Angel Whispers

Just Listen to Support the Troops!

2010-07-31T23:38:00.001-07:00

Jesse Dayton is one of the artists involved with Soldiers' Angels partner Voices of a Grateful Nation. This organization's CD, which includes Jesse's song, I'm Comin' Home helps fund activities that use music to help returning and wounded soldiers re-acclimate and recover.

I’m Comin’ Home tells the story of going to Iraq and coming home safely to live happily ever after. It has received rave reviews from soldiers and military families, and now has the attention of CMT.com (Country Music Television). The video is playing on the station’s website and is linked to a PSA about the efforts of Soldiers’ Angels and Voices of a Grateful Nation to use music to support the troops.

Now, Jesse needs a little help from you in order to help Soldiers' Angels and Voices of a Grateful Nation. All you have to do is watch his video for I'm Comin' Home.

Jesse Dayton

If CMT.com records at least 1000 hits a day, Jesse's video and his PSA for Soldiers' Angels and Voices of a Grateful Nation will be put into regular rotation of music videos on CMT. Getting Jesse's PSA on CMT will be a wonderful way to help spread the word about what Soldiers' Angels does.

Jesse Dayton

Soldiers' Angels and Voices of a Grateful Nation working together helps the troops:

One result of the partnership between Voices of a Grateful Nation and Soldiers’ Angels is the new music lesson/therapy program at the warehouse, part of Operation Soft Landing. Along with Charlie Gallagher and musicologist and guitar teacher Craig Hillis, Soldiers’ Angels co-founder Jeff Bader has been developing and stocking a room to provide music lessons and performance opportunities for wounded veterans and those in transition to civilian life. Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) issues such as hand/eye coordination or motor problems, and short-term memory challenges can all be improved through playing an instrument and listening to music.

The call went out for instruments in the last month, but so much more is needed and the hope is to expand Operation Soft Landing to locations around the country. All revenue Jesse receives from “I’m Coming Home” will go to support this project. Simply watching these great videos is a powerful way to help!

You can also learn more about Jesse Dayton and watch both videos on CMT's site.

Founders Notes June 15 2010

2010-06-16T05:02:00.001-07:00

Dear Angels,

The response to our request to help fill the empty shelves in the warehouse has been fantastic. Thank you so much to all the Angels who donated, shared contacts and spread the word! Of course the needs continue, and here are two great ways to build on the strength and success we all generated this last week…

Rollercoaster Networking

New Media: The Good, the Bad and the Beautiful

“New Media” and Internet-based social networking platforms like Twitter, Facebook and blogs have been a major force in our ability to meet the mission of ensuring “No Soldier Go Unloved.” They have their ups and downs, but the great thing is that we can each use our voices to keep things on the positive and “up” side. Please click to read more! [more*]

Tell a Stranger Tuesday

Let’s Zero it Out!

Soldiers’ Angels is thrilled beyond words to see how many new Angels are stepping up to adopt as veteran Angels continue to take on adoptions. Just a couple weeks ago we had over 1,000 heroes waiting for adoption and now it’s around 400! If we continue to spread the word and encourage others to stand with us, we could zero it out by the Fourth of July—every hero could have an Angel for the Fourth! [more*]

Band of Angels

Chaplain Support Team, Helping Chaplains Help the Troops

The Chaplain Support Team (CST) supplies deployed Chaplains with requested items related to their mission, and because chaplains travel throughout the war zone, working with them also helps Soldiers' Angels reach personnel who may be in remote locations, feeling isolated or lonely, and in need of a morale boost. The (CST) provides direct support to the military chaplains of all religious backgrounds as they bring comfort and assistance to all the soldiers they encounter. CST support ranges from letters and gifts that can be easily distributed, to morale items such as food for special group meals, cards for the deployed to send to family members for holidays and birthdays, and games, sports equipment, or books. Dedicated individual CST Angels also sometimes choose to focus on adopting chaplains or soldiers who share their religious background, knowing that having the support of a fellow believer can be a huge encouragement.

I can’t tell you how encouraging it has been to see the warehouse start to fill up again and to watch of the number of heroes waiting for adoption continue to be reduced! With a positive attitude, continuing to use all our resources (media, personal relationships and caring spirits, as well as financial resources) we can continue to make sure every single soldier feels loves and supported so that they can focus on the mission and come home healthy.

Thank you for standing with me!

Wingtip to Wingtip,

Patti Patton-Bader
Soldiers' Angels Founder and CEO

Facebook - Soldiers' Angels (official)
Twitter - @soldiersangels
Monthly Newsletter - www.soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=newsletters

Founder's Notes, June 9, 2010

2010-06-12T14:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Angels,

This is another week where we are looking at bare cupboards. For example, as of today we have absolutely no female hygiene items to include in care packages from the San Antonio warehouse. I worry about that, but at the same time I look around and see people who are giving everything they can. For some people, it’s money, for other’s it’s time, and those who have neither are making sure they let everyone who CAN help know about the need… we call can find a way to give more!

Hearts in Hand

Giving Everything You Can

Last week my husband and I humbly received the Our Heart in Hand Humanitarian Award from the Unity Center in Pasadena, CA. Soldiers’ Angels began in Pasadena and the main office is still there. Jeff stood in for both of us at the event and I was so proud to think of all he does for our troops every day, while still running a business and being a wonderful family man.

Bicycling Heroes

For Their Brothers & Sisters

World T.E.A.M Sports is an amazing organization. Soldiers’ Angels proudly participates in their Face of America bike ride, along with the wounded heroes who ride. Now they’re working on the Sea to Shining Sea Ride. It is so inspiring to see severely-wounded heroes without out there bicycling across the country to raise awareness and money for their fellow warriors. They are proof that where there’s a will, there’s a way. [more*]

Band of Angels

Christina Morales, Angel Giving Her All

To honor both her father and Grandfather who served in the Air Force, Christina Morales of Aurora, Colorado decided to become a member of Soldiers’ Angels in January, 2004. Becoming an Angel is her way of serving her country, keeping the military tradition in her family alive. Christina has great respect for the sacrifices members of America’s Armed Forces make in defending our safety and our way of life, and believes that every service member should receive recognition from the United States for the big and small sacrifices made.

Christina is a member of the Soldiers’ Angels Wounded, Angel Bakers, and Cards Plus teams. She also helps out with the TLC team. And on top of her work with those four teams, Christina still has time to take care of her two adopted soldiers. She writes about 50 letters a week! For Christina, motivation doesn’t come from what she gets back from “her soldiers.” She does love to get responses to her letters and gifts, but just knowing she helped someone is all that matters to her.

Every single day Soldiers’ Angels and Angel volunteers put a steady stream of supplies and support into hands of our heroes, their families, and our wonderful veterans.

This massive undertaking requires massive support and people giving until it hurts. When I see my husband throw himself into supporting the troops despite all his responsibilities, or I watch a wounded warrior with no legs use his hands to bicycle across the country, or read about an Angel who pinches every penny so that she can afford to send a care package to her soldier, I know that we can all do more—we can give more, we can spend more time, we can wear our hearts for our troops on our sleeves more.

If you can donate even $5, please do--it makes a difference! If you are in dire financial straits, tell the people who CAN help that there’s a need, or organize an “item drive” in your community (the link is on www.soldiersangels.org). We all have to give every bit of what we are capable of giving. The wars have fallen off the front pages, but the needs are continuing. Please help! It is Angels like you who make sure “No Soldier Goes Unloved.”

Donate

Wingtip to Wingtip,

Patti Patton-Bader
Soldiers' Angels Founder and CEO

Facebook - Soldiers' Angels (official)
Twitter - @soldiersangels
Monthly Newsletter - www.soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=newsletters

Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 529-5114

Founder's Notes, June 2, 2010

2010-06-02T18:48:00.000-07:00

Dear Angels,

We’re heading into the busy time of the year and there are so many exciting things happening! The best part is that right now there are three big actions you can take they require just a small bit of effort! They’re free, and all the need is a tiny bit of your time…

Vote Pepsi
$50,000 in Troop Support!
With a few seconds a day in June, you can raise $50,000 to help Soldiers’ Angels employ veterans, sponsor music therapy events, and more! Just go to www.refresheverything.com/hireahero and click on “Vote for this Idea.” You can vote once every day, and if Soldiers’ Angels finishes in the top 10 of the competing groups in June, we’ll win $50,000! Please share this with your friends and family! [more*]

Go to Your Dodge Ram Dealer
1,000,000 Letters for Lyrics
If you visit your nearest Dodge Ram dealer and take the time to write a note to the troops, you can receive a free CD of Zac Brown Band and other musical stars! Chrysler, Zac Brown Band and Soldiers’ Angels have teamed up to send 1,000,000 letters of support and appreciation to America’s deployed troops around the world. Come do your part to let our heroes know we love them! [more*]

Download Zac Brown Band
Free Song for Angels and Others
As part of their great work in support of the troops (they just got back from a USO tour!), Zac Brown Band and Ram Trucks will make a donation to Soldiers’ Angels with every download of an exclusive live track from Zac Brown Band on the Letters for Lyrics website. Visit www.ramtrucks.com/en/letters_for_lyrics and scroll down the page!

Here’s your Angel Participation Checklist:

Vote for Soldiers’ Angels
Visit Dodge Ram & Write Your Letter
Download Zac Brown Band

Now, here’s the best part—my special surprise for you! Once you’ve completed your checklist, you can receive a special Angel Participation Gift as a thank you for me for getting out there actively support our heroes and support the Angel mission—it’s my thank you and it’s on your honor. You can choose the Soldiers’ Angels book that tells the story of the beginning of the organization, or a beautiful soldiers’ Angels lapel pin. Just pay shipping and handling…

For the PIN, use coupon code PINPRIZE here: http://www.angelsstore.org/category_s/41.htm

For the BOOK, use coupon code BOOKPRIZE here: http://www.angelsstore.org/product_p/baderbook.htm

Thank you so much for all that each one of you does to support the troops and ensure “No Soldier Go Unloved.” It is your powerful hearts and warm wings of care and concern that show our troops and their families that America remembers them and appreciates them. Let’s get out there and take advantage of these three great things we can do to support the troops without spending a dime!

Wingtip to Wingtip,

Patti Patton-Bader
Soldiers' Angels Founder and CEO

Facebook - Soldiers' Angels (official)
Twitter - @soldiersangels
Monthly Newsletter - www.soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=newsletters

Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 529-5114

Founder's Notes, May 25, 2010

2010-05-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Angels,

Monday will be Memorial Day, a special time to remember and honor the hundreds of thousands of men and women who have laid down their lives for the rest of us. From the earliest Minutemen of the colonies, to the heroes who have fallen in the War on Terror, all have given “the last full measure of devotion” for America. By always remembering them, we honor their service and sacrifice.

Remembering Those Left Behind

Living Legends

For every fallen hero, there are those whose hearts break with loss. The Soldiers’ Angels Living Legends Team wraps its wings around those broken hearts. Through letters, cards and memorial gifts, the Team makes sure the families of our fallen heroes know that their loved ones’ sacrifices are honored and respected. If you think you are up to this very special work, please take a look at the team page and consider joining them. [more*]

Band of Angels

Janet Freniere, Living Legends Team Leader

A retired Air Force Master Sergeant, Janet now manages transporation at the University of Connecticut. She lives in Rhode Island with her two cats, and is a big Red Sox, Patriots, and UConn Football fan. As a veteran, Janet wanted to support today’s troops and, “when I saw the specifications for Living Legends (LL), I knew that was a perfect choice!” She became good friends with the team leader and then took over in 2007. “I feel a great sense of pride in what we do,” she says. She also participates in Soldiers' Angels Ladies of Liberty and is an active member of the Massachusetts Women Veterans’ Speakers Bureau.

Janet says the character of her LL fellow Angels and the knowledge that they are comforting grieving families keep her motivated. “We have a wonderful, caring, compassionate group of Angels on our team,” she writes. “They are the backbone of this team; I just try to keep it all straight.” The best part is the response from the families. “Getting notes from the families we have supported is what keeps me and others going!” After receiving LL support, many gold star families have joined LL to pay it forward, which Janet sees as confirmation that the team has a positive impact.

Memorial Day is always bittersweet for me. I traveled and enjoyed the weekend with my Army Buddies when I was in, so in some ways it takes me back to all the good days. But now it also takes me back to a couple of very bad days that we can never get back. I hope that all of us in America continue to remember the sacrifices that have been made—not a one in vain—and that the little Scarletts and Jocelyns grow up understanding what it means to be lucky enough to call America home.

Please say a prayer this weekend for those whose set foot on the battlefield—both domestically and on foreign soil—and for the families that bid them farewell. Because of their sacrifices, our lives are better!

God Bless our Troops and God Bless the USA.

Wingtip to Wingtip,
Toby Nunn
Soldiers' Angels Operations Manager

Facebook - Soldiers' Angels (official)
Twitter - @soldiersangels
Monthly Newsletter - www.soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=newsletters

Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 529-5114

Founder's Notes, May 18, 2010

2010-05-21T20:08:00.000-07:00

Dear Angels,

Hello from San Antonio! Thank you to Patti for this opportunity to communicate with all of you amazing Angel volunteers.

I have been traveling a lot, and it was so encouraging to see how many Americans were celebrating Armed Forces Day last weekend and who took the time to say thank you to the service members they met. I’ve seen the support Americans show in so many places with this job: whether I’m traveling around the country or working right here in Texas at the warehouse…

Gobs of Girl Scout Cookies

Texas Steps Up

I can tell you from my experience as a deployed Soldier, Girl Scouts cookies are golden. This week the Soldiers’ Angels warehouse in San Antonio received two and a half trailer trucks’ worth of cookies for our deployed troops, all from Texas Girl Scouts. Just imagine if every state could step up like that! If you are connected to Scouts in your area, please encourage them to get involved with sending cookies, care packages or blankets for our deployed heroes. For more info, email groups@soldiersangels.org.

Address Accuracy Always

Make Your Donations Count!

Last November we opened our new warehouse in San Antonio and closed the one in Newbury Park, CA. Unfortunately, some things are still being addressed to Newbury Park, which means we have to spend valuable dollars to get those great gifts for the troops all the way to Texas. You can help avoid this by double and triple-checking your records, keeping your eyes open for the old address on websites and flyers, and spreading the word about the new address: 4408 N PanAm Expwy, San Antonio, TX 78218. Thank you so much! The right address will allow us to spend money where it’s needed: on supporting troops and their families.

Band of Angels

Amy Morgan, Angel to Soldiers

Amy Morgan wanted to be a soldier and was devastated when a heart condition prevented that. She joined SA in December 2007, after searching online for a way to help the troops. “I figured if I couldn’t be a soldier, I could be an Angel to one,” she says. She threw herself into the role, joining the Living legends, ePal and Chaplain Support teams, as well as adopting four soldiers and being an LWT leader. She’s also “Toby Nunn’s helper,” assisting him with addressing the special needs of struggling soldiers, and is working on an SA Wikipedia page.

A 25-year-old married mother of two, Amy lives in a small North Carolina town with dial-up Internet and calls herself a “full-blooded country girl.” She is inspired in her Angel role by her grandfather’s service in WWII (he was captured on Omaha Beach and held as a POW for two years), seeing how it affected him and his family. “There’s so many people who don’t realize what soldiers have to go through each day, and what the families have to go through,” she explains. She is also motivated by how being an Angel has helped her personally. As someone who suffers from PTSD, she focuses on her Angel activities when she’s feeling bad, and then sees the proof that she can make someone’s world a better place.

Being part of something greater than oneself is the greatest blessing. To be able to stand next to folks that one respects and admires and to be counted as part of them is the greatest compliment of all. Leading this mission and the countless unsung heroes I know as “Angels” enriches my life every day. I hope to get to know all of you better as I support you in your Angel endeavors. On behalf of all the great folks in San Antonio and Pasadena, thank you for making Soldiers’ Angels a wonderful example of military support.

Wingtip to Wingtip,

Toby Nunn
Soldiers' Angels Operations Manager

Facebook - Soldiers' Angels (official)
Twitter - @soldiersangels
Monthly Newsletter - www.soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=newsletters

Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 529-5114

Founder's Notes, May 11, 2010

2010-05-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Angels,

This week I have two very important but easy things I need your help with. You can have a big impact on our heroes and their families, and it won’t cost a thing! In fact, you can even get something free--besides all the usual great things that can happen when you are a volunteer supporting our heroes...

Letters for Lyrics

A Million Notes for Our Heroes

Soldiers’ Angels has teamed up with Zac Brown Band and Chrysler LLC to send one million letters to the troops! If you visit your local Dodge Ram Truck dealer, you can send your letter to the troops and get a free music CD while supplies last. You can also download a free Zac Brown song at www.ramtrucks.com/en/letters_for_lyrics. Please take the time to send a letter, and spread the word! [more*]

Teri Willis, Super Angel

Teri is not only an Angel, she’s a Marine Mom! When her son enlisted in the Marine Corps, Teri was invited to join Soldiers’ Angels and adopted her first hero. She soon learned she could have up to three adoptees at once, so she did just that. “It is like my second job, which consumes more time then my first job,” Teri says. She’s so active in Soldiers’ Angels that she has lost count of how many soldiers she has adopted over the years.

One of Teri’s best experiences was being able to adopt an entire platoon when the platoon’s SFC said 45 men who were in dire need of supplies. It tugged her heart, and Teri got busy and led her fellow Angels in sending packages and arranging for each platoon member to receive a letter on the same day during mail call. Teri believes that she has divine support in her work, saying she’s not rich, but never seems to run out of money despite all she spends on supporting the troops. “His love for our brave troops keeps me sufficiently able to continue to support in abundance,” she says. “I am honored and privileged to share whatever I can for our troops.”

I will be taking a break for a couple weeks and handing over Founder’s Notes to Toby Nunn, our Operations Manger. He’s a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, and I know he’ll have some great things to say.

My thoughts and prayers as always are with our young sons and daughters fighting to keep us free, and the families who keep the homefires warm. Wingtip-to-wingtip we can make a difference. May God bless our troops.

Wingtip to Wingtip,

Patti Patton-Bader
Soldiers' Angels Founder and CEO

Facebook - Soldiers' Angels (official)
Twitter - @soldiersangels
Monthly Newsletter - www.soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=newsletters

Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 529-5114

Founder's Notes, May 5, 2010

2010-05-05T21:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Angels,

Today your help is desperately needed…

As the troop buildup in Afghanistan continues, facilities and supplies are stretched—many of our troops are living in the most basic and uncomfortable conditions. As part of the counter-insurgency strategy, they are also leaving big bases and going into primitive areas where they can’t easily buy hygiene supplies or even get hot food. Just today a soldier sent us this:

I’m writing on behalf of 10 soldiers attached to my unit. At this moment their living areas are deplorable: one hot meal every other week, sleeping on floors, no internet access, etc…My chaplain will make a trip to that place in one month…. [They] need personal hygiene stuff—like toilet paper, baby wipes, deodorant, soap, etc. This is the only way they can receive help.”

