. To make sure a patient can breathe on his own, first the docs need to dial back on the meds.
 This is called "waking him up".
 Still out of it, he gradually becomes more and more aware of his pain and the discomfort of the breathing tube. He feels like he's choking. Constantly. And he's too out of it to understand why.
 His hands are restrained so he can't pull the tube out. But he keeps lifting them, trying. His legs squirm. He lifts and turns his head.
 Then the RT (respiratory therapy) guy comes in and tells the patient he’s turning off the ventilator as a test, and if it goes well, the tube can be removed. He now has to breathe on his own, sucking in air through the narrow tube. He must be scared to death wondering why he can hardly breathe.
 "You probably feel like you're breathing through a straw, right?"
 The patient nods. He looks unconscious but he's tracking everything.
 The RT encourages him, "This is all you, man... you're doing great. Keep going!"
 After 5 minutes the RT deflates the outside of the tube so the patient can now breathe around it as well as through it, which is better, but as he slowly comes around the agony of the tube becomes unbearable.
 He has to breathe like that for 20 minutes.
 I keep telling him, "You're in the Army hospital in Germany. You have a tube down your throat... don’t fight the tube… try to relax!" He does... but he’s so dopey that he forgets after about one minute and starts struggling again.
 It’s time. A small group of nurses and docs gather outside his door. You hear them say, "Ok, we gonna do this guy now?"
 They flow into the room, tell him they're pulling the tube, and that he should try to cough when they say ‘go’.
 "Ok, here we go... COUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGHCOUGH!!!!"
 When it's out they place an oxygen mask over his face and he gags and chokes and gasps for air and coughs up huge globs of junk which they suck out with a suction tube.
 He finally lays back, exhausted. People slowly leave. But his nurse stays - as always - hovering, watching his vitals, carefully checking all of his many lines and the machines connected to them.
 I move back to his side and he tries to say something, but his throat's raw and he can't talk. I lean in, apologizing because I can't understand.
 "How much... how much... longer?"
 I know these guys. He wants to know how much longer he has to stay here before he can go back downrange.
 Exchanging glances with his nurse, and deliberately misunderstanding, I tell him he'll be out of the Intensive Care Unit in a couple of days. Even in his sedated state he knows exactly what I've done and gives me the dirtiest look imaginable.
 Then, "fffff.... mmmm fffff.... "
 He's saying, "Friends... my friends... "
 I tell him everybody from the truck's ok. He did good, everybody's ok.
 His face screws up like a child's as he breaks down and cries with relief.
 I watch as the tears roll down over the ointment covering his face, over the seared redness of his skin, over the blisters on his nose and lips.
 * * *
 It's hard for people on the outside to understand. They always seem to focus only on the "terrible things" that we see. But we also have to honor to see something else: The true heart of the American Soldier.
 To read more about Soldiers' Angels Germany and the heroes they support, visit the team's blog.  If you'd like to help the Angels in Germany who watch over the wounded and ill soldiers and the medical personnel who care for them, click here.




National Volunteer Week
2010-04-26T14:16:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	Dear Angels and Supporters, 
 April 18 to 25, 2010 is National Volunteer Week. Established in 1974 by President Nixon, it has gained the support of each of his successors and a wide variety of politicians and officials at all level of government, while growing exponentially in numbers of participants and activities.
 This year’s theme is “Celebrating People in Action,” which is the essence of volunteering -- it honors individuals who take action and solve significant problems in their communities. Soldiers’ Angels is proud to join the celebration, for volunteers are the very heart and soul of Soldiers’ Angels. 
 The Soldiers’ Angels leadership humbly salutes the wonderful volunteers who make the mission of Soldiers’ Angels possible, who truly “dedicate themselves to taking action and solving problems in their communities." From a lovingly-sent care package, to a letter of gratitude, a visit to a bedside or a hand-knitted baby cap and much, much more, Angel volunteers ensure that “No Soldier Go Unloved.” With over 30 teams within Soldiers' Angels, we have a way for every American to get involved in troop support. Adopt a service member today, or join a team.  
 If you cannot add a volunteer position to your life right now, please consider a donation. You can donate here, on our fanpage or by sending a check to:
 Soldiers' Angels
1792 E Washington Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91104
 For updates- Fan us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
 We need you more than ever with the summer heating in the temperatures and the fighting. Thanks for volunteering! 
 Wingtip-to-wingtip,
 
Patti Patton-Bader, Founder
Toby Nunn, Operations Director
Shelle Michaels, National Communication Officer
and the Board of Directors
 PS. You make a difference every day. Read a few "thank yous!"
 
