Save our soldiers' butts

Yeah, a play on words here. I got a request from a medic in Afghanistan for seat cushions for the guys to use in the vehicles who go on long (12 hour) road-clearing missions. She wrote to tell me that this isn't just a matter of comfort; several needed surgery to correct the problem after months of discomfort; ouch.

the solution was pretty simple, we found these memory seat cushions and sent them over a dozen. They worked well, and are very popular. I wish they didn't cost $30 each to buy and mail, but at least we helped a few guys out.





This was a fun one.
-Rog

A very special young person who is helping our wounded soldiers

I'm always so amazed at the dedication and patriotism of our young people, and at how much they care about our soldiers.

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.

Her Mom wrote me that Tess had to meet with her principal, who was very much on board and approved the project. She created fliers to distribute all over school, and her principal arranged to place the announcement about her project on the district-wide electronic bulletin board so other families within the school system may donate even if they don't have a child at Columbia.

On the big day the project started, Tess made an announcement to her entire school about it. She must have been a pretty good DJ, because after the one-week collection was completed, she had full boxes all over the school.




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.

Great job Tess!
-Rog

Illinois Warrior Event for veterans

Sue, Beth and I attended this event in Chicago yesterday. There were over 160 veteran's support organizations, employers and government agencies in attendance, as well as several thousand Illinois Veterans.

We had to honor to meet vets from every war back to Vietnam, handed out over 500 SA pins, brochures and cards. The goal was to let these folks know about the services that SA can provide to assist our veterans.

Here are a few of the very special people we met:

Here is Joe and his Lady friend; he was wounded in Iraq, and remembers receiving one of our Soldiers' Angels Blankets of Hope at the CSH in Fallujah.



Tony (left) and William. Tony received care packages from us when he was in Iraq.


SA member and soon to be 2LT, US Army Sara.


Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago.


Jackie, who was adopted by an Angel in Texas while he was in IRaq.


Harvey, who also got care packages from us.


Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Since becoming Governer, he's attended every funeral of an Illinois soldier KIA. I got to shake his hand.



It felt like a good day!
-Rog