At the Combat Support Hospitals in-country and the hospitals in Germany and stateside, Angel representatives are constantly requesting more supplies. Roger Godskesen of Tactical Medical Support says he is having trouble keeping up with the demand for backpacks for the wounded, and MaryAnn in Germany describes how busy things are at Landstuhl:

As you read this, patients are being airlifted to Landstuhl hospital in Germany from Iraq and Afghanistan. Highly skilled medical staff tend to them during flight. Preparations are being made for their arrival at Landstuhl. Nursing and surgical staff are called in.

As you read this, a patient regains consciousness for the first time since being hurt and asks about his buddies. Sometimes he must be told they didn't make it.

As you read this, other patients are being prepared for departure to US medical facilities, where they will begin their recovery. Up to 700 patients are medevaced to Germany each month, making Landstuhl the busiest trauma hospital in the world.

As you read this, our troops are fighting so that you don't have to. They want you to go on with your lives - that's why they do it. But we do have an obligation to let them know we appreciate all they do for us. Please help Soldiers' Angels show our nation's heroes that no Soldier, Airman, Marine, or Sailor will ever go unloved.

As summer comes to Iraq and Afghanistan, the demand for “cool ties,” sand scarves, powdered drinks, sunscreen and lip balm is high, and thousands of pounds of coffee are still requested to help our heroes stay alert; On the homefront, Operation Top Knot baby kits for infants with deployed fathers are flying off the shelves, and we have shipped hundreds and hundreds of vet packs, phonecards and sets of clothing for patients in the last three months alone.

The postage to continue this pace is staggering! We need your help! Every donation of any size helps speed one more package for a hero out the door to service members America remembers and supports them, allows us to stand with one more expectant military mother facing motherhood alone, and helps provide one more backpack to a wounded hero.

If you think you can’t do much to help, consider Tess, a 5th grader who led her school in collecting items for wounded backpacks. It’s amazing what one little person can do!

Please do what you can—donate $5, $10, $25, $50… $100 or even $500. Give what you can, team up with friends/coworkers on a project to gather supplies or challenge each other to see who can inspire the most donations. The only limit is your imagination! See www.soldiersangels.org/groups.html for ideas.

Our troops need us—both for the comfort of a few things to make life in the war zone easier and for the comfort that comes from knowing we have their backs.

Please join me wingtip-to-wingtip in showing them how much we care. Every bit matters and every bit counts. As MaryAnn wrote, they are facing so much for us and we must make sure they know we appreciate them. Please help.

(If the buttons don't work for you, please visit www.soldiersangels.org/donate.html
or mail to Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104)

Thank you for standing with me!

Wingtip to Wingtip,

Patti Patton-Bader
Soldiers' Angels Founder and CEO

Facebook - Soldiers' Angels (official)
Twitter - @soldiersangels
Monthly Newsletter - www.soldiersangels.org/index.php?page=newsletters

Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104 (626) 529-5114

Team Spotlight

2006-09-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

Soldiers' Angels "Letter Writing Team"

Who we are and What we do

The SA "Letter Writing Team" (LWT) is made up of registered Soldiers' Angels who enjoy writing to our deployed heroes and know how important it is to hear your name called at "mail call" (sadly some soldiers get no mail at all from back home).

An "Angel" can sign up for as many days in a week as they want. On each day that an "Angel" designates during the week, his/her "official" LWT "Team Leader" will send via email, a new name/address to write to. The LWT "writer" is only requested to send one card or letter to each name/address they receive, but of course may send more if they chose.

We are here solely to let our deployed heroes know that there are people back home that care about them and their families, plus appreciate the sacrifices that they and their families during this time. We also ask the writers not to include anything that could be deemed disrespectful by the soldier or could possibly make him/her feel uncomfortable.

An individual (either currently a registered member of SA or not currently a member of SA) can join the SA "LWT" who is 18 or over, has computer/internet access, and wishes to write letters of encouragement and support to our deployed heroes. They can learn more about the LWT and sign up by going to the following link and filling out a short form via going to the following link:

http://soldiersangelsforum.com/index.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=6

August, 2006 Stats

LWT co-Leaders: Sara Ehrlich and Linda Dominik

# of LWT co-Leaders: 23

# of LWT "writers active as of 8/31/06: 906

# of letters/names sent during August 2006: 11,284

SA Forums Newsletter: Coming Soon

2006-08-21T13:49:00.000-07:00

(Here is a copy of the email that went out to all forum members who are subscribed to the newsletter we will also be archiving them here for those who arent members of the forums and still want to view the newsletters)

Soldiers Angels Forums Newsletter: www.soldiersangelsforum.com

We will be starting a SA Forum Newsletter soon. if you do not want to receive newsletters or announcement emails from the forums login to your account and uncheck the newsletter box you can also email me and I can fix it for you. also please make sure your email address is accurate in your profile I am getting alot of bounce notices and after a few bounces the forum automatic deletes the account. If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to email me. Thank You

- Soldiers Angels Forums Staff
forumadmin@soldiersangels.org

From the Director's Desk

2006-03-14T16:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

As many of you know, our boards came under attack from a malicious hacker over the weekend. That is twice now a very nasty individual came in, deleted lots of boards and posts, changed text, changed my name and really made a mess of the boards. We are convinced that this is not a member of Soldiers’ Angels but rather a nasty person with malicious intent. Therefore it is with a sad heart I must inform you that the MSN boards will be deleted very soon. Within the next couple of days, we will be permanently removing all MSN board files from the board.

We have a wonderful online community located at http://soldiersangelsforum.com/. I would like to welcome all of you to the Forums. If you have not been there in a while, please come check it out. Dave and Holly have been working overtime to make it the wonderful place that it is. I think you will be impressed with all that they have accomplished. One of the biggest improvements is that it is now a SA members only Forum. There is one boards opened to the general public, but the rest of it is closed to SA Members only. You will need to join if you have not yet done so.

Please take a few moments and transfer any pictures or other items that are on the MSN boards right now over to the Forums. Once they are deleted on the MSN boards, they are gone forever.

I know that this will come as a shock and many of you will be dismayed. We have discussed moving from the boards to the forums or visa versa for quite some time. Some of you have indicated that you prefer the MSN setup. But we have reached the point where we simply cannot trust the security of MSN. Many of you were around when our original boards were completely deleted. No one knew how it could have happened and speculation ran rampant. But now we are under attack once again and it is clear this time that it is not an internal attack. It is from someone outside who simply does not want to see us achieve our mission.

So with that, I would like to thank all of you who made the MSN boards what they were. This was a real home for us for so long and it will be missed. But just like anything knew, we will get used to the forums and they will grow on us. Please give it a chance and come visit us there. If there is something on the new Forums that you would like that used to exist on the MSN boards, let me know and I will bring it to Dave and Holly to get it established. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to let me know. You know you can always reach me at dmackay@soldiersangels.org or mackay.donaldw@gmail.com.

Thank you all for everything you do. I am proud and honored to count myself an angel working with you to support our brave soldiers. Keep up the great work!

Don MacKay
Executive Director and C.O.O.
dmackay@soldiersangels.org

Team Updates

2006-03-10T17:54:00.000-08:00

THE E –SQUAD

The E-Squad Team is a commitment to email the assigned hero(s) until they rotate home. You are not required to send cards, letters, or care packages. But to send an email or two a week to your assigned hero. No forwards, spams, or inappropriate emails. Just write to them as you would a name you received from a penpal club or a friend that has moved far away. Please check in with your assigned hero to see if they have heard from their adopted angel (they are automatically sent to the Adoptions Team) and if they have not, please contact the team. Sending a care package is certainly okay but it’s not required.

There are times we won't hear from them because of missions, extra duties, R&R, communication black-outs, or the lines to the MWR are just too long to wait around for the 30 minutes of Internet they get. Some have to wait in lines up to or more than 3 hours. If you can't think of anything to say you can always send jokes, pics from around your hometown, or maybe something funny that happened that week. Sometimes they don't have time to email us, but it doesn't mean they don't appreciate our emails. If you are interested in joining the E-Squad, please email Mel at Soldiers.Angels.E.Squad at gmail.com.

CARDS + TEAM

For more information about the Cards Plus Team visit the following link:
http://soldiersangelsforum.com/index.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=13

Anyone who is a member of SA can submit a request to the Cards plus team at the following link:
http://soldiersangelsforum.com/index.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=15

For any member of Soldiers Angels who would like to join the Cards Plus team will need to do so at the following link:
http://soldiersangelsforum.com/index.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=14

LETTER WRITING TEAM

The Soldiers' Angels Letter Writing Team (LWT) is comprised of Soldiers' Angels who enjoy writing to our heroes and know how important it is for them to hear their name at mail call. Soldiers who have submitted themselves and or been submitted through the SA website are distributed via the LWT Team Leaders on a nightly basis. Though each Soldier is assigned to an Angel (known as his/her "Official" Angel), the LWT provides additional support with extra cards and letters. The LWT writer is only requested to send each soldier that they receive one card/letter and are not required to send a care package unless they chose to do so.

The year of 2005 was a very busy one by the LWT with 105,643 letters going to our deployed heroes. Though we had turn overs with new LWT "Team Leaders" and some of the LWT Team Leaders needing to step down, our mission of ensuring smiles on the faces of our deployeed heroes at mail call was never forgotten.

The dedication of this great team of LWT Team Leaders and writers did not diminish in January, 2006 with 12,781 letters sent via 29 LWT Team Leaders and 959 LWT writers. 155 new writer signups for January 2006 allowed us to continue to get letters/cards of encouragement and support to our deployed heroes.

On January 10, 2006 thanks to an outstanding job by Holly Aho, the LWT implemented a new process for currently registered Angels to join the LWT and individuals with computer access that want to join Soldiers' Angels but are not able to adopt a soldier initially. They can now go the specific link shown below, find out all about who the LWT is and how to join the LWT. The link is
http://soldiersangelsforum.com/index.php?name=Sections&op=viewarticle&artid=6

A great big "WELCOME" and "THANK YOU" to our new LWT Team Leaders who have joined the LWT since the beginning of the new year: Jeni Blaschko, Stephanie Reed, Joelle Teague, Rae Ellingson, and Angie Panetta. Welcome aboard and we appreciate all you do. The role of being a LWT Team Leader can be a big responsibility just having to do what you do every day, 7 days a week.

Many thanks to the LWT Team Leaders and LWT writers who needed to step back from writing at this time for their dedication in supporting our troops by putting smiles on these heroes faces at mail call. You will be missed and hope that some day you will be able to join us again.

We are always looking for more writers to ensure that no soldier is unloved and/or forgotten. The number of letters sent in a month does not include the many care packages that the LWT writers send on their own to the soldiers that they write to.

General questions about the LWT can be directed to Linda D at lindomlwt at gmail.com or Sara at sje2555 at yahoo.com.

BLANKETS OF HOPE TEAM

This team is responsible to sending blankets to our wounded soldiers. To date the team has created over 5,000 blankets. In 2005, over 3800 blankets were made, with over 1,000 requests for information. We are now putting blankets into 300 backpacks per month, which are packed at Minimus by Joan. The Blankets of Hope Team has made it into the Army museum! Blankets are being made by all ages from young children to seniors in their 90's, family members of active duty and deployed servicemen, mothers wanting to teach daughters how to sew, grandaughters sewing in honor of the grandmother that taught them, teachers doing class projects to honor our wounded, seniors living in residential facilities who can't use their hands to crochet or knit, but can still tie knots for the fleece...everything from simple blankets to beautifully crafted quilts, no-sew fleece, crocheted and knitted.

DEPLOYED FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP

For those who don\'t know yet, Soldiers' Angels has formed a new group called Deployed Family Support Group. Listed below is a copy of the Mission Statement which helps explain what this project is about. If you are interested in finding out more, after you read the mission statement please feel free to contact Renee at threejarr at yahoo.com.

Mission Statement: Deployment is not only difficult on the soldiers, it is incredibly difficult on the soldier's families. It affects the whole family and friends of the family as well. Although many families have great support systems in place, there are too many families who are not as fortunate. We have identified a need to provide a network of assistance to those who do not know where to turn or who to turn to.

Soldiers' Angels has created a project called Deployed Family Support Group. This team will provide TLC to all family members (i.e., wives, husbands, and/or friends) in need of encouragement and support. This support will be provided primarily through e-Mail and electronic communications. Taking care of family members who have been left behind by their deployed loved one is just one small way Soldiers' Angels demonstrates our gratitude for the sacrifices families are making, not only for us, but for future generations as well.

If you know a family member that you feel might benefit from the support of an Angel from the Deployed Family Support Group, please submit their name(s) to Renee Jurgensen at familysupport at soldiersangels.org.

LIVING LEGENDS TEAM

The Living Legends team is made up of some very special Angels who send cards and letters to the families of our fallen heroes. This team was started May 2005 and have been growing in members. This is the most difficult and emotional team to be on.

We compare the DOD list to our data base several times a day to see if we have a match for a fallen soldier. If there is a match, the Angel(s) involved are contacted by telephone about their soldiers by a member of our team. If they cannot be reached by telephone in a reasonable amount of time, we will email them with this information. After the Angel(s) are contacted we will then post the family's information on the Living Legends Forum so that everyone can send cards and letters to the family. We wait a respectable amount of time to call the families to offer them a living tree from Soldiers' Angels. We also have a dried flower (wreath) arrangement for those families that cannot plant trees. The families are allowed to pick any type of tree they would like, with a $140.00 cap on the price. The wreaths are usually $50.00 to $60.00 each. We have sent over 80 trees and 5 wreaths so far. We have sent cards to so many more families. (Cards are also sent on the anniversary of a hero's death.)

If you would like to donate money for a tree or wreath, please send a donation to Soldiers' Angels at 1792 East Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104. Please put Living Legends in the memo part. Please visit our blog at www.livinglegendteam.blogspot.com

TLC TEAM

The purpose for the TLC Team is to provide additional and much-needed support to our heroes facing desperate circumstances (i.e., those who are wounded, distressed, or without family support or letters of encouragement). Team members are always on "alert", ready, willing and able to come through for our heroes.

The TLC Team consists of a number of dedicated Angels and works closely with our founder, Patti Bader, administrators, state managers and many other Angels, as well as outside sources, to see to the needs of those with special circumstances. When the team leader (Angel Eileen) is apprised of a "TLC" situation or learns of a particular situation through our daily reports, she will either place a post on the forum under "TLC Requests" or contact a team member with the necessary information, who will then write a post.

If you have a request for TLC or for more information on the team, please contact:
Eileen at einch1 at hotmail.com.

Angels at Work

2006-03-09T19:19:00.000-08:00

PATTI PATTON-BADER RECEIVES U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY'S CIVILIAN AWARD FOR HUMANITARIAN SERVICE

Soldiers' Angels very own Patti Patton-Bader was presented with the United States Department of the Army's Civilian Award for Humanitarian Service by Lt. Col. James Riley (Ret) on January 14, 2006 in Pasadena, California. Patti graciously accepted the award, which was signed by Lt. Gen. Kevin Kiley, on behalf of every Soldiers' Angel.

"For exceptional dedication and selfless service leading to the creation of the Soldiers Angels Foundation which has immeasurable enriched the lives of countless thousands of service members and their families.

Mrs. Patton-Bader's talent and marketing skills provided them a myriad of services and unending support at this critical time in our nation's fight to end global terrorism.

Her selfless service, abundant generosity and tireless care reflect great credit on her, the American Soldier and the United States of America."

Patti, as always, we are proud to be working alongside you in support of our brave men and women. Thank you for making each and every one of us so proud to be an Angel!

AN ORAL HISTORY FROM THE MEMBERS OF SOLDIERS’ ANGELS

If you have seen the posts about the upcoming Soldiers’ Angels Book and have wondered what it is about, then keep reading! An interview with Patti Patton-Bader, founder of Soldiers’ Angels has provided us with those answers.

The format of the book is an oral history as told by inserts from members of this organization who are dedicated to the support of our troops and their families. More than just stories, the book is to be filled with photographs from the members as well. Photos of the members, their heroes, fundraisers, anything special or meaningful to the member is welcome for submission to the book. The publishing committee will review the stories and photos that are submitted and decide which will actually be placed in the book.

What should your story be about? Your story should be anything about Soldiers’ Angels that has moved your heart. It could be why you joined, experience(s) with your adopted heroes, the personal rewards you have received, anything that stands out from your union with this organization.

The appearance of the published book is to be reminiscent of the big Life Magazines, with wonderful pictures and stories that would be perfect to keep on a coffee table for all to see. It will also be a most special heirloom to pass down through the family, a record of caring Americans and a personal treasure for all members of Soldiers’ Angels.

Do not be left out! If you wish to have your story and photos considered for entry in the Soldiers’ Angels Book, you must mail your information no later than March 15th by regular mail, no emails, please. All photos must be clear and well printed. Poor quality photos such as those that are fuzzy or too dark, etc., cannot be used. The story and photos that you send will not be returned, but they will be put in the Soldiers’ Angels museum.

The book is scheduled to have the first draft of the printed version prepared by June 31st, with the actual publishing date and price of the book to be determined. Where to order or purchase the book is also to be determined and will be announced at a later date.

If you have not sent in your story and photos, then do it as soon as possible and before March 15th! Send them to:

Soldiers’ Angels
1792 E Washington Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91104

SOLDIERS’ ANGELS HELP TO BREAK WORLD RECORD

On January 8, Soldiers’ Angels (in collaboration with Library of Life, an organization that offers the public a way to celebrate life and share memories online) announced a Guinness Book of Records attempt, called Operation: Love Our Troops. The aim was to create the largest digital Valentine’s Day card ever and send the messages to our deployed military. The original goal was a modest 5,000 posted messages of love and support. Thanks to The Bohle Company, a top public relations company based in Los Angeles retained by the Library of Life to promote the campaign, word quickly spread of this initiative—and our original goal was passed many times over. By the end of January alone, http://www.operativeloveourtroops.org/ had received over 7,000 messages from grateful Americans—and those all over the world. By Valentine’s Day, the goal had easily been surpassed—and, as of press time, this site was still accepting new messages of support for our troops. (The latest count was almost 21,000.) Way to go, Angels!