 I just wanted to say thank you to Soldiers Angels for everything that you do for our troops.  
 I was recently Medevaced from my deployed location due to an illness and was overwhelmed by the support of organizations like Soldiers' Angels.  I was hospitalized at Landsthul and stayed in the medical dorms there where I saw many donations from your organization in action.  Some of my fellow troops were evacuated out of theater with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and many were wearing sweat shirts and t-shirts donated by your organization.  
 I could not let your acts of kindness go unnoticed and wanted to make sure that once I got home that I made sure that you know that your efforts are greatly appreciated by the troops that you support.  THANK YOU SOLDIERS ANGELS!!!!
 Sincerely,
 Christine
 
 Dear Soldiers' Angels, I wanted to take a few minutes and extend my true and heartfelt thanks for the support your organization has made available to the Soldiers under my command and to me personally. 
 I am the commander of [redacted] a 132 man unit conducting Convoy Security missions in central and northern Iraq. We have been here for several months and the quantity and quality of support we have received from you and you volunteers is truly humbling. 
 We receive mail each day, and there has yet to be a single day pass that someone in the company does not receive a letter or package from a Soldiers' Angels volunteer. Most days it is multiple letters and packages. I can assure you, the Soldiers' Angels charter “May No Soldier Go Unloved” is alive, well, and flourishing. For some of my Soldiers, letters from your volunteers are the majority of the correspondence they receive. Having served over 22 years in the Army, [I know that] not receiving mail can be very disappointing, especially when forward deployed or overseas far from home. Soldiers in Company D rarely experience this disappointment, thanks to you and your volunteers. 
 I became familiar with the Soldiers' Angels organization during my last deployment when I was wounded and evacuated to Germany. I received countless emails, letters, and visits during my hospitalization which I will remember for the rest of my life. Soldiers' Angels has been there for my men (and for me) during our darkest hours and in our moments of triumph. You are all Angels in the truest sense. 
 Thank you for all that you do, have done, and will continue to do in the future, for all of us; you will always have my gratitude, respect, and appreciation. 
 Sincerely and Respectfully, 
 Captain O.
 
 





Drum Hike Begins Today!
2010-04-26T14:13:00.001-07:00
  	
	  		 	      	

 Specialist Troy Yocum kicked off his 7,000 mile Drum Hike  for Our Heroes today in Louisville, Kentucky!
 Troy is  hiking across America, visiting 25 states and 25 major cities to raise  awareness of and financial support for the challenges of veterans and military families.  He will also be incorporating his skills as a drummer, using a variety of drums and marching percussion instruments as he hikes. His goal is to “drum up” five million dollars in donations.  Throughout his Drum Hike, Yocum will also carry a custom Louisville Slugger baseball bat for Mayors and Governors to sign, assisting the Soldiers' Angels’ bid to declare Oct. 26 “Day of the Deployed,” a national day of honor.  Yocum will present the bat to the White House on May 11, 2011.
  
 Benefit  events associated with the Hike will span the nation, including motorcycle rallies by Patriot Guard Riders, a Blue Star Mothers convention, mini marathons, concerts and meet-and-greets. “Flags across the U.S.A.” will follow Yocum in several cities with an official Flag Truck flying the largest American flag to trail a licensed vehicle,” and  the “American Flag Parachutist,” Dallas Wittgenfeld, will skydive into  cities, announcing Troy's arrival.  
 Throughout the Hike, Yocum will loop the  bases at over  20 MLB/Minor League Baseball stadiums, team up with “Heroes of the Diamond” to entertain fans and honor America with patriotic events at stadiums, and will participate in ceremonies to rename America's highways for fallen heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
 Yocum will live-stream his journey,  presenting a video blog and interviewing US veterans on DrumHike.com while  tracking his progress on Google Earth.  Check    out his itinerary for more info on his path and the events planned at his stops!
 Soldiers' Angels calls on Angels around the country to contribute and get involved when Troy arrives near their town.  In addition to his own site, updates on Troy's progress will be posted on the Twitter,  Facebook and MySpace  pages of Soldiers’ Angels.
 
 