MONETARY DONATIONS NEEDED

Patti recently shared some of the many requests pouring in from our brave heroes. As you can see, it takes a LOT of money to be able to help supply them with everything they need. Here are just a few examples:

- Pillows: $605 (for the pillows plus shipping).
- High Power Scope: two of five marksmen in group were not issued scopes. Cost: $1,249.50 plus shipping.
- Underarmor T-Shirts: 150 requested at $24 each less 10% discount. Total: $3,240.00.
- Tactical Flashlights: $8,600.00 for top quality models for either pistol or rifle.
- Kevlar Blankets: $9350.00 for just 10 blankets.

As you can see, Angels, the need is great (and sometimes daunting) but together, we can help these heroes! Please send donations to:

Soldiers’ Angels
1150 N. Loop 1604 W., Suite 108-493
San Antonio, TX 78248

And remember: every little bit helps!

NEW CONTEST ANNOUNCED FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY

A care package will be sent to your adopted soldier in your name if you contact your local recruiter in March and provide St Patrick’s Day treats (cupcakes, brownies, cookies, etc). After your visit, email Patti with your soldier’s contact information, and that soldier will receive a $20.00 gift certificate to http://minimus.biz/ .

Secondly, any Angel who locates and contacts their local VA and establishes a team to go in and help our wounded will receive the Golden Wings Prize, consisting of the following:

1 Soldiers Angels Golden Certificate
2 Gold Pins
2 Gold Coins
2 Tshirts (Black)
2 Tshirts (White)
2 Car Magnets
1 Works package for the hero of their choice

Thank you, as always, for the wonderful work that you do on a daily basis!

OVERSEAS COUPON PROGRAM

Are you looking for another way to support our troops and their families? Consider helping the Overseas Coupon Program (OCP). This program serves military families by providing them with manufacturer's coupons. These coupons are sent to overseas military bases, where they are placed on tables, at the PX and Commissary, or handed out for use by military members and families on base. This helps the family save valuable dollars and stretch their budget. Remember: the average Sunday newspaper contains approximately $125 worth of coupons!

For more information, please visit http://www.ocpnet.org./

Willie's Corner

2006-03-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Angels and Friends,

Your boxes are arrived! Thank you very much for all your support over the last year!

We are so proud of you! Without your donations and sponsorship, we could not take so much backpacks to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center or microwave food to the Kleber Barracks.

In 2005 we brought 796 backpacks and 239 bags (with personal items, candies and clothes) to the wounded soldiers at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, to the Fisher House, to the Marines, to the National Guard and to the Ramstein Inn (DWMMC).

We brought a lot of microwave food to the coffee bar at the Kleber Barracks in Kaiserslautern , over 100 pairs of shoes to the Chaplains Office Landstuhl, over 750 Christmas Stockings to Kleber and Landstuhl and more.

If you like to read more about our visits in Landstuhl this year look at Soldiers Angels Germany:
http://www.sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40&cat=232

And about our visits at the Kleber Barracks look here:
http://www.sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40&cat=234

So instead we'll just wish you and your family a great new 2006 and a Happy New Year.

God Bless you and your family!

Willie
Wilhelmine Aufmkolk
International President, Soldiers' Angels

Our German Angels also report: “We prepared 3 boxes of candy and cards for the outpatient barracks at Ramstein Inn and Fisher House….and eight folders with hundreds of Valentine's Day Greetings From Home were collected from Angels and placed at Kleber outpatient barracks, Ramstein Inn outpatient barracks, Fisher House, and the wards at Landstuhl Hospital. Each folder had 254 Valentine messages!”

Soldiers’ Angels also helped to get over 100 Get Well and support messages to the 3 Canadian troops who were severely injured in Afghanistan and who were treated at Landstuhl, by working together with our contacts at Landstuhl and a Canadian blogger. You can see the story (and the messages) at http://wakinguponplanetx.blogspot.com/2006/01/our-injured-soldiers.html.

Willie received a wonderful thank you from a wounded sailor for the collections of Christmas greetings from home that were placed in the hospital and outpatient barracks. Please visit http://sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40&title=a_thank_you_from_a_wounded_sailer&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 for this message of appreciation and gratitude.
Read about our German Angels’ Christmas visit to Landstuhl (http://sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40&title=christmas_at_landstuhl_hospital&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1)

The ladies share a recap of their January 19 visit to Landstuhl here (http://www.brandonblog.homestead.com/files/2005_01_23_archive.html)

And, always, our German friends always welcome donations to help them carry on their mission of supporting the patients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, which includes the outpatient barracks at Kleber. Here is a list of their current needs:

For the Kleber outpatient barracks we are currently requesting donations of:
- Shower Gel
- Toothbrushes & Toothpaste
- Mouthwash
- Deoderant
- FlipFlops to wear while showering (large sizes)
- Knit or fleece caps- Small stuffed animals
- Microwaveable meals, snacks, fruit cups (soldiers often arrive at Kleber from Iraq or Afghanistan in the evenings after regular meal hours)

Please send items to:
21st TSC, Medical Transient Detachment
ATTN: Soldiers’ Angels
UNIT 23203
APO AE 09263

Important:
- Please notify them when items are shipped at maryann.phillips at gmail.com .
- Include a card with your name, Email address, and short description of items sent in your packages. Without this information, they will be unable to confirm their receipt.

All donations are delivered directly through Willie or MaryAnn to Landstuhl hospital and Kleber Barracks.

On the Frontline

2006-02-22T18:14:00.000-08:00

While we Angels don't expect to hear from the wonderful military men and women we support, it's always nice to be surprised by a free mail or an email. Here are a few to remind us all of how much we are appreciated.

Thank you for always writing. Sorry that I don’t always have the time to write back. I really can’t thank you enough for all the letters that you have sent and the support as well. People don’t realize how much we want to come home. Every day here seems to last forever.

Your constant letters are so appreciated. Our Christmas Eve party was disrupted by an aggressive battery of mortars. We were convinced that we would look back some day and tell stories about a Christmas in body armor, playing Trivial Pursuit and emptying caches of junk food.

It is truly amazing to see all the support from our fellow Americans, many that don’t even know someone in the military. Thank you for the glimpse into your life back there.

It’s nice having an Angel in my life and now you have a soldier in yours. Now that’s cool! I’m blessed by you and you’re protected by me. I believe every human should be free and that is what keeps me strong in all I do. To know you will always be safe because we are here makes it worth all we do.

It’s not so bad here some days, but there are days when I just miss home. I just can’t wait to return.

I’m sure it’s beautiful there this time of year. I can’t say that about this place. There is nothing but sand and dust. I am a nurse/combat medic. I work in a troop medical clinic. I laugh when I see anything that says “sterile.”

People like you make our stay over here better. I just want you to know that we soldiers appreciate you, too!

Cause of the Month

2006-02-22T17:16:00.000-08:00

Hand/foot warmers for wounded soldiers

Landstuhl ICU, Germany cares for a large number of critically wounded soldiers before sending them back to the US. Patients’ extremities need covers for the flights back because of the cold. Several Angels, especially Sharon, Cynthia, Sara and MaryAnn, have worked hard to create patterns and instructions for sewing, knitting or crocheting the hand and foot coverings. To date, more than 60 individuals and groups, many of them not Angels, have made coverings for the critical patients.

Fleece mittens/boots are the best. They cover dressings and splints effectively. Make everything oversized so they can fit over big hands, casts, bandages and arterial lines. Knit caps are also useful. Make knitted/crocheted hand coverings 6” wide and 15” long and fleece ones 7” wide and 12” long. Knitted/crocheted foot coverings should be 8” wide and 18” long with fleece ones measuring 16” long, 6” wide and 12” tall (measurements are approximate).

If you or your organization would like to sew or knit these coverings for our wounded heroes, they can be shipped to:

21st TSC, Medical Transient Detachment
ATTN: Soldiers’ Angels
UNIT 23203
APO AE 09263

PLEASE email MaryAnn at maryann.phillips at gmail.com when items are shipped. Include a note with your name, email address and a short description of items sent in your package. Without this information, they cannot confirm the receipt of packages. You may wish to enclose a card or letter for the ICU staff. They have an incredibly tough job which they carry out with professionalism, dedication, and compassion.

For paper patterns for boots, please email Sharon at sharonbailiff at yahoo.com. You can also email MaryAnn or Sharon for more detailed information on making hand and foot coverings.

Angel Spotlight

2006-02-22T16:51:00.000-08:00

Spotlight on...
Holly Aho (art-epiphany)

One night angel Holly Aho didn’t feel like making dinner. Instead, she headed off to Subway and on her way home caught the very end of a radio program. All she heard, really, was that a soldier who had been wounded in Iraq was recovering at a VA hospital and would appreciate visitors. Holly needed to know more. She found the website and realized that she felt compelled to visit this young soldier. “I’m usually not really compelled to do anything this out of the ordinary,” Holly says. “I decided that there is no such thing as coincidence, and God often motivates us by giving us a strong desire to do something, even if it seems to have no context at the time.”

If it was no coincidence that Holly had heard about this soldier on the radio, it was also no coincidence that her husband spontaneously arrived home early from work the next day. He watched their four children while Holly headed nervously to the hospital. Two hours later she arrived in a room filled with family. They welcomed her warmly, mentioning how nice it was that Kyle got so many visitors while other soldiers who were far from friends and family received none. Touched by the thought of lonely soldiers recovering without support, Holly went home to research organizations that provide such support.

Instead, she found organizations that provide letters and care packages. “I decided to do that, while continuing my search to find a way to visit these injured soldiers.” Holly purchased pretty paper, but decided that it wasn’t enough. An artist, she decided to make her soldiers feel loved and cared for with original miniature paintings enclosed in each letter. She worried that they would be considered too feminine, but a friend and former Marine assured her that they would be well-received.

Holly creates more than works of art. She has an award-winning blog that, in December, was voted best milblog (military blog, focused primarily on military issues) of the year, written by a civilian. Blogging, for Holly, began as a way to share thoughts, jokes and ideas with her soldiers in between letters. “I wanted to do it right,” she says, “so I decided to learn as much as I could about the subject.” Other bloggers found her and interest grew.

Holly has recently received an invitation to go to Washington, D.C. as one of five selected milbloggers to cover the 2005 Milblog Conference in April. Guests including Oliver North and Michael Yon will join discussions about milblogging and its importance in the lives of soldiers, military families and the general public. This is the chance of a lifetime and Holly thanks Patti Bader for providing the airline ticket to make the trip possible. Holly’s blog can be viewed at: http://sablogs.com/

Art, blogging…and books. Holly has written two books. One, called From Here to There, is a collection of true short stories focusing on the reality of supporting our troops. The other, Bump in the Night, is a story about children overcoming a fear of the dark. Holly created both the text and illustrations for the children’s book. Both are available at http://lulu.com/hollyaho.

Soldiers’ Angels benefits from Holly’s web experience. She is the webmaster for the Project Valour-IT website, the webmaster of the SA blogs and the webmaster at the SA forums. It is work she loves, done for the organization she loves. Art, whether it is in the form of blogging, painting or writing, is, Holly says, “the heart and soul of me.” Her life revolves around her strong love for creativity and her joy in sharing that love with others. “All of it is fueled by my passion for my children and family, for supporting our troops, for my fellow angels. Without that passion I think most of what I do would hold little interest for me. And even if I were never paid for any of it, I wouldn’t stop.”

Angel to Angel

2006-02-22T16:50:00.000-08:00

Carrie, a fellow Angel and a junior at the College of William and Mary in Virginia, has requested our help in a college project.

Angels, I need your help for an independent study for my American Studies major. It is called America’s Voice and is on the troops’ views on the war. I am trying to get at least one person from each state to give an anecdote about something that happened while deployed. I am not looking for accounts of battles/attacks, but rather human interest stories. For example, I have heard of units who collect school supplies for children, hand out teddy bears or help provide medical care for local people. They can also be more minor, such as “adopting” a scorpion as a pet or decorating a Christmas tree with medical supplies. I am trying to find the stories the media does not always tell. Preferably these stories would be positive, but it is not necessary. What made the deployment worthwhile? Or, conversely, what made it miserable? My study would end with the creation of a final project in the form of something like a website or scrapbook, which means I also need as many pictures as possible.

Please help me collect stories. If you know a soldier who would be willing to tell a story, please give him/her my email address or send the story to me. These do not need to be long—a few sentences up to about a page. Photos, either of the soldier(s) or of the story specifically would also be appreciated. If you already have a story that your soldier has sent you, I can also use those. However, please remember that you need to get permission from the soldier before giving me any stories. By sending me a story, your soldier gives me permission to use it in my project along with his/her rank and initials (such as SGT J.P.)

I need all stories by early April, since my semester ends first week of May and I need time to put together the final project.

Please include:

- Location of deployment

- Where based when in the US (state and location name)

- Home State (either where hero is originally from or current location if considered home)

- Rank

If you know anyone else who would be interested in submitting a story, feel free to give them my email address.

Thanks!

Carrie
gobobgo at gmail.com

The Angel Store

2006-02-22T15:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks to...

2006-02-22T14:54:00.000-08:00

We all get by with a little help from our friends. Big and small, these companies have made our job easier.

Anheuser-Busch has extended its Here’s to the Heroes salute through 2006. Go to www.herosalute.com/ for details and registration. The service member and up to three direct dependents will receive free single day admission to SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Sesame Place, Adventure Island or Water Country USA. Thanks, Anheuser-Busch!

An employee of Citigroup in New York placed an order with House of Jerky and noticed the Soldiers’ Angels link. The company has now sent jerky to SA soldiers and has made a donation to our organization. Way to go, Citigroup!

Contact Us!

2006-02-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

This newsletter is written, edited, designed, and published by a team of Soldiers' Angels who are very proud and happy to be able to work with this great organization and support our amazing military servicemembers!

Editor: Jennifer (saeditjen)
Writer: Carrie (GoBob07)
Writer: Judi (ProudFlagwaver)
Writer: Karen (SoldiersKareBear)
Writer: Kim (kjkimbo1)
Writer: Lori (LorLor61)
Writer: Margaret (Altadena Sally)
Writer: Pam (southerngirlpls)
Writer: Stephanie (angelidea)

Please give us your feedback! We invite you all to be a part of this newsletter by acting as our eyes and ears. Please let us know if there's a story you think should be included in a future issue or if you really like (or aren't too thrilled with) something we did in this issue. As we move ahead with future editions, we'll need your input to continue making this newsletter the best that it can be.

Please contact Jennifer at editjen at gmail.com with all comments and suggestions.

As always, it's an honor to work with you all.

From the Director's Desk

2005-12-08T10:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends:

It has been an exciting year at Soldiers’ Angels. All of the efforts of our friends, family and supporters have resulted in the word about our mission being spread all over the world. We have met some wonderful people and have had the privilege of working with them to further our vital mission. Every day we are making sure that the brave men and women who are currently deployed in support of the war on terror in Iraq, Afghanistan or wherever we raise the flag of the United States of America know that we support them and honor them for their service and sacrifice.

I wanted to take this moment to give you an update of what we have been able to accomplish this year, none of which would have been possible without you. We are proud to report that:
 Over 100,000 care packages were sent to our heroes so far in 2005
 Project Valour-IT will be able to provide laptops with voice recognition software to 1,000 brave heroes who have lost the use of their hand, arm or who have had an amputation
 Blankets of Hope have provided thousands of blankets to our wounded, offering comfort to those who have given so much.
 Family assistance has been provided to over 50 families including assistance with rent, food and other necessities
 Flights have been provided for over 100 families to be with their wounded hero upon return to the states from Germany
 Letter Writing Teams have sent out over 10,000 letters per month this year
 Operation Katrina helped match our brave soldiers returning from the Gulf with families who had been displaced by the storm. Assistance was also provided in helping families relocate, find housing and replace personal items
 Soldiers for Kids has shipped hundreds of boxes to help our heroes help the children who have been affected in Iraq and Afghanistan
 Angels Coast to Coast has grown and blossomed into a huge network of support
 Living Legends has reached out to the families of those heroes who paid the ultimate price to offer our condolences, words of support and a Living Tree donated to the families to be planted in memory of their lost loved one
 And so much more…

We have been able to provide boots to soldiers who were in great need. We have supplied Kevlar blankets when they were needed to line the floorboards and walls of unarmored Humvees. We have sent supplies to K-9 units who are often overlooked. We have sent supplies to medics and snake bite kits to soldiers responding to the disaster in New Orleans. And most importantly, our members have reached out and touched the lives of the men and women of our Armed Forces. They have given of their time, money, hearts and souls to make sure that these heroes know we care and support them. We thank them for all that they do. Since 2003, Soldiers’ Angels has grown to over 60,000 members worldwide having adopted over 19,000 individual soldiers and lots of groups.

We could not have done any of this without the generous men, women and children who make up our organization or the incredibly generous people and companies that support Soldiers’ Angels and our mission. It is both a privilege and an honor to be able to provide this service and support to the brave men and women who fight for our freedom and democracy.

On behalf of Patti Bader and Ana-Marie Smith, I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a joyful and prosperous New Year.

With eternal gratitude,

Don MacKay

Donald William MacKay
Executive Director
Soldiers’ Angels

On the Frontline

2005-12-08T10:40:00.000-08:00

While we Angels don't expect to hear from the wonderful military men and women we support, it's always nice to be surprised by a free mail or an email. Here are a few to remind us all of how much we are appreciated.

I was supposed to be coming home in November, but instead I will be here until February. One of the guys who was going to stay received word that his mother is sick and may need surgery, so I volunteered to stay for him. My family isn’t too happy, but they understand. I’ve got to be going now. The power just went out and I’m writing with my flashlight. Hope to hear from you soon. Thanks again.

I want to thank you for writing and showing your support. I truly appreciate it. Here’s my email address if you ever need anything.

Thank you for the package. It’s much appreciated by me and my guys.

First of all I would like to thank you for taking the time to write to me. I understand that at times it is hard to find the right words to say to someone that is currently deployed. It is such a great feeling to receive letters from people showing their gratitude for the sacrifice we sometimes make.

I tried to find a card full of flowers on the front but I couldn’t, so I got you this one. I didn’t really have a big selection so I had to work it the best way that I could. Thank you so much for all of your kind thoughts, words, and prayers.

We are truly grateful for all the wonderful things you have been able to send us. Everything from the snacks to the personal hygiene goods. Whenever a package from you arrives everyone wants something out of it, and it doesn’t last long.

And lastly...for those of you who may not hear from your adopted heroes, we received the following message from Sarah (txladymedic), an Angel who is currently working in Iraq as a civilian medic. She writes, "This is from the stand point of someone who is deployed. For those of you who send letters and never get a response here's a few reasons why you may not be getting a response. For me I am working 12 hr days 7 days a week, we don't have a post office on this base and unless I catch the mailman when he brings mail I don't get to mail anything off unless by chance I get to go to another base. So for me getting letters out is a challange. Along with that when I get off work I don't feel like writing anyone. I just want to go to bed.