Zac Brown & Ram Trucks Join Angels
2010-04-26T14:11:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	Ram Truck Brand and Southern-Rock Artist Zac Brown Band Form Partnership  •Launches "Letters for Lyrics" at Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep® and Ram Truck dealerships with goal to deliver one million letters to U.S. soldiers in return for 1 million "Breaking Southern Ground" CDs 
 •Provides exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of the band's USO Tour featured on RamTrucks.com 
 •Offers exclusive song download of latest single, "Free" 
 The Ram Truck Brand today announced a partnership with GRAMMY-winning artists, Zac Brown Band to help honor U.S. soldiers as well as promote the band's USO Tour and their latest single. 
 Fueled by a Platinum major label debut, four #1 singles and numerous honors and accolades, including their GRAMMY win as "Best New Artist," "Top New Vocal Group" from the Academy of Country Music and "Breakthrough Video of the Year" from Country Music Television and USA Weekend – Zac Brown Band is poised to move front-and-center in 2010. 
 "Just as your vehicle is an extension of who you are – music also defines your inner character," said Olivier Francois, Lead Marketing Executive, Chrysler Group LLC. "The Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band both strive to connect with people and have a unifying 'can do' attitude and a character filled with authenticity, care, passion and pride." 
 "We are excited about the new alignment with Zac Brown Band," said Fred Diaz, President and CEO – Ram Truck Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "It's the Grammy-award winning 'Best New Artist' meets the 2010 Motor Trend 'Truck of the Year.' It's a true win-win partnership for our customers, dealers and the Ram Truck Brand." 
 "Performing with the USO for the men and women in uniform has been a great experience for us. We wanted to find a bigger way to thank them, a way to mobilize people nationwide to show their support for these incredible individuals," explains Zac Brown on how the "Letters for Lyrics" campaign came about. "Ram Truck Brand was the perfect partner to realize this dream; not only do they share our commitment to recognize the troops' service and sacrifice but they are determined to ensure this program helps to send a little piece of home to our service members abroad." 
 The partnership includes a letter-writing program to U.S. soldiers, exclusive documentary footage from the band's USO Tour and a song download of the band's latest single, "Free." 
 Letters for Lyrics Campaign 
 Starting in May, Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Band kick off "Letters for Lyrics," a national campaign with a goal of sending 1 million letters to U.S. soldiers stationed across the world. Participants who write a letter to a U.S. soldier will receive a special compilation CD titled, "Breaking Southern Ground," while supplies last. This exclusive CD features three all-new songs from Zac Brown Band, as well as music from artists signed to Zac Brown's label, Southern Ground Records, Sonia Leigh, Nic Cowan and Levi Lowrey. 
 Soldier's Angels, a nonprofit organization, will deliver the letters on behalf of the Zac Brown Band and the Ram Truck Brand. Soldier's Angels is a volunteer-led organization with over 225,000 members providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, along with veterans and their families. 
 "We believe that 'Letters for Lyrics' will spark the public's interest in contributing to our troops abroad and to their families here at home. This goodwill gesture embodies one of the main pillars in the Ram Truck Brand's DNA and demonstrates our continued support for the nation's men and women in the military," said Diaz. 
 A 30-second "Letters for Lyrics" teaser spot, featuring the Ram Truck Brand and Zac Brown Band, will debut during the Academy of Country Music Awards, which airs live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Sunday, April 18, at 8 p.m. on the CBS Television Network. 
 USO Tour Documentary and Song Download on RamTrucks.com 
 Viewers will be able to see behind-the-scene footage taped by the band as they document their April visit to U.S. soldiers stationed in the Persian Gulf. Documentary-style segments and concert footage will premiere on RamTrucks.com and new episodes will be posted throughout the duration of the program. 
 An exclusive live version of the band's latest single, "Free," will also be available for download for the first 100,000 fans, only at the RamTrucks.com web site. For each download, the Ram Truck Brand will make a donation to a designated charity on behalf of the brand and Zac Brown Band. 
 "The marketing and advertising launch for the Ram Heavy Duty is one of the most comprehensive programs developed for the Ram Truck Brand," said Marissa Hunter, Head of Ram Truck Communication, Chrysler Group LLC. "The partnership with Zac Brown Band is just one element of the marketing and advertising launch of the 2010 Ram Heavy Duty truck, now available at Ram Truck dealerships nationwide." 
 About the Zac Brown Band 
 Zac Brown Band were recently named GRAMMY's "Best New Artist" and are nominated for four Academy of Country Music Awards including "Entertainer of the Year." The band's platinum-certified, major label debut 'The Foundation' - one of Billboard's Top 20 albums of 2009 - is out now on Atlantic Records and features the band's first four #1 singles. Currently on the road with their "Breaking Southern Ground" national tour, Zac Brown Band will also join the Dave Matthews Band to perform at select shows across the U.S. this summer including New York's Citi Field. Additional information can be found at http://www.zacbrownband.com/. 
 About the Ram Truck Brand 
 With a work-hard, play-hard attitude, the Ram Truck brand offers the boldest, most powerful and capable pickup truck lineup on the planet. 
 The Ram Truck brand will add to its award-winning truck lineup with the introduction of its all-new 2010 Ram 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty trucks, Motor Trend's Truck of the Year. The new heavy-duty trucks provide customers with first-time innovations and features along with new standards of strength, utility and driveability, building on the Ram's leadership in the heavy-duty pickup segment. 
 Introduced in 2008, the Ram 1500 is a game changer in terms of its ability to "outsmart" and "out-tough" the competition with its bold exterior design, crafted and refined interior, engineering excellence, superb innovation and best-in-class features and amenities. The Ram 1500 also ranks at the top of Strategic Vision Inc.'s (SVI) 2009 Total Quality Index™ (TQI) in the full-size truck segment. According to the survey, the Ram 1500 leads the way with the highest Total Quality score of any truck in the 15-year history of the study. Customers specifically noted that the Ram has the best added storage capability along with the best truck interior ever rated by customers. 
 The Ram Truck brand will further enhance its commercial vehicle presence with the introduction of a "new crew" of commercial-grade work trucks: the new 2011 Ram 3500, 4500 and 5500 Chassis Cabs. Led by an all-new crew cab, the new 2011 Ram Chassis Cabs are built on a proven frame and chassis, and engineered for maximum uptime, optimum performance and enhanced commercial capability. 
 Follow Dodge and Chrysler Group LLC news and video on: 
 Chrysler Connect blog: http://blog.chryslergroupllc.com
 Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/chryslercom and www.twitter.com/chrysler 
 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/pentastarvideo 
 Streetfire: http://members.streetfire.net/profile/ChryslerVideo.htm 
 Ram Trucks: http://www.ramtrucks.com 
 Ram Zone blog: http://www.ramzone.com 
 SOURCE Chrysler Group LLC 
 
 





A Very Special Thank You
2010-04-26T14:07:00.001-07:00
From the Soldiers' Angels email box...
 I just wanted to say thank you to Soldiers Angels for everything that you do for our troops.  
 I was recently Medevaced from my deployed location due to an illness and was overwhelmed by the support of organizations like Soldiers' Angels.  I was hospitalized at Landsthul and stayed in the medical dorms there where I saw many donations from your organization in action.  Some of my fellow troops were evacuated out of theater with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and many were wearing sweat shirts and t-shirts donated by your organization.  
 I could not let your acts of kindness go unnoticed and wanted to make sure that once I got home that I made sure that you know that your efforts are greatly appreciated by the troops that you support.  THANK YOU SOLDIERS ANGELS!!!!
 Sincerely,
 Christine





Love Song for the Troops
2010-04-14T12:14:00.001-07:00
Singer-songwriter Joe Brucato and Soldiers’ Angels proudly announce the release of a touching and inspirational new single, Thank You, Soldier.
 The song is beautifully written and passionately delivered by Brucato, who calls it a “civilian song of praise” for the men and women who continue to protect and defend America’s freedom.  It is hoped the song will be a comfort and joy to service members, veterans and their families, and an inspiration to the Americans who benefit from their sacrifice.
 Brucato emphasizes that Thank You, Soldier is written from an apolitical point of view and meant to be universal—applicable to all who have fought and will fight for America.  “It’s a timeless song; you could play it in 100 years and it would still apply,” he says.  “It’s a love song to the troops.”
 With a cousin who has served two tours in Iraq, Brucato is familiar with the sacrifices of the military in time of war, but it was the death of a soldier he didn’t know that brought that gratitude most fully to the surface.  One day when local news reported an upstate New York soldier had been killed in action, Brucato was struck with how young so many of the soldiers are, how important what they do is, and how grateful he himself was for their sacrifice.  The end result was an heartfelt love song.
 Thank You, Soldier has been a labor of love for Brucato, who has sunk thousands of dollars into production of the single, including hiring the Rochester (NY) Philharmonic to provide accompaniment.  Now he’s turning that love outward again, donating five cents of every download to Soldiers’ Angels in support of those who continue to service America.  “I am grateful for the people who defend and protect our treasured freedoms,” he says.  “This is a song of praise for them, because who’s more deserving?  The words speak for themselves.  I mean what I’m singing.”
 Joe is working on a professional music video of Thank You, Solider.  In the meantime, he is calling on Angels and all supporters of the troops to create and share their own videos of the song in praise and gratitude for the service of America’s military men and women.
 You can download this inspiring song on iTunes, Amazon.com and Napster, with five cents from every download going to Soldiers’ Angels.  For more on Joe Brucato, check out his FaceBook and MySpace pages.




Franki's Love for Momma Soldiers
2010-04-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

	  		 	      	Mother.  When it comes to mothers and soldiers, the classic image is a son who remembers his dear mom as the fighting rages around him.  But what about the son or daughter at home who thinks of a mother serving in a combat zone?  Today, thousands of "Momma Soldiers" are serving the country on the other side of the world as they and their children at home are wishing they were together. 
 This Mother's Day, Soldiers' Angels and singer Franki Love are teaming up to provide a great way to thank two moms at once:  Buy Franki's Momma CD for your mom, and Franki will donate one for Soldiers' Angels to send to a deployed mother in Iraq.
 
          


Join Soldiers Angels and Franki love in ensuring "May No Momma Soldier Go Unloved."  Click here to purchase!
 