But on the other hand, getting letters is what keeps me sane. At the moment I'm hating being here. I don't know if it's because it's the holiday season, or I just miss home or what the deal is but any how I'm not real happy here at all. Hearing from home makes it a little bit easier on me. I look forward to getting letters and small packages.

So to all those Angels who never hear from their soldiers....Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!"

Team Updates

2005-12-08T10:38:00.000-08:00

LWT

The LWT is comprised of Soldiers' Angels who enjoy writing to our heroes and know how important it is for them to hear their name at "mail call". Soldiers' who have submitted themselves and or been submitted through the SA website are distributed via the LWT Team Leaders on a nightly basis. Though each Soldier is assigned an official Angel, the LWT provides additional support with extra cards and letters. The LWT writer is only asked to send each soldier that they receive one card or letter, but many choose to send more.

Another great month for the LWT: in October, 10,343 letters were sent via 893 LWT writers. This gives us now a total of 83,999 letters to our deployed heroes since January 1, 2005.

Our new writer signup was not as high in October as during the summer months, but with the forthcoming holidays, we know that many of our Angels are busy getting support to our heroes via the Christmas program. Although our writer count is down, we are grateful to all Angels in their continued dedication to our deployed heroes.

A great big WELCOME to Amy Hammonds who has stepped up to be a new LWT Team Leader as of 11/1/05. Amy has picked up Lydia Stagg's team, plus new writers as they come in. Amy, many thanks for not only becoming a LWT Team Leader, but also for all the work you do with the soldiers' daily submitted messages to ensure that Angels receive the info of the soldiers who need our help.

Thanks to all of the writers who have needed to step back from writing at this time for their dedication in supporting our troops by putting smiles on these heroes’ faces at "Mail Call."

During November and probably into December, we will be training more new LWT Team Leader. New LWT Team Leaders up and running are: Dean Parent, Gail Wolff, Amy Catherine, Joyce Prieto, and Krystal Hennion. Thank you, Angels, for stepping up to help get the names of our heroes to the LWT writers.

The LWT is always looking for new writers. If you are interested in joining the LWT, email Linda D. at lindom@cablelynx.com with "Registered SA Interested in Joining LWT" in the subject line, and she will provide you with full information about LWT and information she needs to get you started.

General questions about the LWT can be directed to Sara at sje2555 at yahoo.com and/or Linda at lindom at cablelynx.com. They are always around to help and answer your questions about LWT.

WTLC

WOUNDED TLC TEAM
The Wounded TLC Team has sent over 2800 cards to over two dozen wounded heroes and veterans. November will also mark our 1 year anniversary. We started with 30 Angels and have grown to over 350! We also continue to support heroes recuperating from injuries suffered in 2004 showing them that we are still there for them!

WOUNDED TEAM
The Wounded Team continues to evolve. We have sent many, many transitional backpacks to our wounded heroes in Iraq, Afghanistan and here at home. All very much appreciated. We have provided support to our wounded and their families in many different ways. Thank you, Angels!!!

COMBAT SUPPORT HOSPITALS
We are contacting the CSH’s and sending Transitional Backpacks and supplies as requested. The backpacks and packages the angels are sending are welcome and much needed items. Here are some responses we have received:

From a Nurse:
I also wanted to let you know how much the patients appreciated the back-packs filled with wonderful gifts and love. One patient that I gave one to started to cry with joy and appreciation – I just wanted you to know what an incredible difference you are making

From a Doctor:
I am overwhelmed with the response from Soldiers Angels. The transition packs are great and we will be taking them to the local TMC and CSH to use for patients transferred out of theater. Thank you so much for caring about our 'Joes', they are young men and women who have an incredible load of responsibility and have handled it quite well.

From a Corpsman:
Just wanted to say thank you once again for all that you’re doing for our unit and most of all our wounded soldiers out here. Words alone can’t express their gratitude.

We have fulfilled a number of requests from our medical personnel…from coffee to scrubs to medical supplies. The requests keep coming from these heroes!

Between a local VFW and Soldiers' Angels, we have shipped out over 64 boxes of scrubs to various medical facilities on our behalf. In addition to the almost 1000 pounds of scrubs Soldiers' Angels has provided, a local textile company has donated many, many boxes of new scrubs that have been sent to our heroes!

Speaking of scrubs: they are one of the most requested items from our military working in the CSHs & medical platoons--specifically the tops. If anyone is interested in holding a "Scrub Drive" in their area, please contact Lynette at LDFnjSA at aol.com.

We are also finding a need for sweat pants, socks, winter hats & gloves/mittens. If you are able to help, please email LDFnjSA at aol.com for information.

Continued thanks!!!

Elaine Baker
Lynette Frascella

TLC

Team Leader Eileen wanted to share the following example of the kind of good you Angels can accomplish through your involvement with the TLC posts. Jason* is a hero who was resubmitted for support after never hearing from his original Angel. Because of a difficult family situation back home ("he’s had a tough life," we were told), Jason really needed support and encouragement, so his friend Ryan resubmitted him for support. TLC team member Patty posted on Justin’s behalf.

Here’s a follow-up email we received from Ryan. Thank you to all Angels who respond to our TLC posts, and remember—as the email below clearly shows, you make a huge difference in the lives of our heroes.

Hi there Patty,

I am the one who submitted this info about Justin. Luckily, he received SIX boxes, all at once, from an angel named Carolyn A. who is an "unofficial" angel. He was overjoyed and received lots of snacks and love. He instant messaged me while in the middle of opening his boxes to show me, on web cam, that he was ecstatic!

It was so cute to see him happy as he is often depressed, on the thin side, and without parents or family (besides sisters that do not contact him much)…I wanted to let you know that Justin was really touched by Carolyn's care packages. She said that she'd sent them at different times, but for some reason they all arrived at once, about 2 days ago. I have to tell you that briefly, it was like watching a little kid at Christmas time. He had his arms full of snacks, a bowl, and some shampoo but you'd think that he just won $5,000! He was smiling from ear to ear!! Please let folks know that Justin just received 6 boxes from Carolyn A. of Soldiers’ Angels, an "unoffical' angel with a huge heart!

I hope Justin hears from his official angel as well. I can't thank Carolyn enough because this soldier needs love- it will keep him from getting into trouble and help to show him that people really do care about him. I cannot share the details [of his past], but I will say that he has been on his own since age 14. He has great faith in God (he wears a cross necklace given to him by his best friend's mom) and lots of friends who laugh both with him and at him! I hope he makes a good life for himself. Every bit of help is going to make the difference in this "kid." He's 20 years old and has lots of potential.

Feel free to forward this email to anyone it concerns. I am really happy that people care about him. I have only known him for four months and I find him angry, yet heroic and tender.

Sincerely,
Ryan

Another Angel tells us, "I have received two sweet letters and several emails from SSgt Anthony C. He was so grateful to hear from a complete stranger and thanked me profusely for the care package I sent to him. I continue to correspond with him because I get the feeling he isn't hearing from anyone else. (And even if he is, it is such a pleasure to read his letters!)

I have also been corresponding with LCpl Miguel V. and he is a delight. Apparently I'm the only one that has sent him anything and he asked me to adopt him...how could I say no?? LOL!"

Way to go, Angels!

ESquad

Mel Firestone tells us, "We are working hard on getting emails of support to as many heroes as possible. The Angels are amazing when a call for E-pals goes out; they all respond and then patiently wait for an answer."

There was a recent "flood" of soldiers looking for E-pals, and you Angels answered the call so completely that we now have Angels waiting for E-pals, rather than the other way around. THANK YOU!

Cards + Team

Our membership drops and grows weekly. As of October 31, there were 141 members.

42 lists sent to membership

53 soldier birthday requests
37 individual encouragement cards request
Request for unit of 22 and a unit of 20
2 soldier get well cards
19 welcome home
17 requests for state postcards
10 requests for sympathy cards
Request for Assistance with the “Operation Blessings” help with Katrina relief.

Angels Helping Angels section
4 get well requests
2 birthday requests
1 soldier’s daughter’s birthday request.

In mid-September, the request for Christmas cards for the combat hospitals was placed on the list. As the weeks went by, chaplains began requesting cards for their large units. he goal for Christmas cards for combat hospitals has been met, but there is still a request for 5500 cards for many units in the field.

Living Legends Team

In mid May of this year, Cathy Woodruff became the Team Leader for a writing team that would try to bring caring, compassionate messages of comfort to the family members, and Soldiers' Angels, of our fallen heroes. It was our intention to honor and cherish our fallen servicemen and women.

Through the efforts of many, we were able to secure beautiful funeral gifts and living memorial trees. On occasion the trees were donated and freely delivered. However, at times the family members asked Living Legends to, for instance, send condolences to the fire department where a fallen hero had been an honored fireman. At times, our team asked Top Knot, when possible, for the gift of a magnificent Memorial Quilt for the grieving children of the fallen. Top Knot is an extraordinary quilting team and a part of Soldiers' Angels.

Our team has sent a thoughtful 'Thank You' to any and all volunteers that offered to help us. In an effort to express our sincerest sympathy, the original seven members have written approximately 125 cards and letters. The team, now over 40 members, has tried to tastefully express the sorrow and grief that we know all Americans feel for the loss of our precious and beloved soldiers.

The web site for Living Legends is:
www.livinglegendteam.blogspot.com

Angels at Work

2005-12-08T10:36:00.000-08:00

CHRISTMAS MAIL DEADLINES

Remember, Angels: although the holidays are still a few weeks away, any Christmas letters and packages you have for your adopted heroes should be going out now make sure that they have a merry Christmas. According to USPS.com, “To ensure delivery of holiday cards and packages by December 25 to military APO/FPO addresses overseas and to international addresses, we suggest that mail be entered by the recommended mailing dates. Beat the last-minute rush and take your mail to your U. S. Post Office™ by these suggested dates.”

For military mail addressed to FPOs/APOs beginning with 093, the deadline for all letters, cards and Priority Mail packages was December 5 (remember, packages and mail can certainly be sent after these dates. Mailing by these deadlines just ups your chances that our heroes will receive their packages on time. For all other FPO and APO destinations, the deadline is December 10.

Thank you, Angels, for helping to take care of our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines during this holiday season!

ANGELS HELP CAMP FALCON RECOVER FROM FIRE

The morning of October 21 was a discouraging one for the members of A Co 703D 4BDE 3ID at Camp Falcon. Faulty wiring caused a fire in the barracks, resulting in a little over 15 heroes losing everything except the clothes they had on their backs, and more than 20 others losing some of their belongings to smoke and water damage.

Florida Angel Michele was informed of the fire by Sgt. Lissette M., her daughter’s official soldier. Michele immediately sent out the call to fellow Angels via the message boards, letting them know what was needed to help replace all that was lost. More than 25 Angels answered the call and immediately sent boxes containing everything from sheets, pillows, towels, toiletries and other essential items to snacks and new personal items.

Once again Soldiers’ Angels discovered a need and filled that need right away. Thank you, Michele and the other Angels who participated in this speedy effort to make things a little easier for our brave troops.

This unit is scheduled to return home in January 2006.

SA DONATIONS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW

Although donation levels have increased somewhat over the past few months, in October, Patti Patton-Bader, founder of Soldiers’ Angels, said donations for SA were at an all-time low. Patti stated, “We will not be able to effectively assist soldiers if this continues.” Don MacKay, Executive Director of Soldiers’ Angels, attributes most of the fall-off in donations to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. He said the hurricanes have “drastically affected our ability to raise funds.”

What can be done to spread the word and raise the donation level? The most obvious answer is for Angels to make monetary donations to Soldiers’ Angels, if they are able to do so. Angels can also seek publicity for SA by contacting media outlets in their areas. Almost all communities have their own newspapers, even if they are free publications. By contacting the community news or opinions editors, Angels can share the works of Soldiers’ Angels through print media. Even writing a letter to the editor can bring priceless exposure to SA. For those who are a little more assertive, contacting the radio and television stations in their areas is a wonderful opportunity for exposure. The Public Relations team is available for advice and information on what to say once communication has been established with the media. The PR team can be contacted at prteam@soldiersangels.org.

One of the most effective ways to spread the word about Soldiers’ Angels is to talk. If Angels talk to people they know and to people they don’t know about SA, statistically speaking, that action has to create even more Angels. And more Angels talking means the word will continue to spread and people will donate. Handing out SA business cards is a very simple way to let people know about Soldiers’ Angels. The template can be found under Documents on the side bar of the SA message board.

MacKay wants to remind everyone that “our mission – our vital mission of supporting the brave men and women who risk so much so that we might remain free, must be carried forth throughout the holidays and beyond. Soldiers’ Angels is an organization that relies on the generosities of every man, woman and child in America to see this vision through. We do not have corporate sponsors or government grants to do what we do. What we do comes from the heart inside of each and everyone of us. I would ask that we continue to share, continue to spread the word about our mission, continue to bring new Angels into the family and continue to grow. By doing this, we will enable this organization to go on for years to come – supporting heroes in this conflict and the next.”

However one chooses to get the word out about Soldiers’ Angels and how the Angels of the organization support and encourage our troops, it is imperative to get the word out, raise funds and continue the mission: May No Soldier Go Unloved.

Donations can be made through www.paypal.com sent to donations@soldiersangels.com, by visiting www.soldiersangels.org and clicking on Donate Now, or by sending it to Soldiers’ Angels, 1792 East Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104.

NEW TALK SHOW LAUNCHES FOR SOLDIERS

YoungHeroes.US, editors of the new Walking With Heroes book series, is proud to introduce Talking With Heroes--America's new talk show!

Talking with Heroes , which is available at www.talkingwithheroes.com, is not about politics. Guests will be men and women in the military, military support groups, companies who help our troops, entertainers and more. Guests are listed at www.talkingwithheroes.com.

The very first guests on the December 11th (5pm PST) show are Patti, the founder of Soldiers' Angels, and Debby Frerichs, the SA Central Region Director. Also listen for SA's own Linda Dominik, LWT Co-Leader, who will be on the show January 8th to talk about her program, Guardian Angels For Soldiers' Pets. Don MacKay, the SA General Manager, will be on the February 26th show.

Charlie Daniels will be on the Dec 18th show.

All of the talk shows will be kept in archives, which is particularly beneficial for our men and women who are deployed and do not have a lot of time to get on the Internet. Archived talk shows will be available 24/7 from anywhere in the world where there is access to the Internet.

According to www.talkingwithheroes.com, "We will interview men and women in the military, military support groups, veterans groups who have programs for helping men and women who are or who have been deployed, companies who have projects for helping our troops, musicians with support our troops and patriotic songs, athletes who support our troops and more. Men and women in the military will talk about their experiences in Iraq or Afghanistan with a focus on the untold stories: what they did or witnessed that involved helping the people in these countries."

For more information, please visit www.talkingwithheroes.com. You can also contact SA's good friend, Bob Calvert, at bob at youngheroes.us, with any questions or to help sponsor the site with a $25 donation.

HERO BEN TAKES THE TORCH FOR “THE CANDY GUY”

Many Angels have sent candy and other supplies for Doug and Richard the Medic to distribute to the children of Iraq. We are glad to announce that both of this big-hearted heroes are now on mail stop and are preparing to return to the United States. Angel Sara tells us that Ben has graciously stepped up to be our new donations point-person for the children in the area. As we’ve learned from past posts, establishing a positive, nuturing relationship with the Iraqis is crucial for our soldiers—and, in fact, can even save the lives of our heroes. Wrote Richard, "The humanitarian efforts are essential for getting the good-will of the Iraqi people. They see us caring for them, and consequently, they side with us to a greater degree. " He added, "This gives them a favorable impression of us, and makes them less likely to support terrorism against us."

Writes Ben, "Here in Iraq, my team works with the Iraqi police. We are working with them so they can secure their own country so we can come home.

"Yes, we would love anything you can send for the Iraqi children, they have my heart."

If you would like to help, please contact Sara at sje2555 at yahoo.com for Ben’s mailing information.

A FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDSHIP

Angel Stella recently wrote to a soldier and included a letter from her dog, Bandido, to his K-9 dog. Below is an excerpt from Bandido’s letter, as well as the reply from Polo.

Says Stella, “I thought it was fun and lighthearted and another side of thewar and our heroes overseas...[Bandido’s] tail is wagging when we talk about his new friend from across the miles.”

If you find yourself struggling for something to say in a letter to your hero, consider including a letter from the perspective of a family pet. As you can see, the results can be both heartwarming and humorous.

Dear K-9 Heroes!

Hello, my name is Bandido and I am a Collie mix dog from Aruba, in the Dutch Caribbean. I am now living in Palm Beach, Florida and happy to be here. I am 12 years old this month!

I wanted to write to thank all of you K-9’s for all the great things you are doing over there with your soldiers, because of you, dogs like me can live a free and happy life here back home.....you are true heroes to all of us in the animal world and the human world too! My owner Stella talks about the brave soldiers all the time...and of you guys sacrificing so much for all of us back home. Its an honor to salute you paws up!

Thanks for all you do and we hope you return home safely to some good treats soon.

Your four-legged friend.
Bandido L
C/o Stella L

Dear Bandido,

Hi my name is Polo, I am a military working dog. I was born in the Netherlands and grew up in a dog farm until I was 1 ½ years old. Then I was bought by the U.S. Department of Defense and shipped to San Antonio, Texas along with about 100 hundred of my relatives there. Once I arrived I was entered into training to become a United States Military Working Dog. It has always been my dream to become a K-9 war hero just like many of my other relatives.

It took me a little while to get adjusted to military life which my first handlers can attest to. I used to be very stubborn and wanted my way. Over the next 3 years I had 4 different handlers who tried to mold me into the perfect military working dog but I only did the basics, which were required of me. Then one day I met my current handler, Brian A., and he related to me and earned my trust. Now at 7 years old, myself and SSgt A have been working together for 2 years now. We have grown to be a very solid team together and think as one now, which I have learned to be the key to being a great team. We like to think of ourselves as one of the best K-9 team at McGuire and are often referred to as that.

SSgt A takes very good care of me by making sure I’m fed everyday, bathing me when I need it, playing with me, making work fun and giving me lots of fun. Although I just turned 7 this month I still act like a puppy, I am full of energy and a love for life which my handler shares with me. I am on a strict diet for K-9’s but I enjoy an occasional doggy biscuit when I’m good. I love to chase and chew on just about anything. I work very hard for a ball or a kong when I’m working but when its my free time, I love jumping and catching my Frisbee. It’s a fun game me and my handler like to play. He will take me out to the play area and throw the Frisbee as fast as he can then I will chase it down and jump through the air and catch it. People say I’m too big to be a Frisbee dog but I think I am better than most. My handler loves playing this with me just as much as I like it because he says it makes me run faster and be able to jump and take down the bad guys better. I also love to bite bad guys but only when my handler tells me to. I will protect my handler at all costs just like he would do for me.