 





Accountants Support the Troops
2010-04-14T12:11:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	Denise Danks, tax accountant and bookkeeper, has found a great way to support the troops during the tax season.  She explains in an email:
  I have been a long-time [member] of Soldier's Angels, but have often been unable to do much to help.  My Mom and I own a tax & accounting business that she started when I was five.  It has ALWAYS been our policy that Active Military Personnel will NEVER be charged for the preparation of their tax returns in this office.  I am in a position where myself and my office can lend a hand moreso than in previous years.
 With the economy still drudging along, we have picked up several more Military families who have been otherwise unable to pay for their tax return preparation.  I know there have to be more families out there needing help in this area.  Our company is in a small Oklahoma town, so our cost to operate remains lower than most tax offices around the country.  
  ...[W]hat started out with a few local military families is growing.  
 
  Denise's office is in Reydon Oklahoma and she can be reached at 877-533-0404 or 580-309-3395.  If you know someone who could use her services, please pass this along.
  Soldiers' Angels salutes Denise for her long tradition of supporting the troops, and encourages others to find creative ways to contribute through their own skills and opportunities!
 
 





Soldiers' Angels Joins the Fiesta
2010-04-14T12:09:00.001-07:00
If you are a San Antonian, you have heard the the term, “Viva Fiesta.”  Held from April 15-25, the “Party with a Purpose” supports local San Antonio charities.  The military plays a huge role by providing “Ambassadors” from each service branch to every Fiesta  event, and Soldiers’ Angels has become an  official member of the Fiesta Commission for 2010!  
 A traditional part of the festivities is the design and sale of commemorative medals to raise money for the nonprofits involved in the Fiesta. Soldiers’ Angels has designed its own medal, which will be sold at Fiesta events and be available online beginning April 16.  Along with the medal, specially-designed Fiesta t-shirts and the original Soldiers’ Angels t-shirts will be sold at events to raise money for Soldiers’ Angels. Tourist and Fiesta fanatics make their rounds at these events to collect all of the new Fiesta medals they can get their hands on. Soldiers' Angels attending will also collect medals to start the Soldiers’ Angels collection for the museum.   
 Soldiers’ Angels extends a huge thank you to the local San Antonio VFW Post 76, the oldest post in Texas.  Mr. Art Martinez of the VFW, along with the house committee has welcomed Soldiers’ Angels with open arms by allowing setting aside space for a free booth at their “Countdown to Fiesta” from April 9 to April 11. They have also included Soldiers’ Angels in their upcoming Fiesta Parade, that runs throughout downtown San Antonio on April 22-25. 
 The Texas Corvette Association is hosting event for Fiesta in Boerne, TX to benefit the St. Jude’s Ranch for Children, and has accepted Soldiers’ Angels for participation on April 17.  Event Coordinator Glen Leonard was excited to hear about Soldiers' Angels and plans to help now and in future projects. Soldiers’ Angels will be selling Soldiers’ Angels Fiesta medals and Fiesta t- shirts at the car show. 
 For more information on Fiesta Celebration  2010 events, please visit the Fiesta website or email Marisa R. Thresher at mthresher@soldiersangels.org.
 




American Heart Supports the Troops
2010-04-14T12:08:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	
 Musician Jon David supports the troops in both word (music) and deed.
 In March he donated 500 CDs of his inspiring song, American Heart, to Soldiers' Angels for inclusion in care packages for deployed troops.  Described as a "love song for America," the hope is that this positive and uplifting song will raise the spirits of the troops who are sacrificing to protect her.
 Now Jon's song is reaching an even wider  audience through AmericanHeartMusic.com. The song is available there for the price of $2, and 25% of proceeds will go to support Ride 2 Recovery, which trains and facilitates wounded warriors' involvement in cycling and with whom he has ridden in the past.  You can become a fan of Jon on Facebook, or  follow him on Twitter.
 Soldiers' Angels salutes Jon for his generosity in helping us meet our mission, his talent in creating such a beautiful song, and for leading the way by supporting the troops in both spirit and action.
 
           
 
 





Month of the Military Child
2010-04-14T12:06:00.001-07:00
Military Children of OIF/OEF veterans are eligible for a special gift during Month of the Military Child.  Click here for details!
 Highlighting the important role military children play in the armed forces community, Month of the Military Child is a time to applaud military families and their children for the daily sacrifices they make and challenges they overcome.  Military children face many obstacles unique to their situation, such as having a parent deployed for extended periods of time and frequently being uprooted from school.
 Throughout the month, military commands will plan special events to honor military children. These events will stress the importance of providing children with quality services and support to help them succeed in the mobile military lifestyle. Soldiers' Angels honors the military child with our Soldiers' Angels Month of the Military Child proclamation. 
 A great Soldiers' Angels team to join in honor of the military child is Operation Top Knot, a nationwide network of service clubs and individuals who sew, knit and shop to create gift baskets for infants and expectant mothers in military families.  Team members knit, crochet, sew, quilt, and design blankets, booties, hats, onesies, bibs, and many more homemade gifts. They also assemble and deliver gift baskets full of goodies such as bottles, diapers, onesies, pacifiers, washcloths, grooming kits, and more.  Additionally, they make sure to remember Dad by sending "It's a Boy!" or "It's a Girl!" bubblegum cigars to wherever he is stationed. Join Operation Top Knot today.
 During Month of the Military Child, Soldiers' Angels salutes Operation Military Kids (OMK) with their nationwide partnership of military and civilian organizations that coordinate social, recreational, and educational opportunities for school-age military kids in their communities. OMK encourages partners like 4-H clubs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and the American Legion to sponsor Month of the Military Child local events. Visit their website for more information and some great ideas to support the children of our United States Armed Forces!





Jorge Rivera Fights for Soldiers' Angels
2010-04-14T12:04:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	Once again, military and patriotic-themed clothing company Ranger Up is supporting Soldiers’ Angels through the Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters it sponsors.
 MMA Star Jorge Rivera is picking up the Soldiers’ Angels banner for Ranger Up and will be holding it high during his fight on Spike TV's Ultimate Fight Night 21 tomorrow night (Wednesday, March 31, 2010).  Nicknamed “El Conquistador,” Rivera is a former U.S. Army Cavalryman and has been an MMA fighter since 2001.  He’s popular with the fans for his exciting fights and his availability—he’s always happy to meet and greet, signing autographs for fans.  He also spends time visiting the troops overseas.
 Rivera is the second MMA fighter at Ranger Up to spread the word on Soldiers’ Angels at his competitions.  For over a year, fighter Tim Kennedy has sported the Angel logo on his fight shorts and never passes up the opportunity to talk about Soldiers’ Angels and the importance of supporting the troops when he’s interviewed on TV.
 Ranger Up is the creator and producer of the popular Soldiers’ Angels “Protector” t-shirt, which features a fierce-looking angel watching over a soldier on patrol in combat.  Rivera will be wearing the Protector t-shirt tomorrow night, and a percentage of Ranger Up's sales of the Protector t-shirt are always donated to Soldiers’ Angels.
 SA salutes Ranger Up with great gratitude for its continuing support, and wishes Jorge the best of luck as he faces his opponent Nate Quarry tomorrow night.
 
 





Calling All Girl Scout Cookies!
2010-04-14T12:03:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	It's that time again... Girl Scout Cookie Time! 
 Girls Scouts are wonderful supporters of the troops, giving people who buy their yummy cookies the chance to also donate boxes of treats for deployed troops.  And for the last several years, Soldiers' Angels has proudly helped send delicious Girl Scout cookies to American service members around the world. 
 This year, the goal is the same, and  Girls Scouts will be able to send entire CASES of cookies  (not single boxes) to Soldiers' Angels for deployed military  personnel.  Girl Scout Troops are invited to email Caren Vink at cvink@soldiersangels.org  and she will arrange for UPS pick up and shipping.
    It's a sweet deal for all  involved!  
 
 





Scout Shows How to Support Troops
2010-04-14T12:01:00.001-07:00
When Cameron Krittenden of Utah, age 13, planned the required project for his Eagle Scout badge, he had no idea what he was getting himself—and his family and neighbors—into!
  With an uncle (his mother’s brother) having recently deployed to Iraq, Cameron was inspired to take a look at how he could support the troops through his Eagle Scout project.  His aunt mentioned the support they had received through Soldiers’ Angels and after researching online and talking to Soldiers’ Angels, Cameron decided to focus on sending care packages.
  At first, raising the money was particularly difficult, but Cameron never gave up.  Initially he sold pizzas, which raised about $250.  Then he spent weeks writing and polishing a flier that he took to a couple of stores in his town, resulting in a disappointing $75.  
  With those first efforts bringing in so little, Cameron next turned to his neighbors.  He wrote a letter to 200 families living near him and things started to take off.  The letter was delivered on a Saturday, informing neighbors that he would visit them on Wednesday to pick up donations of money and items for care packages.  By Monday, people were showing up at his front door with money and gifts for the troops.  One family came with bags filled with fun things and said they were so glad they had finally figured out how to help the troops.  Neighbors brought handmade cards they had written for soldiers, and others brought goodies and treats.  
  Two retired soldiers visited soon after receiving Cameron’s request for help and were particularly touched by his efforts.  The older man wrapped his arms around Cameron with tears in his eyes and said, “Thank you for giving us this opportunity to help.” Both Cameron and his mother Kendra were deeply touched.  “It was the neatest moment to see this quiet man hug my son,” she said.  Up until then, Cameron's goal had been simply getting his badge.  “It had felt like work,” Kendra said.  “After that, my son said, ‘I get it.  I understand why I’m doing it.’”
 Altogether, Cameron raised $1,000 in cash and $300-$400 in supplies ranging from books to snacks, treats, hygiene items and even squirt guns, resulting in 52 care packages.  “People jumped at the opportunity to help,” said Kendra.  "Until he had started his project, they just didn’t know how to do it." Over and over, participants thanked him for showing them how to help.  “We are just so excited to be able to do something,” they told Kendra and Cameron.
  The excitement extended to Cameron’s church, which sponsors his Boy Scout troop.  The troop and most of the youth in the church showed up to help assemble care packages.  Cameron organized it all, directing the setup and assembly.  Several adults also showed up during the packing to help tie Blankets of Belief, since some fabric had been donated and Cameron’s grandmother had given him money she wanted used to make additional blankets.
  