Once again we are deployed to a far away place that is nothing like home and it is very hot. I try my best to get used to the heat and do my job under the stressful conditions. I just keep in mind how important our job is out here in order to protect the public and the base. They call it work but I think of it as just a game. My job is to sniff out any explosives or weapons that could hurt people out here and I get my favorite toy when I find it.

I also thank you for your support out here where it is very much appreciated that people care about what we’re doing. Receiving great touching letters like yours gives us motivations to keep doing our job everyday to the best of our abilities. The thought of laying our lives down on the line for our country makes it easier when we know people like you can enjoy your way of life.

Thanks again,
Polo
Military Working Dog

SSgt Brian A
Military Working Dog Handler
USAF

The Angel Store

2005-12-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

Have you been to the Angel Store (www.AngelStore.org) lately? Each month, we will be featuring one or two items that can be purchased by Angels for their deployed heroes. To shop, make sure that your Internet browser is set to accept "cookies" and that your security settings are set to MINIMUM or you will not be able to use the shopping cart. Remember, 100% of donations from this store go to the support of our heroes!

Beef Jerky: Our heroes are sending enthusiastic requests for more beef jerky from the House of Jerky. This product is always made fresh and contains no preservatives. There are five flavors:

Black Pepper Beef Jerky- This Black Peppered flavor is a perfect recipe for those who like a certain zing to their beef jerky. Made with crushed black pepper, this tasteful snack is hard to put down. This treat is great for all occasions and will be one of your favorites - guaranteed!

Hot Beef Jerky - The Hot flavor is for those who dare! Made with crushed Red Hot Peppers, this treat requires lots of refreshments. Not exactly a "Chernobyl" type of hot, but just enough to appreciate the numbness of your taste buds!

Natural Beef Jerky - This Natural flavor is rich in the natural taste of top quality beef. With just a hint of spices and natural smoke flavor, this treat is hard to beat. This unique recipe is always moist and fresh - guaranteed!

Sweet and Spicy Beef Jerky - A great treat for those who like sweet and spicy foods. Formulated with honey, brown sugar, and pineapple juice for the sweet taste and Tabasco sauce, white pepper and cayenne pepper for the spicy tang. Real zip!

Teriyaki Beef Jerky - Their Teriyaki flavor is one of our best sellers. If you have ever tried Teriyaki beef jerky and didn't like it, the HOJ guarantees that you will love this. With a compliment of just the right amount of sweetness and spices, this unique recipe can not be duplicated anywhere - guaranteed!

The House of Jerky supports our troops by giving a 15% discount on all orders from members of Soldiers’ Angels. They will also donate 10% of every order to Soldiers’ Angels. They ship to APOs or personal residences.

Discounted prices for Soldiers’ Angels are: 4 ounces - $8.92; 8 ounces $14.87 and 16 ounces $28.90

Browse their website at www.houseofjerky.net and surprise your soldier with a delicious treat today!

CRUNK!!! Energy Drink: CRUNK has donated enough of their energy drink for Soldiers’ Angels to send 135 boxes to our troops. Each box contains 20 cans.

CRUNK!!! Energy Drink is designed to deliver both mental and physical vitality while supporting the immune system. Featuring a sweet, tart, pomegranate flavor and a rich, red color, CRUNK!!! boasts a unique combination of herbal supplements, amino acids, complex vitamins and caffeine.

A donation of $13 to Soldiers’ Angels will cover the shipping of a box of CRUNK!!! to any APO or FPO address.

Soldiers’ Angels Holiday Ornament: An antique metal ornament with our own Soldiers’ Angels logo, this ornament is something special. The front features a tree topped with the Soldiers’ Angels logo, a flag, and the words "May No Soldier Go Unloved." Inscribed on the back: "Soldiers' Angels supports American Service Members stationed wherever we raise our country's flag. Soldiers' Angels are dedicated to ensuring that our military know they are loved and supported during and after their deployment into harms way". These beautiful ornaments sell for $15.00 at the Angel Store.

Angel Spotlight

2005-12-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

Spotlight On...
Mari Otto

For Mari Otto, it all began in 2002 with one soldier who never wrote back. Mari was recovering from a broken leg in September 2001 when she watched television coverage of the terrorist attacks on our country. She knew that she wanted to be involved in some way. Once she discovered the Soldiers’ Angels site, Mari adopted her first soldier. "I sent cards and for awhile it was hard to send care packages due to financial difficulties. I did remember to include him on the holidays. It was something that gave me a worthwhile feeling." In spite of the lack of return correspondence, Mari never stopped writing.

In April 2005, Mari signed up once again for more adoptions. She is on the Letter Writing Team and receives an address every day, Monday through Friday. Once a week she searches the site for those that need additional support. Mari keeps every name, whether or not she receives a reply from the soldier. Some do write back…once, twice, or even regularly. "I will turn no soldier away," Mari comments. "I will write to them as long as they would like me to."

But what does she write about? Mari starts with a general letter and always includes a poem and her email address. In the following letters she mentions the normal things that happen in an average household. Water might be dripping from the faucet and driving her crazy, but it makes for an entertaining story for her letter. Local news tidbits might be included, or stories about her three dogs and two cats or her two teenagers. Every soldier becomes part of her family and as such receives the family news with warmth and humor.

There are some soldiers, though, who need a bit more than humor. "I have a lot of kids facing adult challenges," Mari says. "We discuss how they are feeling about the war and some of the things that they have to face that give them nightmares." Mari recognizes that they are changing and will be changed for life. She lets them start the tough conversations and reassures them that no matter what they see or do, they will always be loved. Advice on family matters is left to the professionals. Mari encourages them to believe in themselves and to recognize how much strength they do have. "Some will talk about the same thing over and over but that is okay because I tell them as long as they vent, one day they will wake up and see that their answer was there all along in their conscience."

Mari is well-qualified to give that kind of assurance. As a single disabled mom from a small town in Illinois, she has confronted difficulty with the same strength and courage that she shares with her soldiers. She writes to the wounded soldiers and tells them that no matter what hardship they are going through, they can overcome it. "Appearance does not count. What counts is what type of person you are on the inside." Mari’s advice is to be angry and then let it go, because "many men and women who have been disabled go on to greatness." She feels that the support from the Angels will make a difference in their lives and give them the encouragement they need to look beyond potential disabilities.

Soldiers’ Angels has made that kind of difference in her own life. Writing letters keeps her mind off her own challenges and gives her encouragement even as she spreads words of encouragement to her soldiers. When a soldier’s situation calls for a certain kind of poem, Mari searches for just the right one. She suggests going to the stores and looking at cards to see the author. Searching that name on the Internet will often yield other poems in different categories. Emily Matthews and Helen Steiner Rice are two of Mari’s favorites for beautiful and inspirational poetry. Mari suggests sending a specific poem that touches your own heart initially and then, if you have continued contact with the soldier, to search for poems that pertain to their own situation.

Mari spreads encouragement, hope and understanding through her letters to soldiers and the families of fallen soldiers. She has looked beyond her own disability and challenges and reached out in the way she knows best, through letters and poems. She thanks Soldiers’ Angels for the rewarding experience, adding that she hasn’t done anything spectacular. "All I have done is nurture, which is my nature."

That’s all? That truly is something spectacular.

Cause of the Month

2005-12-08T10:28:00.000-08:00

School Supplies

Part of rebuilding a country is helping give the youth, the nation’s future, a positive start to life. A group of soldiers are requesting help for a school they have adopted. The unit, the 37th Transportation Command based out of Kaiserslautern, Germany, hopes to dispel rumors that the military is trying to hurt Iraq. They are looking for notebooks, paper, pencils, crayons, erasers, glue, tape, kiddie scissors, chalk, folders, note cards, and other school supplies. Items absolutely CANNOT be religious. Items listed as not useful include rulers, English language books, flashcards, calculators and anything with English numbers or language.

To participate in this program, email Deb Benoit at canddbenoit at earthlink.net for the address of the unit and their current school supply needs. Deb then sends their name to Chris (the contact for the unit) so he knows to expect a package. He will send a note if a return address is supplied so that the Angel knows the package got there safely.

Willie's Corner

2005-12-08T10:24:00.000-08:00

ANGELS: THE FOLLOWING S.O.S. IS GOING OUT FROM OUR GERMAN ANGELS. Reports Willie, "Important: I need new 60 blankets for January! For January we have nothing here!" And please remember--this is an ongoing need, since these Angels need approximately 60 new blankets EVERY MONTH for their work with our wounded heroes.

Dear Angels,

First of all, thank you so much for your ongoing support!! In the last month we were able to bring 80 backpacks to Landstuhl hospital, Ramstein Inn and a car full of snacks to the Kleber Barracks Kaiserslautern outpatient barracks. And we still have many more items to "assemble" and bring. Please check the SA Germany blog for reports and updates. http://www.sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40

Second, here it is--our new shipping address! Please use exactly as shown here:

21st TSC, Medical Transient Detachment
ATTN: Soldiers’ Angels
UNIT 23203
APO AE 09263

As most of you know, our mission at SA Germany is to support our wounded and ill heroes who are transitioned through Germany from Iraq and Afghanistan. We have an ongoing need for the following items:

Landstuhl Hospital (for the backpacks):
 Cards and Letters of Encouragement
 Blankets of Hope
 T-Shirts (solid color, L, XL, or XXL)
 Boxerbriefs (L, XL, or XXL)
 Socks
 International prepaid phone cards
 Sweatpants and sweatshirts (or jogging suits) for cold winter weather
 Snacks and goodies
 Small stuffed animals

Kleber Outpatient Barracks: Microwaveable meals, cookies, fruit cups, instant oatmeal packs, and other snacks. Soldiers often arrive at Kleber from Iraq or Afghanistan in the evenings after regular meal hours and they are hungry!

*** Note that personal hygiene items are no longer needed here in Germany. Contact Lynette if you would like to donate these items for the CSHs. ***

Please notify me before you send anything and give me your mail and your e-mail address at josephinefs2654 at gmail.com, so we know when items are shipped and we can look out for them and confirm their arrival. Without your e-mail address, this is not possible.

All donations are delivered directly through Willie or MaryAnn to Landstuhl hospital and Kleber Barracks.

Thank you all for your support of our wounded and ill Heroes!

God Bless you and your family!
Willie
Wilhelmine Aufmkolk
International President Soldiers Angels
e-mail: JosephineFS2654 at gmail.com

A couple more things to share with you all...here is a picture of the most recent backpacks our German Angels assembled for our wounded soldiers.

MaryAnn offers this touching account of their October visit to the Kleber Barracks:

It’s always happens at the end when we’re packing up and getting ready to leave.

"Hey listen, I just wanted to thank you guys..."

Oh, $h#t! Here it comes...

"I mean, what you guys did here today..."

We can’t help it, our eyes fill with tears. Pull yourself together! You know what happens when one person starts!

I don’t trust my voice, so I just turn around and give him a hug. So does Willie.

Other guys come over. We stand around awkwardly and talk for a few minutes, all of us pretending we’re not choking up. They slowly go inside.

Willie and I turn back to the car without looking at each other and busy ourselves unnecessarily rearranging stuff in the trunk.

But it's been a good day.

Remember: to stay updated on Willie, MaryAnn, and our other German friends, please remember to add http://www.sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40 to your list of bookmarked sites!

Lastly, here is a thank you note received by our other German counterparts.

Angel to Angel

2005-12-08T10:23:00.000-08:00

A Poem For A Hero

I am proud to be an American
And honor the red, white and blue
I love the freedom born to me
And for that, I thank you

You chose to serve our nation
With your life and with your heart
And I chose to be a soldier’s angel
So I could do my part

I sent a couple gift boxes
And wrote some letters too
To let you know that back in the states
We are all so proud of you

Of all your brothers and sisters
Who, like you, chose to fight
For the freedom of these United States
Protecting us day and night

And now that you are safe at home
No longer in that place
I look forward to the day we meet
And I can thank you face to face

Sharon Trombley
Sharon669

My Soldier on Christmas

Christmas is a special time of year,
Filled with friends and loved ones and holiday cheer.
But this year will be different for our soldiers far from home,
They won’t spend it with family, they celebrate alone.
We sleep in peace, this Christmas Eve night,
Because of the brave heroes, that are willing to fight.
With dignity and honor, keeping our loved ones safe.
The pride that you bring us shown clearly on our face.
Its time for Christmas dinner, served on this special day,
Please pray for our brave soldiers in a desert, far away.
As we all gather round the Christmas tree,
Take the time to give thanks for those that keep us free.
Cherishing Christmas memories, as if they never went away,
Keeps them close here in our hearts, on this very special day.
When we think of you, our hearts are filled with pride,
Wishing we had you with us by our sides.
Our Christmas wish for you, is to have a great night,
A sweet solitude, away from this fight.
A Peace to fill you and calm your fears,
An Angel blessing to last through the years.
A comfort to know that you’re here in our hearts.
No matter the miles that keep us so far apart.
A Prayer to keep you comfortable and warm,
And to watch over you and keep you safe from harm
No matter how busy my day is, I will always remember,
Our brave soldiers, our heroes, on the 25 of December!

Jennifer Crispaldi
Jennifer_tn_angel

I randomly sent a birthday card to a sailor after a birthday request from his "official" Angel and it was like magic. From our first email we were friends. We had an instant connection; it was like we had known each other for years. As time passed, I began to help him plan this "special date" with his wife. After I had read one of his emails my boss came walking in and asked why I was smiling so I explained that I had just received an email from a special sailor and he was wanting to plan a special date for his wife when he returned home from deployment. My boss decided to sponsor the date and to buy his 9-month-pregnant wife a dress for this special date. I made reservations and ordered his wife a dress.

Our friendship progressed and he felt it was time for me to call his wife. His wife and I also had an instant connection and it was if we had been friends for years. During our first conversation she asked me if my husband and I would come and hold her hand and stand next to her on the pier in San Diego when her husbands ship (the USS Duluth) came back from his deployment. With very little hesitation I cried and decided that we would go. Greg (my husband) and I flew into San Diego on June 4th and met my sailor’s wife and 5 year old daughter and then spent all day with her on Sunday the 5th at the zoo and later making signs to hold on the pier. June 6th was a wonderful day, the sun was shining and the sky was blue and we held our signs up high so he could read them from the ship and then we met, it was if we had known each other for years. We all went out to dinner and got to know each other better, then the next day we drove back to his home state and stayed the rest of the week and before we left, they asked us, through tears, to be the new baby’s godparents and informed me that their daughter would also share my middle name--"Drury", a family name. The baby was born 3 days later and since then my sailor’s wife and baby girl have flown to Michigan for a visit.

I have life-long friends because of Soldier’s Angels and can’t imagine my life without my new "family."

Megan Suzor

Thanks to...

2005-12-08T10:22:00.000-08:00

We all get by with a little help from our friends. Big and small, these companies have made our job easier.

Anheuser-Busch (www.herosalute.com)is saluting our military men and women and their families throughout 2005. Troops and three direct dependents can receive a single-day free admission into Anheuser-Busch’s SeaWorld, Busch Gardens or Sesame Place. Our heroes can go to the website, select their state, and follow the registration process. You can also watch that wonderful Super Bowl ad that honored our military. Thank you, Anheuser-Busch, for your continued support of our troops!

BuyforCharity.com has added Soldiers’ Angels to their list of charities. Go to the website (www.BuyforCharity.com), sign up, select Soldiers’ Angels as your charity and then shop (through the BuyforCharity site) at your favorite websites. To select Soldiers’ Angels, go to "Select A Cause" and find SA under the miscellaneous category. SA will receive up to 35% of your purchase total.

Susan Castriota (www.castriotadesigns.com) has donated several thousand lovely Christmas cards to Soldiers’ Angels. This Pittsburgh, PA, artist creates custom drawings of landmarks and famous places for her unique cards. Many thanks, Susan, for your generous donation.

From the Director's Desk

2005-09-28T18:49:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

Over the last couple months, we have been confronted with a number of challenges as an organization. We have seen many of our heroes return home wounded, and we have worked hard to help as many as we could. We have seen too many not return at all, and we have reached out to their families to let them know we care and that we will never forget. We have watched out own nation deal with not one, but two catastrophic storms which have destroyed whole communities, including homes of some of our own members as well as homes of the families of our brave men and women in uniform.

Through all of these hardships I have watched the members of this organization mobilize to meet these challenges head on, coming up with innovative ways to deal with each crisis. You are an amazing group of people--something I was aware of before, something I am sure of now. I have never been more proud and honored to work with such a group of people.

Whether you collected items to be sent to those in need, donated money or opened your home up to a family in need, we can all be very proud of the way that Soldiers’ Angels responded to the hurricanes of the last several weeks. I would like to thank all of you, from the bottom of my heart, for your dedication, commitment and your heart which you give of so freely. Thank you all for everything that you do.

Your fellow Angel,

Donald William MacKay
Executive Director
Soldiers’ Angels

On the Frontline

2005-09-25T18:48:00.000-07:00

While we Angels don't expect to hear from the wonderful military men and women we support, it's always nice to be surprised by a free mail or an email. Here are a few to remind us all of how much we are appreciated.

You have no idea how much of a difference you have made among us and how much of a difference you are making every day. Some of us really do not have anyone that writes to us to let us know that they appreciate our job and our sacrifice. I am very grateful for you and those helping us to be better here.

I do not know how to start this letter. I guess by saying THANK YOU THANK YOU. I got your mail and enjoyed it very much. I cannot believe how kind you are and sweet and good to people like me that you have not even met. I keep those words in my heart and remind my spirit every day of the kindness you have and the love you mail to me. God bless you every second and your loved ones. Big hug from your devoted soldier.

Thank you for the cheery letter. We love mail!

I just returned to Iraq from 2 weeks of much needed R&R and was overwhelmed by the pile of mail for me! The amount of support your organization sends to soldiers is nothing short of amazing. I’m uncertain who submitted my name but I wish I could thank them. It is because of people like you that we do what we do, and do it gladly!

One of our soldiers was asked to write an article for the Chaplain’s newsletter, about what she had learned in Iraq. With permission, we are including that article now.

What Being in Iraq Has Taught Me

Being in Iraq has given me plenty of time to think. You can’t be here for so long and not change in some way. I’ve had time to think about my family, about the people around me and about myself and I will be going home with a greater appreciation of all those things and certainly of life itself.