  “It was just an amazing experience,” Kendra reports.  “It started out as work—‘I want to get my eagle project’—and it changed to him being very excited about this.  It affected the feeling in the whole home and in the community.  We just need to let the soldiers know we haven’t forgotten them.”
  
 Cameron is continuing to collect for care packages and has more to send out soon. “Our family loves America, so there is a special place in our hearts for those who give up so much for us,” says Kendra.
 




Angelic Authors Wing Their Way
2010-04-14T11:58:00.001-07:00
Soldiers’ Angels is proud to count three published authors among its many loving and talented Angels who do so much to support the troops!  Mary Ann Bernal is reporting the publication of her first book, Lori Bakewell is writing her fourth in a set of books for elementary/middle school age, and C.S. Challinor just announced publication of her third book in the highly successful Rex Graves mystery series.
 C.S. Challinor has been donating 15% of her profits from Christmas is Murder—the first in her series about British amateur sleuth Rex Graves—to Soldiers’ Angels wounded projects since the book came out in 2008.  She got involved with Soldiers’ Angels several years ago when the organization was still quite small and her son coordinated donation of a large cartload of supplies for care packages.  She remains motivated to help by seeing young people coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with life-altering wounds.  “The average age of wounded veterans is 23 years old,” Challlin says. “That's only a few years older than my own son.”  Her 3rd book,  
 Lori Bakewell’s youth fiction books follow the travels of 13-year-old Kat and her family as they visit historical sites.  Kat sees ghosts at the sites and works her younger brother to solve a problem or help the ghosts with a particular issue.  Bakewell is now working on her fourth book, which will be set in Texas at the Alamo.  Due to her mother’s health needs, she is currently on leave from her position of coaching Angels through the Mentor Team, but remains active on the Letter Writing and Wounded TLC teams. 
 Mary Ann Bernal is celebrating the recent publication of her first book, The Briton and the Dane, which is receiving rave reviews.  It’s the story of a lord who trains the king’s army in 9th-century Brittania during the era between the end of Roman rule and the beginning of the Age of Chivalry. Bernal mentions Soldiers’ Angels in the book, dedicating it to the memory the son of a Gold Star Mother in her church.  After joining Soldiers’ Angels in 2006 through a friend’s influence, she now serves on the Letter Writing, Cards Plus, Wounded TLC and Mentor Teams.
 Soldiers’ Angels salutes Brenal, Bakewell and Challinor for their creativity, hard work and dedication in both their professional and volunteer spheres!





Hair-Raising Support (Blue Angel?)
2010-03-25T14:56:00.001-07:00
Community Network Coordinator (formerly "CTL") Leslie Applegate has thrown down a challenge to her fellow troop supporters, in a hair-raising manner!
 Leslie has asked her friends, family, fellow Angels, and anybody else who wants to hop in... to guess how short she's going to cut her beautiful, long hair, which she'll be donating for cancer patient wigs on April 11, 2010.  The price of each guess about the length is a $1 donation to Soldiers' Angels (just send her the receipt for verification of your donation), and the winner will receive a care package sent to his/her adopted soldier by Leslie.
 Here's the kicker:  If Leslie raises $1,000 in guesses, she's going to cut her hair down to a Marine-style "high and tight!"  If she raises $2,000 in guesses, she'll dye those shorts bits of hair blue!
 Here's your chance to see an Angel with a grunt-approved high and tight!  For more information, click here for a flyer or visit the Raise Some Hair website.





Cooking with the Wounded at Landstuhl
2010-03-25T14:45:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	
 Cooking with the Wounded has completed its first event at LRMC since the effort became an official project of Soldiers' Angels.  MaryAnn reports on the Soldiers' Angels Germany blog:
  Soldiers' Angels was honored to bring three great chefs over to Germany to cook for the outpatients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center on March 21, 2010. Former chef Blake Powers made the largest pot of savory, spicy chili I've ever seen - enough to feed about 50 hungry outpatients and staff. And pastry chefs Katy Gunderson and Molly Greenwood of the Yellow Bowl Bakery slaved for two days over a variety of delicious creations, including carrot cake, "death by chocolate" cake, cheesecake, apple and pear strudel and much more. 
 