My family and friends back home mean more to me than I can express. They are my absolute priority and I value them now more than ever. The foundation of my success here and in the future is the unconditional love and support of my husband. He has listened to me, encouraged me, and made me laugh when I needed it, and I am so blessed to have him in my life.

I have learned here to never judge a book by its cover. People can surprise you by what they know and what they can teach you, if you give them a chance. I’ve learned to work with different people even though their methods of problem solving and handling everyday work were not the same as mine. That didn’t matter, because with a common goal we got the work done. This is not an experience you can get through on your own. You will need a mentor or a friend to help you out, to give you guidance and to listen when you need to talk. You will also need friends here. However, it’s good to remember that a true friendship should not require work. It’s an outlet and should be a relief from the tension of being deployed so far away from home.

I know that I have grown personally and professionally in this setting. I have learned that anything that produces negative stress needs to be let go, if possible. I don’t allow self-inflicted stress to fill my life, either. I have done a lot of thinking about myself and my life goals, and what is and is not important. Above all, I appreciate life and how very fortunate I am. There are many men and women who will not return to their families, except in the memories of those they left behind. I value every day now, and I cherish who I am and what I have accomplished, and the people who share my life.

Being in Iraq, I have learned first hand what is going on and why we actually are here. We are doing a good thing and the people here need our presence. I am a part of this, a part of history and I am proud to serve our country and contribute what I can to this effort.

I have learned all this during my time in Iraq, and perhaps one more thing. Not everyone is a diehard San Antonio Spurs fan…but I’m proud to serve with them, anyway.

Team Updates

2005-09-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

TLC Team

The purpose for the TLC Team is to provide additional and much-needed support to our heroes facing desperate circumstances (i.e., those who are wounded, distressed, or without family support or letters of encouragement). Team members are always on "alert,” ready, willing and able to come through for our heroes.

The TLC Team consists of 15 Angels and works closely with our founder, Patti Bader, administrators, state managers and many other Angels, as well as outside sources, to see to the needs of those with special circumstances. When the team leader (Angel Eileen) is apprised of a "TLC" situation or learns of a particular situation through our daily reports, she will either place a post on the forum under "TLC Requests" or contact a team member with the necessary information, who will then write a post.

If you would like more information about the TLC Team, please contact Eileen at einch1 at hotmail.com.

From William, USMC:

"Thank you very much for your much needed support and kind words of encouragement. Each day my Marines bring me a letter that brightens my spirit and motivates me more to complete the mission at hand. All of us over here are proud to have such good people supporting our efforts!"

From AMY, USA:

"Your letter was very touching, thank you. My soldiers are my #1 priority. Many parents have entrusted me with the safety and well being of their sons and daughters. I will NOT let them down. They’ve had it pretty rough. I hope to show them a different light and you are helping me in that great endeavor."

From 1LT John, USA

"I was just taking the time to let you know that I received your letter. If you only knew how much it means to receive a letter or package from home. For a very short time it allows you to get away from the life of a soldier, to think about the great things waiting at home.

I thank you so much for your letter and hope that you don't mind, I have shared these things with all my fellow soldiers. Your support is the fuel that keeps the engine of the American Soldier running. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for thinking of me and look forward to hearing from you again."

Wounded TLC Team

The Wounded TLC team membership has passed 325! Last month we sent out over 1300 cards and letters to our wounded heroes!!! We also have a team newsletter that keeps the entire team up on what the rest is doing! We have over a dozen wounded warriors who we keep on our card rotation so they know they are appreciated and not forgotten. Many of these we have been writing to for months, beginning when they were in hospital, and who are now recovering at home. We have other ongoing projects helping the Combat Support Hospitals and the Wounded Backpacks! The Cards + Team keeps the information going out to send those cards and letters to Landstuhl, as well.

For more information, please contact the WTLC Coordinators, Elaine at bakerdzen at earthlink.net or Lynette at frascella4 at aol.com

Letter Writing Team

A gigantic THANK YOU and much appreciation to the LWT Team Leaders and our outstanding and dedicated LWT Writers. The LWT had another outstanding month with 10,542 letters sent during the month of August via 935 LWT writers. This gives us a total of 20,300 letters to our deployed heroes during the third quarter of 2005.

One of our Team Leaders, Julie Dodgen, has been unable to send names to her writers due to the affects of Katrina in her home town of Pasagoula, MS. Julie contacted Sara and Linda before Katrina struck to let them know that she had sent out emails to her writers through that upcoming Monday because they were having to evacuate from their home. Tuesday, Linda received a call from Julie to let Linda know that her town had been completely destroyed. Julie and her family were all okay and staying at her mother's home in another town, but she would be unable to send names out to her team for awhile. Linda sent the names out for Julie and then Mel stepped forward and offered to help anyway she could. These ladies are truly special ANGELS. A big THANK YOU to Mel Mitchell for picking up Julie's team plus continuing to get names to her own writing team. (And Julie, we’re thinking of you!)

We are always looking for more writers to ensure that no soldier is unloved and/or forgotten. The number of letters sent in a month does not include the many care packages that the LWT writers send on their own to the soldiers that they write to.

If you are interested in joining the LWT as a writer, email Linda D. at lindom at cablelynx.com and she will provide you with full information about LWT and information she needs to get you started.

General questions about the LWT can be directed to Sara at sje2555 at yahoo.com and/or Linda at lindom at cablelynx.com . They are always around to help and answer your questions about LWT.

Living Legends

Living Legends is a relatively new SA team. This courageous group of Angels perform one of the most emotionally challenging jobs of all: they compare SA’s list of registered heroes to the Department of Defense’s casualty list. When a match is found, the team researches for the family’s information and for general information about the fallen hero. The team then sends cards/letters to the families, asking if they need assistance and for permission to donate a living tree to honor their fallen hero. Families can then plant this tree in their yard or somewhere that they can visit, such as the cemetery or favorite park. If they do not have room for a tree, team members offer a wreath in remembrance. Team members also make follow up calls to make sure everything is okay and to see if the family needs any assistance.

The Living Legends team is in need of donations to help with these trees and wreaths. The trees cost approximately $125.00 to $150.00. The team has established a relationship with a wonderful nursery; TYTY from Georgia has been doing a great job. Special thanks to J.W. for contacting the families and determining what tree is best for their area. For more information or to contribute, please contact Cathy at CWTreefrog at aol.com.

In mid May of this year, Cathy Woodruff became the Team Leader for a writing team that would try to bring caring, compassionate messages of comfort to honor the family members of fallen heroes. This team began with 7 members who send sympathy cards and letters to immediate family members as well as cards to the Angels who have lost their soldier. In an effort to express our sincerest sympathy, the original seven members have written to approximately 100 families and the Team has grown to over 30 writers.

Through the efforts of many, the team has been able to secure beautiful funeral gifts and living memorial trees. On occasion the trees were donated and freely delivered. However, at times the family members have asked Living Legends to, for instance, send condolences to the Fire Department where a fallen hero had been an honored fireman. We have asked Operation Top Knot, when possible, for the gift of a beautiful Memorial Quilt for children of the fallen.

Christmas Team

Merry Christmas to all Angels! Debra Hicks is the team leader of the Christmas Team, which is gearing up for the holiday season by collecting trees and stockings for our deployed heroes.

There are several ways to get involved with this team. One group consists of Angels who can collect stuffers (such as socks, lip balm, small hand lotion, phone cards, hot chocolate, instant apple cider mix, coffee singles) and ornaments. Stocking makers are also needed: all you need is an average size stocking, and Debra will match you up with someone on the "stuffers" team. Stocking makers are asked to send completed stockings directly to the soldiers. (There is another dedicated group who is making stockings and filling them at their location. They will also ship straight to the APO when the time comes.)

Lastly, the Christmas Team is looking for Tree Collectors. If you have miniature artificial trees, please let Debra know. They need lots of them! Tree Collectors will also ship directly to the APO Address when the time comes--so please hold onto those trees! (If you can supply the ornaments, too, that would be wonderful.) Also, if any Angels have access to larger trees and are willing to ship directly to the APO when the time comes, please contact Cathy. Those are good for the larger meeting rooms.

If you would like to help but can't join a team now, PLEASE don't let that stop you from sending something to one of the members of any of these teams. Contact Debra and she will tell you where to ship your donation, whether it be stockings or stuffers. This team is collecting for 40,000 stockings and need every Angel’s help! For more information or to help, please contact Debra at dahicks at worldnet.att.net .

ESquad

The ESquad has received a few requests for acoustic guitars, flags that can be flown on one of the camps in Afghanistan to be signed and donated to children groups who support our troops, and sports equipment for troops. If you can help with any of these items, please contact Mel at mel.firestone at gmail.com.

The ESquad would like to share the following message of thanks with all Angels:

Hello from Iraq. Trust me when I tell you that we appreciate anyone that supports what we are doing over here. The few times we can catch the news, it seems that all they report is the negative. We are doing some great things over here and I wish those stories were being told as much as the violence and deaths that occur. I appreciate you and your organization, you are all true American Patriots.

Sincerely,
SFC Philip

Cards + Letters Team

This 147-member team takes all requests for cards (any occasion) and letters. Typical requests include birthday cards for our heroes and their children; cards of encouragement to our heroes; congrats for promotions to our heroes; get well or thinking of you cards for our heroes; and post cards from different states and foreign countries for our heroes. There are many on the team who put together "cheer boxes" stuffed with these post cards.

There are two requests that appear on every list sent out. One will remain on the Cards + Team listing until they all come home. We need 200 cards of encouragement a month! These cards are for the backpacks of the wounded.

The second request will be on each list until November 5th. Our team (as well as many others) need to have 20,000 Christmas Cards BEFORE November 5th. These cards are for those in combat hospitals.

There is also a section on Cards + list called "Angels helping Angels." This section is if a fellow Angel needs help, cheer, get well wishes, etc.!

If you have a request, please email Debby at missouriangel at mindspring.com and put Cards + Letters Team in subject line.

Angels at Work

2005-09-25T18:46:00.000-07:00

ANGELS BAND TOGETHER TO AID HURRICANE VICTIMS

In light of the devastating hurricane in New Orleans and the surrounding areas, Soldiers’ Angels has established the Hurricane Katrina Soldiers’ Relief Fund.

Currently, monetary donations are most helpful and requested. For more information and to donate via PayPal, please visit www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/Operation_Katrina_Soldiers_Relief_Fund.php . You may also donate by calling 626.398. 3131.

Check or money order donations may be sent to:

Soldiers' Angels
Katrina Relief Fund
1792 East Washington Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91104

Soldiers’ Angels has also been contacted by the National Guard in the Louisiana area for crucially needed supplies. To donate food, clothes, diapers, personal hygiene items or any other supplies, please send them to the following addresses:

Katrina Relief
c/o National Guard
1111 First Ave.
Lake Charles,LA 70601

National Guard
c/o Barb Conway
400 E. Stoner Ave
Shreveport, LA 71101

Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Katrina, and we salute those members of our military who have mobilized to the area to assist the victims and aid in keeping peace and order.

NEW MSN BOARD

We recently had to establish a new location for our beloved MSN Angel Board. THE NEW LOCATION for the MSN Group is http://groups.msn.com/SoldiersAngelsFoundation/welcome.msnw . If you haven't already signed up, this is a great way to exchange ideas with Angels from around the world and to provide support and encouragement to each other. We look forward to seeing you on the boards!

FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS FROM IRAQ

Special bracelets are being made by American troops deployed in Iraq. The soldiers call them friendship bracelets and make them during their free time. The bracelets are made from nylon parachute cord and a button from their uniforms is the fastener.

Bracelets are made in six different colors: white, green, brown, green & white, green & brown, and brown & white. These bracelets are made to order, so please remember to include your size and colors with your order! Bracelets sell for $5.00 each; shipping is included. These bracelets are quickly becoming a hit with members of Soldiers’ Angels, so get yours now!

To place an order for these unique, handmade bracelets, please send an email to Danny's wife, Jenni, at dboy_wilmot@yahoo.com

PROJECT VALOUR-IT

On August 10, 2005, Soldiers Angels announced the unveiling of Project VALOUR-IT (Voice Activated Laptop Computers for OUR Injured Troops). These computers feature voice-controlled software which allow our Military who are recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations to have access to the internet, as well as a means of communications via email and message groups. These specially formatted computers will eventually be available to all of our injured Military at all major Military Medical Centers in the United States and Germany.

The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, will be the first to receive these special laptops. In the succeeding project stages, a fully-equipped laptop will be provided to each injured member of the Military for use throughout in-hospital recovery at six different military medical centers, and copies of the voice software will be available to those severely wounded as they leave the treatment facility.

Project Valour IT has been the grateful recipient of donations of services and materials from BiziPC Computers, ScanSoft Inc., and ebags.com Corporate Sales.

For additional information or to donate to Project Valour IT, contact Beth Schietzelt (623-570-3903) or visit the project website at www.soldiersangels.org/valour.

GREETING THE TROOPS

Imagine being a hero and coming home, on leave or for good, and sitting on the plane as it waits its turn to taxi to the terminal. What are you going to experience when you come through the gate? Who’s going to be there to greet you? Will anyone be there to say, “Hey, terrific job?” or “God Bless,” or a heartfelt “Thank you”?

At one time in this country, sadly the answer would be a resounding “no.” As our troops deployed home from the Vietnam War, most often they were not met with respect or gratitude by anyone other than family members; and unfortunately the situation was often the returning troops being met by anger and hostility. However, in this decade, and this war, times and circumstances have changed, and the American people, whether they agree with the politics of the war or not, support our heroes.

Many of our Soldiers’ Angels have been involved in troop greetings, where a group, be it small or large, gather at the airport where one or several heroes will be coming through, either as their final or layover destination. There are many different ways to get involved in these projects. Angels have obtained information through their local USO (www.uso.org), Reserve centers, nearby military bases and Veterans’ Associations. Even some local chapters of the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org to find one in your area) and neighborhood churches organize Troop Greetings; some on a regular basis, and some as a one-time goodwill project. And when all other avenues are exhausted, Angels have successfully contacted the airport where they want to be involved in greeting the troops. As a courtesy, it’s recommended to give the airport advance warning if you will be bringing a very large group, or asking for media coverage.

Angel Rona Halpern recently attended a Troop Greeting at Keflavik, Iceland. Her advice for those greeting troops is to wear something colorful to give them a pleasing visual to contrast the dull browns of the desert, speak in a calm and comforting voice, and most importantly, as you touch their hands in a gesture of greeting, be sure to look in their eyes and say, “Welcome. You’re safe now.”

THE CANDY GUY AND HIS BUDDIES

Richard the medic and his buddies, who are stationed in Iraq, have a special mission. Thanks to Soldier’s Angels, they have become well known to the local children. As medics, they give out candy to the Iraqi children they treat. And as they are riding through the city to see if anything suspicious is going on, they throw out candy, left and right, to the kids. The candy comes from donations sent from Soldier’s Angels around the country.

In a recent post, Richard explains, “Us medics have routine medcaps, where we see hundreds of Iraqis in one day. We give them meds and blankets and things. And we give out ya’lls candy. This gives them a favorable impression of us, and makes them less likely to support terrorism against us. The people here, by the way, are very friendly toward us, and ya’ll are helping us to strive to keep it this way.”

Richard was recently contacted by Soldiers’ Angel Amy by e-mail and asked how the humanitarian work they do there contributes both to the security of our own deployed soldiers as well as the well being of the Iraqi people. Richards explains it in this way, “The humanitarian efforts are essential for getting the good-will of the Iraqi people. They see us caring for them, and consequently, they side with us to a greater degree. It is essential that we have the supplies to do this, and only by such organizations like Soldier’s Angels, can we fully meet our needs, as far as candy and toys are concerned, at least. But this is what the Iraqis like more than anything, at our medcaps, if you really want to know."

If you would like to read more of Richard’s posts, you can do that at the German SA blog: http://www.sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40&cat=252 Also SA angel Sara posts many of Richard’s letters on the blogs . If you would be interested in sending candy or other items to Richard the Candy Guy and His Buddies contact Sara at : sje2555@yahoo.com.

WALKING WITH HEROES: AN INTERVIEW WITH EDITOR BOB CALVERT

The idea for Walking With Heroes began much like the beginning of the Soldiers’ Angels. In 2003, Patti Patton-Bader learned of the lonely soldiers stationed overseas from her deployed son and that led to this organization which provides support to our troops. Also in 2003, Bob Calvert was asked to move near his daughter and son-in-law, who were both members of the Army at Fort Riley. His son-in-law was soon deployed, but his daughter remained stateside as her deployment was turned down due to medical reasons.

As Bob continued to live in this military community, he became very aware of the frustrations with the negative news the media continued to report and the fact that none of the positive news was given such as the building of homes, schools, roads, utilities, etc. He also was frequently in the midst of conversations held by military members who had returned from duty in the Middle East and felt these were stories that just had to be told. Thus was born the idea for his book, Walking With Heroes, to give the men and women of our military an opportunity to share their experiences.

There are eight incredible chapters in the first of this unique series. These stories include those of soldiers in action, wives whose husbands are deployed, the emotional story of an injured soldier and the support he and his family receive, and so much more. Walking With Heroes Volume One is now available in paperback from Soldiers' Angels. Walking With Heroes is priced at just $19.95. Soldiers, their families and everybody who supports our Troops and their families will want to read these stories. Plus, it is a fundraiser for Soldiers' Angels! Work on Walking With Heroes Volume Two is underway.

SOLDIERS’ ANGELS FAMILY COOKBOOK

Believe it or not, our Soldiers’ Angels Family Cookbook began with the sharing of a shrimp recipe and a simple comment that we ought to have a cookbook of recipes from our Soldiers’ Angels and ask our soldiers for recipes from them and their families too. Why did I think of asking our soldiers for recipes? Because one of my adopted soldiers, “George”, sees himself as a kind of an “older brother figure” for his guys and he likes to cook for them on Fridays, if they are not out looking for IED’s. When I first “met” George, I asked him what he had to cook with, and he said salt & pepper. So it was off to Big Lots and the spice shelf, then the big sized flat rate box with lots of tape. That is why the name “Family” really fits with this cookbook.

Although we have not received a lot of recipes from our soldiers, we have received some. But we have received many wonderful and creative looking recipes from our Angels! I think Dawn Weitzeil and I have put on pounds just reading these beautiful appetizers, desserts, meals and all kinds of special concoctions! I think the true beauty of a cookbook like ours is that we are getting such a terrific collection of recipes from around the country and from different backgrounds and cultures. This should make our cookbook an attractive collector piece for most kitchens.

We are currently taking a tally on our recipes to see where we are strong and where we are weak. Whether or not we feel we can close it down for contributions by September 30th, we will be making that announcement on the Blog very soon. We are working on a printer to copy the sheets and bind the books, details on how to distribute for sales and, of course, the selling price. As all of this information becomes available, we will let you all know on the Soldiers Blog. In the meantime, we are still accepting recipe contributions at nwflangel@earthlink.net and dawnweitzeil@gmail.com. With the profits from the cookbook, we hope to purchase Kevlar Blankets so that some of our soldiers can insulate their unarmored vehicles with these armored liners for their protection.

Support Our Troops Day

On Sept 3, 2005, a call was put out by Soldiers' Angels and YoungHeroes for people to come out on Sept 17th in small groups to publicly show their support for our brave men and women serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, around the world and now in Louisiana, Mississipi and other areas of the Gulf. People in 16 cities showed their support at 11 am on Sept 17th. Supporters made "Support Our Troops" signs and banners and presented them proudly for our troops, their communities, our country and the world to see. To read some accounts from this day, please visit http://www.calltothenation.com/ .

Angel Tyra posted this touching recount of Support our Troops Day. Thank you to ALL Angels who organized and participated in local events on September 17.

September 17 came and went without very much fan fare. In fact, if you asked anybody what made this day different from any others chances are nobody would be able to tell you. National Support Our Troops day came in as quietly as it ended. It did not receive the spotlight that the Cindy Sheehan's of the world received. Our troops in Iraq won't even know what happened today. So what did happen today? Let me share a little of what I saw in Denver, Colorado.

On the busy intersection of Colorado Blvd and Alameda, a group gathered with their homemade signs that read simply "WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS." Men, women, children and even a baby. They waved their American flags and held their signs high as the cars drove by. With every honk they heard, their smiles became bigger. It was a great feeling to know that so many people supported our men and women fighting the war on terror. Don't get me wrong, not everybody honked and waved as they drove by. Some yelled obscenities or made hand gestures as they passed. One man made a comment to a mother whose son is a medic in the Army. He said he supported the troops by bringing them home now. I thought, doesn't he know that all of us want them to come home? Does he think this mother wants her son fighting in Iraq? But he is there, and she is going to stand by him and support him until he does come home.

As the light changed, a old man walked across the intersection and approached the group waving as he made his way across the street. His hat read WWII Veteran. He was injured twice and received the Purple Heart. As he passed, they shook his hand and said thank you. Yet another car turned the corner and an older man looked out the window of his car, he was wearing a US NAVY hat. He took it off as if saluting the group as the car drove out of sight.

However, for me...it was one simple thing that made standing on that corner one of the most memorable times of my life. As I held my sign I looked across the traffic and noticed a man rolling down his window. He looked at me and yelled "Thank you very much." My eyes focused on the man in a military uniform and, without thinking, I yelled back, "No...THANK YOU!"

Maybe our men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan won't know about the people who stood on the corners around America supporting our troops today. Maybe they won't hear the honking of the horns in support of them. However, we will know and we can tell them. The Veterans we met will remember...and the soldier who drove by and read the signs, he will know and he will tell......AMERICA LOVES YOU AND SUPPORTS YOU.....UNTIL YOU ALL COME HOME."

Angels at Play

2005-09-25T18:45:00.000-07:00

Angels Tour Washington D.C. Area

Five Angels met on Labor Day weekend in the Washington D.C. area to play tourist. They were Joanna from Alabama, Joanna’s son, Teri from Pennsylvania, Teri’s son, Pam from Oregon via CA, plus Mary and Abby from Vermont. Mary and Abby are the only ones who knew each other prior to the trip. The others had only chatted through e-mail.

Their activities included a visit to Kathleen (the MD regional manager) and Ken (our very own hero) in Annapolis. Some of them also visited the Smithsonian, where they saw an exhibit on the history of war in the United States called “The Price of Freedom.” Several soldiers were in the museum, and the Angels took the opportunity to thank them for their service to our country. Quality Angel time was also spent at the motel pool, while their sons were swimming. Souvenir shopping was done at the Pentagon City Mall. Their hotel was also hosting World War II vets, so our Angels were able to hear some of their stories, too, and thank them for their service.

The next vacation is planned for Las Vegas, Nevada in the coming year. Look out, Las Vegas, the Angels are coming!

Cause of the Month

2005-09-25T18:44:00.000-07:00

SA Needs You....To Spread the Word.

No matter how important a cause, or how great the need, if the population at large does not know about it, an organization will not live to its full potential. Our Angels are a dedicated group and work tirelessly to write letters, send care packages and provide our special teams and projects, such as Backpacks for the Wounded, with the necessary supplies to support our sailors, soldiers, marines and airmen. However, Soldiers’ Angels continuously receives more requests for soldier adoptions and, therefore, always needs more Angels and even more community support. This is where our challenge comes in for each and every Angel. Spread the word across the nation (and globe) about our cause.

Unlike many other programs in Soldiers’ Angels, writing or calling newspapers, radio shows and TV programs does not cost money and is relatively quick and easy to do. For newspapers, look in the print edition or visit their websites to find out requirements, such as word limit, and how to submit letters. Many let you email letters, which adds ease. You may have to make a choice whether to submit it as a Letter to the Editor or as an Opinion Article. The specific newspaper will depend on which is the better choice. For radio/TV shows, you can either call or email with information on SA and a request for the show to either mention SA or for a personal/live appearance for a Q&A session.

So you’ve decided to contact a local newspaper and/or radio/TV show. But what do you tell them? First, decide whether you are going to relate your own personal experience with SA or if it will be a more informative piece on the organization in general. Pam from Ohio called a local radio station and asked if they would be interested in doing a story on SA. They requested that she come to the show and do a live interview. “We discussed what SA is and what they do… We talked about how much support for our troops is needed. I talked about my adopted soldier (don't worry, used first name only) and what types of things I send over to him,” Pam said. She said it was a great experience. Pam reminds us, “Small steps...small steps....if all of us take small steps, they can turn into one giant step!”

Deb in MI took a similar approach but instead wrote a letter to a newspaper. She kept it relatively short and simple, so as to grab attention and provide information but not to overload readers. First, she gave a brief description of SA and then told how to register and what the basic requirements were (writing once a week and sending a small care package once a month). Deb also gave a few examples of other ways to get involved, such as the Letter Writing Team and Blankets of Hope. Finally, she closed with, “I encourage all of you to join and support our troops. Regardless of how you feel about the war, our soldiers...need your support. They need to know that they are not forgotten.”

Angels! Our challenge is for each and every one of you is to take thirty minutes of your time to contact a local newspaper, radio, or TV station and spread the word. The only thing it costs is your time, but it could make a drastic difference in the lives of our troops.

Willie's Corner

2005-09-25T18:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Angels and Friends,

The primary mission of SA Germany is to support our wounded heroes who are transitioned through Germany from Iraq and Afghanistan.

We provide Transitional Backpacks for the inpatients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. We also provide other forms of support for the outpatients at nearby Kleber Barracks (picnic visits, day trips, snacks and microwave meals, pictures and letters of support, etc.).

1. For our November, December, January and February backpacks we are in need of the following donations (for more information on these backpacks, please visit http://www.sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40&title=transitional_backpacks&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1):
240 International phone cards
240 Blankets of Hope
240 Sweatpants and Sweatshirts (or Jogging Suits) for cold winter weather
240 T-Shirts (solid color, L, XL, or XXL)
240 Boxerbriefs (L, XL, or XXL
240 Socks
240 Cards and Letters of Encouragement
Snacks and Goodies
Personal hygiene items (deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, lotion, etc.)

2. The Army National Guard Liaison Office at Landstuhl also has a current need (October) for International Phone Cards. (For more information, please visit http://www.sablogs.com/index.php?blog=40&cat=239)

3. Microwaveable meals, cookies, fruit cups, and other snacks for Kleber Barracks. Soldiers often arrive at Kleber from Iraq or Afghanistan in the evenings after regular meal hours. If you can donate these items, or can volunteer to write letters requesting donations from companies, please contact us!

Please notify us when items are shipped so we can look out for them and confirm their arrival. All donations are delivered directly through Willie, Nita, or MaryAnn to Landstuhl hospital and Kleber Barracks. Thank you all for your support of our wounded heroes!

-- Willie, Nita, & MaryAnn
Soldiers' Angels Germany

Angel to Angel

2005-09-25T18:42:00.000-07:00

We'd like to have a different Angel write a special feature article each month on any topic related to our troops. If you have an idea for a future article, please contact Jennifer at editjen at gmail.com. Thanks to Ryan (ImToasterGirl) for this month's article.

R&R: Homecoming Stress and Coping

Our family enjoyed good times when my brother, Mark, came home for rest and recuperation. We didn’t know what to expect besides the regular Mark we knew, a funny, nonchalant, “man’s man” who doesn’t mince words and who can fix anything from a broken pipe to a toaster that keeps catching fire.

During the few weeks of R&R, Mark filled up his schedule with all the things he’d missed the most while living away from his home, his wife and his kids. He relished the chance to do all the things he couldn’t do in distant lands. Mark went to Sea World, fixed up the kids’ playhouse, shopped at Home Depot, had a romantic dinner date with his wife, savored spicy enchiladas and corn toasted tamales, tasted the forgotten tangy sauce steaming from calzone and the smooth tartness of berry yogurt.

After making rounds, visiting and celebrating, Mark scurried like a hungry mouse getting ready for winter. He grew frantic trying to finish self-created “to do” lists. He grew brash and short tempered. Sometimes he needed a lot of space; he preferred to either be alone or in the company of other men. Unconsciously, he’d often walk out of a room soon after a woman joined the room or the conversation.

What did we do wrong? Did Mark need to get away from us or did he simply just need to get away? Things seemed different; he seemed different. Who or what was to blame? R&R did not go exactly how we’d imagined. If we’d only known then what you will know now!

EXPECTATIONS, FANTASIES AND CHANGE

Expectations and fantasies are a normal part of life. Before a reunion, you play out scenes in your head. Maybe you are thinking how the conversation will go, what the person will look like, or imagine a whole scenario playing out. Have you ever noticed that nothing ever goes as expected? Life is not necessarily better or worse than the fantasy you have in your head, but it is DIFFERENT. It’s okay to have fantasies, but do not confuse them with destiny.

The key is to develop your expectations and to simply make sure that they are realistic. For example, if your soldier deploys with your marital relationship having had many problems, do not expect those problems to disappear when he returns. There may be a honeymoon phase upon arrival, but know that core issues are still very alive and need to be addressed. If you always quarreled about finances before deployment, you might quarrel about them during R&R.
Expect change. Yes, you have changed and so has your soldier. Time changes people and their environments. Without growth, there is no life. We are masters of adaptation so expect that your soldier may have changed in a few ways. Viewing change as fearful or negative keeps you from accepting it. Conversely, accepting change helps you to grow and to move forward in the present. If you spend your time blaming or resenting changes, you will waste valuable time and energy. Your resentment will show and it will turn to regret.

View change as opportunity. Change represents new beginnings and it is necessary to accept so long as it is not a change that is considered detrimental. Every experience, every minute, changes us. Choose to welcome change as a necessary and positive challenge. Realize too, that some behaviors you may notice in your soldier are a direct result of what he/she has been through and that some changes last while others are merely transitional coping and adapting strategies.

An example of a transitional coping strategy is given at the beginning of this article where I describe the reunion with my brother. Mark comes home and seems to need a lot of time alone; in particular, away from women. Instantly my mother and I took this behavior personally. We assumed that he was bothered by us. When addressed with his behavior, Mark noted that he was just repeating the circumstances he’d been so used to while in the military. It took him a while before he felt comfortable in a room full of people, including women. We are all creatures of habit!

Importantly, one of the things that both you and your soldier can do to minimize disappointment and maximize the fruition of your expectations is to communicate! Ask your soldier what he expects to do while on leave. Share your own expectations and see where you meet and where you can compromise. For example, does your soldier want any time away from the children? How do you feel about having your children babysat for one night? Does your soldier expect to visit a lot of places or does he simply want to stay close to home? Where does he/she want to eat? Is there anyone special that he/she would like to visit? Make plans. Express any concerns such as how to handle in-laws, children, etcetera.

You will find R&R reunions less stressful if you communicate about activities and concerns beforehand. The reunion will never turn out exactly how you anticipated, but talking about expectations will help you minimize stressors for both you and your soldier. Certain stressors are normal when expecting a reunion such as spousal changes, friends’ and children’s reactions, and marital relationships. Discussing things ahead of time will give you a chance to be proactive instead of reactive. At the same time, allow for life to throw in some curve balls. After all, you will expect them!

HELPFUL HINTS

- You cannot control everything. Don’t even try.
- Let your soldier have as much space and alone time as needed.
- Expect, be a part of and accept change.
- Develop realistic expectations.
- Communicate with your soldier prior to and during R&R.
- Share your experiences as willing.
- Go slowly; don’t try to make up for lost time.
- Spend quality time with your children.
- Reassure your children as change often frightens them.
- Accept that your soldier may be different.
- Intimate relationships may be awkward at first. Take your time to get reacquainted.
- Forget your fantasies; reality may be quite different.
- Communicate with your family.
- Do not deny change or long for the way things used to be; it’s a waste of time.
- Do not blame everyone or everything else for change; this leads to a dead end and could cause more problems.
- Everyone involved in separation, including your soldier and children, have to deal with stress.
- Anxiety is a natural and normal part of getting back together. It’s okay!
- If your soldier seems to cut you off for a while, this is normal. However if your soldier is too detached, unable to sleep, or if he/she seems like a different person, encourage outside assistance.
- An awareness that the soldier no long feels a part of things helps to understand why they can be upset by even the smallest changes.
- Recognition of the pride a partner/relative feels in the way he/she handled everything alone will help the soldier to understand the importance of accepting changes made during separation.
- Once the soldier feels truly at home and safe, behavior such as jumpiness, being overprotective, or going to extremes should subside. Patience is key so be willing to listen and empathize.
- Do not forget yourself as you go through this period of adjustment. Seek support systems.
- It is better to ask than to assume.
- Allow yourself to have fun!

TIPS ON HELPING CHILDREN ADJUST

- Children can get angry about their parent being gone. Listen to them and try to understand.
- Toddlers and preschoolers may act like the homecoming parent is a stranger. They might not understand about “duty” or “mission.” Be patient and gentle.
- Elementary school children and teens may understand but show anger or fear by acting out. - - Be patient, consistent, loving, and firm.
- Get reacquainted; take things slowly.
- Children are people, too. Try to see things from their perspective.
- Remember that children are resilient! They respond well to the most positive things you have to give from your heart.

Thanks to...

2005-09-25T18:41:00.001-07:00

We all get by with a little help from our friends. Big and small, these companies have made our job easier.

The Candy Warehouse (www.candywarehouse.com) in Irwindale, California is giving a 10% discount to Soldiers’ Angels. The code is: dh10 You’ll find sweet treats, nostalgic favorites and holiday candies for your soldiers.

The House of Jerky (www.houseofjerky.net) is offering 15% off orders. There is a link on the right side of the home page titled Support Our Troops. The discount applies to all orders shipped to APO/FPO addresses and all military bases, plus there is free shipping. Use coupon code 522c5a7c5c53ca29cd54. There is a link to Soldiers’ Angels on their site as well. Thank you, House of Jerky!

Curves in South Pasadena, California collected the contents for 57 care packages plus monetary donations from their clients and staff. Nice job and many thanks!

Hickory Farms (www.hickoryfarms.com) is waving their $5 shipping fee for orders going to an APO/FPO address. Click the Free APO/FPO Upgrade link on the left of the home page. Standard shipping will send your order via USPS Priority Mail.

American Young Heroes (www.youngheroes.us) has joined with Soldiers’ Angels in a wonderful new fundraiser. Walking With Heroes, Volume One, is available in paperback in the Angel Store. It can be ordered through our web site or directly from: Bob Calvert
YoungHeroes.US
4245 Pebble Ridge Circle #85
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
If you order directly from Mr. Calvert, please mention Soldiers’ Angels so that we get credit for your purchase.

Louisville Slugger has a tradition since WWII of supporting our men and women in uniform with sporting equipment. Now Operation Slugger (www.operationslugger.org) has been formed. Their goal is to ship 600 kits of new and gently used sporting equipment to Iraq and Afghanistan. There are 100 collection points across America. DHL will ship from those points to Louisville, Kentucky. Thank you, DHL! Money or equipment donations are welcome. See the web site for details.

Under Armour (www.underarmour.com) is offering a 10% discount off the retail price of tactical gear and will ship directly to your soldier. Participating merchants include: Ranger Joe’s (www.rangerjoes.com) 1-800-247-4541, ext. 101., Brigade Quartermasters (www.actiongear.com) 1-888-276-4700 and ADS, Inc. (www.ads-primevendor.com) 1-800-948-9433.

Dunkin' Donuts (www.dunkindonuts.com) will have a monthly lottery to send a case (24 one-pound bags) of coffee to anyone serving in Iraq. Each month 50 military members will be chosen, and each of those will receive a case of coffee. The offer is limited to those who have not previously received any coffee in this lottery. They will also pay all the shipping costs. Please call customer relations at: 781-737-3000 for more information.

Special thanks to Frankford Hospital and Angel Terri. The Christmas in July collection was a great success. They mailed out more than 75 boxes to large units, with all postage paid by the hospital auxiliary. The cookie sale raised $219.00, which was used to buy socks for a unit of 100 men. Cash donations of more than $400.00 poured in. Out of that, $300.00 went towards the purchase of phone cards for Willie to give to the wounded. This special hospital is going to support our troops for Christmas (in December) as well. Many thanks to Denise Smietana, Director of Volunteer Services, Carol Bancroft, of Volunteer Services, and May Rayburn, President of the Frankford Hospital Auxiliary. Bravo for all your work and generosity!

Angel Spotlight

2005-09-25T18:41:00.000-07:00

Spotlight On...
Debbye Shepard (Debbye3248)

Debbye Shepard knows the power of healing through service. When her husband passed away suddenly in June 2004, she was devastated. The next six months were extremely difficult, even with the support of her children and grandchildren. One day her sister Patti sent her a link and advised that she “check out this website.” It was her first introduction to Soldiers’ Angels. Debbye immediately applied to adopt a soldier and rejoiced in her renewed sense of purpose. “That is the day that I finally felt as if my heart were coming alive again,” she remembers.