A huge THANK YOU to all of the chefs for their time, expertise and fundraising efforts to provide their wonderful creations to spoil the Landstuhl patients. We'd also like to thank Mel Parkins and Carol Sharpe of the USO Warrior Center for putting up with us ;-) as well as their volunteers for their able assistance! And, as always, we'd like to thank our Soldiers' Angels Germany team for taking the chefs shopping and volunteering at the event.
 
 Soldiers' Angels salutes Blake Powers for his continuing leadership in Cooking with the Wounded, and congratulates all involved for a fantastic event!  For more information on the event, see the Cooking with the Wounded Facebook page.
 
 





Angels Sponsor Drum Hike
2010-03-25T14:43:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	
 Soldiers’ Angels is proudly supporting former US Army Specialist Troy Yocum as he hikes and drums 7000 miles across America, raising needed funds for military families. The 16-month journey, beginning April 17, will cross 30 states and 37 major cities in effort to “drum up” donations, support and awareness for military families who need financial assistance. Funds raised will be distributed through Soldiers' Angels, which is supplying a custom-wrapped RV for Yocum's journey.
 Throughout his Drum Hike, Yocum will also carry a custom Louisville Slugger baseball bat for Mayors and Governors to sign, assisting the Soldiers' Angels’ bid to declare Oct. 26 “Day of the Deployed,” a national day of honor.  Yocum will present the bat to the White House on May 11, 2011.
 “It means the world to me to have Soldiers’ Angels behind me,” Yocum Says.  “I don’t think I could’ve garnered the support I already have without them.  More than any other organization, Soldiers’ Angels has believed in me from the beginning.  Their continued faith in my project has brought everything together.”
 Benefit events associated with the Hike will span the nation, including motorcycle rallies by Patriot Guard Riders, a Blue Star Mothers convention, mini marathons, concerts and meet-and-greets. “Flags across the U.S.A.” will follow Yocum in several cities with an official Flag Truck flying the largest American flag to trail a licensed vehicle,” and the “American Flag Parachutist,” Dallas Wittgenfeld, will skydive into cities, announcing Troy's arrival.  
 Throughout the Hike, Yocum will loop the bases at over 20 MLB/Minor League Baseball stadiums, team up with “Heroes of the Diamond” to entertain fans and honor America with patriotic events at stadiums, and will participate in ceremonies to rename America's highways for fallen heroes of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
 Yocum will live-stream his journey, presenting a video blog and interviewing US veterans on DrumHike.com while tracking his progress on Google Earth.  
 Soldiers' Angels encourages all Americans to join the Hike in various ways, proving that Yocum is not alone in his quest to help veterans. 
 
 





Helping Families Cope with Grief
2010-03-25T14:41:00.001-07:00

	  		 	      	Soldiers' Angels salutes Katie Couric and the Sesame Street Muppets as they help families cope with the death of a parent.
 Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, in association with Worldwide Pants Incorporated and Lookalike Productions, is producing a new primetime television special, When Families Grieve featuring Katie Couric and the Sesame Street Muppets. This hour-long HD special, airing in primetime nationwide in April on PBS, will present families’ personal stories about coping with the death of a parent, as well as strategies that have helped these families move forward.
  
 Most recent data states that one in 20 American children under the age of 15 experiences the death of a parent whether it be from illness, suicide, accident or war-related.* Certain populations, such as military families, are more at risk of experiencing a sudden death. In just one year, from 2006 to 2007, an estimated 1,345 children from military families experienced the death of a parent serving in the military.  The death of a parent is one of the most difficult things a child can face; but children are not the only ones that feel overwhelmed and experience change in their behavior. Grieving is a family experience and, thus, the entire family needs support during this most difficult time. This is why When Families Grieve will harness the unique approach that Sesame takes in addressing children’s needs: using the Sesame Street Muppets to aid the communication between adults and children with language and strategies that are child appropriate and useful for the whole family.
 When Families Grieve is a continuation of Sesame Workshop’s award-winning Talk, Listen, Connect initiative that first launched in July 2006 providing resources and emotional support to military families with young children coping with the challenging transitions in their lives, such as deployments and when a parent comes home changed due to combat-related injury. This PBS special will air on April 14th at 8:00PM EST (check local listings) in conjunction with the Month of the Military Child & Month of the Young Child, and will be part of a multimedia, bi-lingual (English and Spanish) outreach kit for national distribution immediately following the April airdate. All materials will be available at www.sesamestreet.org/grief, beginning April 15.
  
  For more info on this special program, visit the Sesame Street Workshop website.