Writing that first letter was a challenge. Debbye doesn’t feel that she is a great writer but was so pleased with the mission of Soldiers’ Angels that she told herself, “I can do it.” She wrote about her home and family and reminded her soldier how proud she was of him. She hadn’t received an email address for him but remembered to include her own. Two weeks later, she did hear from her soldier and that was the beginning of nine months of support and communication. Debbye writes every week and sends two care packages a month. Her support has extended to her soldier’s family as well. “I now send a letter to his son every month talking about his wonderful dad,” she says.

Hearing from a soldier is always rewarding, but Debbye recognizes that this isn’t always the case. She encourages new Angels to keep writing and sending packages even if their soldier does not respond. “If you keep busy and join other teams available, you will get the utmost satisfaction in knowing that you are helping our troops, especially those who do not receive much support,” Debbye advises. Getting involved and helping in every way she can seems to be her specialty. Debbye found that she had a real knack for fundraisers. Her first, a PT Cruiser event, was a huge success. A soldier from a nearby base came in uniform and items were collected to fill over twenty care packages. It was such a positive experience that the PT Owners Club has made Soldiers’ Angels their official charity. They are hosting another big event in November and Debbye will be there once again, gathering support for our troops.

The Green Bean Coffee House in Iraq, which the MWR has officially named for Soldiers’ Angels, owes much of its success to Debbye’s hard work. With her encouragement, Phil Doles, a former Navy man and employee of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in California, has donated thousands of pounds of coffee and tea for our troops’ enjoyment. “Many Angels were responding to Suzelle’s request for help,” Debbye remembers. In spite of being a relatively new Angel, she stepped forward to help, as well.

Stepping forward is something that Debbye does quite well, which is why it comes as no surprise that she was asked to be a Regional Manager in the Angels Coast to Coast program. “I sheepishly agreed, wondering if I could do it, and the next thing I knew I was the Western Regional Director,” Debbye stated. Though initially nervous about this job, Debbye considers herself blessed to be working with so many wonderful people. Her biggest goal now is to encourage Angels to be Regional Managers and Community Team Leaders in their states. Anyone interested in those jobs can email her at: sawesternregion@gmail.com for the job descriptions.

“Each and every one of you plays a part to make Soldiers’ Angels what it is,” Debbye says. “Give as much time as you can give. Don’t ever forget our mission. Keep the passion of it in your heart, for this is what is most gratifying.”

In Memoriam

2005-09-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

In Memorium

This column will be dedicated to our fallen heroes. We will be listing names, ranks and hometowns of each fallen soldier. Since this our first time running this section, this particular list is particularly long (and heartbreaking). We sincerely hope that this section will be small--even nonexistant--in the future.

May they all be remembered with respect, honor and forever hold a place in our hearts for giving the ultimate sacrifice for their country - their life. With sadness in our hearts, we present the following list of the heroes we have lost.

August 29, 2005
Army Chief Warrant Officer Dennis P. Hay, 32, of Valdosta, Georgia.
Army 2nd Lt. Charles R. Rubado, 23, of Clearwater, Florida.
August 27, 2005
Army Spc. Joseph L. Martinez, 21, of Las Vegas, Nevada.
August 15, 2005
Army Sgt. Paul A. Saylor, 21, of Bremen, Georgia.
Army Sgt. Thomas J. Strickland, 27, of Douglasville, Georgia.
August 9, 2005
Army Spc. Gennaro Pellegrini, Jr., 31, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
August 6, 2005
Army Sgt. Brahim J. Jeffcoat, 25, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Army Spc. Kurt E. Krout, 43, of Spinnerstown, Pennsylvania.
August 3, 2005
Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy M. Bell, Jr., 22, of West Chesterfield, Ohio.
Marine Lance Cpl. Eric J. Bernholtz, 23, of Grove City, Ohio.
Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas William B. Bloem, 20, of Belgrade, Montana.
Marine Lance Cpl. Michael J. Cifuentes, 25, of Fairfield, Ohio.
Marine Lance Cpl. Christopher J. Dyer, 19, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Marine Lance Cpl. Grant B. Fraser, 22, of Anchorage, Alaska.
Army Spc. Jerry L. Ganey, Jr., 29, of Folkston, Georgia.
Army Spc. Mathew V. Gibbs, 21, of Ambrose, Georgia.
Marine Sgt. Bradley J. Harper, 25, of Dresden, Ohio.
Marine Sgt. Justin F. Hoffman, 27, of Delaware, Ohio.
Marine Cpl. David Kenneth J. Kreuter, 26, of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Marine Lance Cpl. Aaron H. Reed, 21, of Chillicothe, Ohio.
Marine Lance Cpl. Edward A. Schroeder II, 23, of Columbus, Ohio.
Marine Cpl. David S. Stewart, 24, of Bogalusa, Louisiana.
Marine Lance Cpl. Adam J. Strain, 20, of Smartsville, California.
Marine Lance Cpl. Kevin G. Waruinge, 22, of Tampa, Florida.
Marine Lance Cpl. William B. Wightman, 22, of Sabina, Ohio.
August 2, 2005
Army Staff Sgt. James D. McNaughton, 27, of Middle Village, New York.
August 1, 2005
Marine Sgt. James R. Graham III, 25, of Coweta, Oklahoma.
Marine Sgt. Nathaniel S. Rock, 26, of Toronto, Ohio.

July 25, 2005
Army Spc. Adam J. Harting, 21, of Portage, Indiana.
July 24, 2005
Army Sgt. James O. Kinlow, 35, of Thomson, Georgia.
July 23, 2005
Marine Sgt. Bryan J. Opskar, 32, of Princeton, Minnesota.
Army Sgt. Jason T. Palmerton, 25 of Auburn, Nebraska.
July 21, 2005
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Travis L. Youngblood, 26, of Surrency, Georgia.
July 16, 2005
Army Staff Sgt. Jorge L. Pena-Romero, 29, of Fallbrook, California.
July 9, 2005
Army Pfc. Eric P. Woods, 26, of Omaha, Nebraska.
July 5, 2005
Army Sgt. Deyson K. Cariaga, 20, of Honolulu, Hawaii.

June 28, 2005
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Danny P. Dietz, 25, of Littleton, Colorado.
Navy Chief Petty Officer Jacques J. Fontan, 36, of New Orleans, Louisiana.
Army Staff Sgt. Shamus O. Goare, 29, of Danville, Ohio.
Army Chief Warrant Officer Corey J. Goodnature, 35, of Clarks Grove, Minnesota.
Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Daniel R. Healy, 36, of Exeter, New Hampshire.
Army Sgt. Kip A. Jacoby, 21, of Pompano Beach, Florida.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Jeffery A. Lucas, 33, of Corbett, Oregon.
Navy Lt. Michael M. McGreevy, Jr., 30, of Portville, New York.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Marcus V. Muralles, 33, of Shelbyville, Indiana.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Shane Eric Patton, 22, of Boulder City, Nevada.
Army Master Sgt. James W. Ponder III, 36, of Franklin, Tennessee.
Army Maj. Stephen C. Reich, 34, of Washington Depot, Connecticut.
Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael L. Russell, 31, of Stafford, Virginia.
Army Chief Warrant Officer Chris J. Scherkenbach, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida.
Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class James Suh, 28, of Deerfield Beach, Florida.
June 24, 2005
Marine Cpl. Carlos Pineda, 23, Los Angeles, California.
June 23, 2005
Army Sgt. 1st Class Christopher W. Phelps, 39, of Louisville, Kentucky.
June 22, 2005
Army Sgt. Arnold Duplantier II, 26, of Sacramento, California.
June 21, 2005
Army Spc. Christopher L. Hoskins, 21, of Danielson, Connecticut.
Army Spc. Nicholas R. Idalski, 23, of Crown Point, Indiana.
June 20, 2005
Army Pfc. Christopher R. Kilpatrick, 18, of Columbus, Texas.
June 16, 2005
Army Staff Sgt. Christopher N. Piper, 43, of Marblehead, Massachusetts.
June 15, 2005
Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan R. Flores, 18, of San Antonio, Texas.
Marine Lance Cpl. Dion M. Whitley, 21, of Los Angeles, California.
June 8, 2005
Army Pfc. Douglas E. Kashmer, 27, of Sharon, Pennsylvania.
Army Sgt. Michael J. Kelley, 26, of Scituate, Massachusetts.
June 8, 2005
Army Pfc. Eric T. Burri, 21, of Wyoming, Michigan.
June 5, 2005
Army Sgt. Humberto F. Timoteo, 25, of Newark, New Jersey.
Army Staff Sgt. Justin L. Vasques, 26, of Manzanola, Colorado.

May 30, 2005
Air Force Capt. Derek Argel, 28, of Lompoc, California.
Air Force Staff Sgt. Casey Crate, 26, of Spanaway, Washington.
Air Force Maj. William Downs, 40, of Winchester, Virginia.
Air Force Capt. Jeremy Fresques, 26, of Clarkdale, Arizona.
May 27, 2005
Army CW4 Matthew Scott Lourey, 40, of East Bethel, Minnesota.
Army CW2 Joshua Michael Scott, 28, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.
May 24, 2005
Army Sgt. First Class Randy D. Collins, 36, of Long Beach, California.
May 20, 2005
Army Sgt. Kurt D. Schamberg, 26, of Euclid, Ohio.
May 2, 2005
Army Pfc. Jeremy L. Drexler, 23, of Topeka, Kansas.

April 29, 2005
Army Capt. Stephen W. Frank, 29, of Michigan.

April 6, 2005
Army Chief Warrant Ofc. Clint J. Pather, 32, of Cheney, Washington.

December 7, 2004
Army Sgt. 1st Class, Todd C. Gibbs, 37, of Angelina, Texas.

September 30, 2004
Army Staff Sgt., Darren J. Cunningham, 40, of Groton, Massachusetts.

August 6, 2004
Marine Lane Cpl, Larry L. Wells, 22, of Mount Hermon, Louisiana.

March 18, 2004
Marine Cpl, Andrew Brownfield, 24, of Akron, Ohio.

February 2, 2005
Marine Lance Cpl, Travis M. Wichlacz, 22, of West Bend, Wisconsin.

Contact Us!

2005-09-25T18:39:00.000-07:00

This newsletter is written, edited, designed, and published by a team of Soldiers' Angels who are very proud and happy to be able to work with this great organization and support our amazing military servicemembers!

Editor: Jennifer (krzysjl)
Writer: Bobbi (bobbi514)
Writer: Carrie (GoBob07)
Writer: Chris Ann (Kuhar352)
Writer: Ingrid (either Skeeter1211 or Dave22777)
Writer: Judi (ProudFlagwaver)
Writer: Karen (SoldiersKareBear)
Writer: Kim (kjkimbo1)
Writer: Lori (LorLor61)
Writer: Stephanie (angelidea)
Web Design: Holly (art-epiphany)

Please give us your feedback! We invite you all to be a part of this newsletter by acting as our eyes and ears. Please let us know if there's a story you think should be included in a future issue or if you really like (or aren't too thrilled with) something we did in this issue. As we move ahead with future editions, we'll need your input to continue making this newsletter the best that it can be.

Please contact Jennifer at editjen at gmail.com with all comments and suggestions.

As always, it's an honor to work with you all.

From the Director's Desk

2005-07-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

Hello friends,

My name is Don MacKay and I am the Executive Director and General Manager of Soldiers’ Angels. As many of you may have seen posted on our MSN Boards, Patti has announced that she has decided to step back from active management of the day to day operations of Soldiers’ Angels. With the assistance of our President, Ana-Marie Smith and our Operations Manager, Linda Dominik, I have humbly agreed to assume responsibility for the day to day operations of Soldiers’ Angels from the incredible woman who founded this amazing organization and who worked so hard to make Soldiers’ Angels what it is today. Patti has decided that the time has come for her to step back, rest and enjoy the wonderful organization that she has brought into our lives.

Before I continue, I would like to say a couple of words about and to Patti. Patti, you began this organization out of your home and now look at where we are. Because of your vision, determination and most of all your big heart, this organization has been directly responsible for supporting thousands of soldiers and their families throughout some of the most difficult times in their lives. The various projects you have supervised have helped to provide comfort as well as save lives. And then there are the wonderful Angels you have brought together from all over the nation and the world to continue the mission you have started. You have given us all a home where we can share our stories, receive support and work collectively on the mission that is Soldiers’ Angels. I for one admire you so very much and pledge to work hard to make you very proud. Patti, we all love you and hope that you are able to devote some time to yourself for once. Our thoughts and prayers are always with you. Thank you, Patti. Thank you for everything.

Many of you I know and still many more of you I do not. For those of you whom I have not yet had the pleasure to meet, I look forward to getting to know you in the days, weeks and months to come. First though I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart for answering the call to support our brave soldiers. As you all know very well, they need us now more than ever. For those of you who have worked so hard with Patti for so long, I want to assure you and reassure you that the mission of Soldiers’ Angels is going to continue without falter. I also want you to know that even though Patti won’t be as active in the day to day operations, she will still be a very integral part of this organization providing direction and consultation to myself and the management of Soldiers’ Angels. I am going to work tirelessly on your behalf and the soldiers we serve.

There are many new and exciting things going on here at Soldiers’ Angels and in the coming weeks I plan to highlight these things with you. Very soon, we will be adding a spot to the MSN Boards as well as to the main website. This section will be called “From the Directors’ Desk…”, and it is where we will showcase special projects that we are working on as well as bring you current on things we have accomplished. We are going to continue to introduce wonderful Angels who have stepped up to help lead our organization into the future in various ways. We will be talking about our community outreach program, our fund-raising efforts and our push to let America know about the work we are doing to support our soldiers. We need the country to know how great and urgent the need to support our brave men and women in uniform is. I encourage you to look at the many projects and teams currently running and to volunteer to help one or more of them. I also encourage you to contact your Regional Director and volunteer to help spread the word. I know many of us don’t feel that we would make the best spokespeople because we are shy. I will let you in on a little secret: First, get excited! Think about the men and women who will open up a letter or care package today and smile, and get pumped! Then, go tell a friend or a neighbor about what it is we are doing and see if they would like to help. Talk to your pastor or religious leader and ask if your place of worship would be willing to help. Talk to the other members of the PTA to see if the school your kids attend would like to volunteer. Before you know it, you will be talking to co-workers, the clerk at the grocery store--excitement has a way of spreading all by itself. It just needs you as a vessel. Can you do that? I am willing to bet anything that you can, and I look so forward to hearing of your many successes.

My friends, this is an exciting time here at Soldiers’ Angels. We are witnessing our organizations growth and expansion enabling us to provide support and service to soldiers and their families in ways we were never able to in the past and I can only imagine what the future holds. I believe great things are in store for Soldiers’ Angels, and with your continued hard work and dedication I believe that we will exceed our wildest dreams.

So once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You are making an incredible difference in so many lives and now it is time to kick it into high gear. Tell everyone you know and even those you don’t that Soldiers’ Angels NEEDS THEM.

With honor and humility,

Donald William MacKay
Executive Director and General Manager
Soldiers’ Angels

Angels at Work

2005-07-19T20:36:00.000-07:00

CALLING ALL ANGELS, HEROES AND FAMILIES FOR A SOLDIERS’ ANGELS COOKBOOK!

Soldiers’ Angels is collecting recipes for our first cookbook. These recipes can be things you cook on the grill, salads, deserts or favorite holiday recipes.

We are looking for recipes from Angels and our heroes; don’t forget to inform your soldiers about the cookbook so they can contribute recipes or ask their families to submit their favorites, as well.

When submitting recipes please include the following information:

- Recipe Name
- Name and address of person sending the recipe (for our records only ~~ it will not be put in the book)
- Whether the person submitting the recipe is an angel, soldier, or SA family member
- If a soldier, what branch of the military they are in (unless other wise requested, this will be put in the cookbook)

Please be sure to send all recipes by September to:

Judi at nwflangel at earthlink.net OR Dawn at dawnweitzel at msn.com

Who knows? This could lead to a cookoff to beat all.

MAINE GREETER TEAM

Soldiers’ Angels is looking for volunteers who can put together “Welcome Home Packages” for our troops as they arrive at the airport in Bangor, Maine.

Many of you have heard about the Main Troop Greeters, a wonderful group of dedicated WWI and Vietnam Veterans who are available at all hours of the day and night to greet our heroes as they return from overseas duty. Wouldn’t it be great if they could also hand out “Welcome Home” package to each soldier that they greet?

All you'll need is 10-20 baggies in a box, and put in each baggie 2-3 items, close and ship. You are asked to do this once a month for just six months. (And remember: the more angels who sign up, the less you will have to ship!)

Suggested items for the baggies include: power bars, Little Debbie-type cakes, gum, snack crackers, peanut packs, gummy worms, small bag chips, small Pringles cans, jerky, small cookie packs, breath mints, cheese with pretzel sticks, candy bars, etc. You can be as creative in the decoration of the bag as you want. Just remember to include a note of thanks to the soldier with each package.

If you would like to help out, please contact janettemarvin at bellsouth.net for more information.

NJ ANGELS SORT 1,000 POUNDS OF SCRUBS FOR OUR HEROES

A dedicated group of Angels recently sorted 1,000 "in the blistering New Jersey sun," reported Angel Lynette. She stated, "We had some wonderful angel help with this project. If it weren't for the Angel help of Nila, Lynda, Maria, Chris & Theresa, these scrubs would never have been sorted. I can not thank you all enough for your help."

A big Angel thank you goes out to the 4 "Fledging Angels" who pitched in, as well: Lynette's son Anthony and niece Carly, as well as 2 local teenagers, , Jason and Tommy, who were performing community service for their confirmation. Lynette noted, "If all our young people are like these kids, our world will be in good hands!"

Lynette would also like to express her gratitute to Sue, the President of the Ladies Auxiliary of the VFW in Point Pleasnt. We now have homes for the bags of sorted scrubs until they can be mailed! The VFW has offered to store them and is allowing SA to ship them from the hall.

PATTI’S BLOG INVITED TO JOIN THE U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

A great honor has been bestowed upon SA’s founder, Patti Bader. The U.S. Library of Congress has selected her weblog, http://www.brandonblog.homestead.com/ , for inclusion in a historic collection of Internet resources on the War on Iraq. The Library of Congress seeks to preserve information regarding Operation Iraqi Freedom and the general war on terror.

Here is an excerpt from an email from the Library of Congress, Washington D.C.:

“Our plan is to engage the Internet Archive, on behalf of the Library of Congress, to collect content from your Web site at regular intervals during the War. The Library will make this collection available to researchers onsite at Library facilities. The Library also wishes to make the collection available to offsite researchers by hosting the collection on the Library's public access Web site. The Library hopes that you share its vision of preserving Web materials about the War and permitting researchers from across the world to access them.”

Congratulations Patti – once again, your hard work and dedication has ensured that “No Soldier Will Go Unloved.”

GI BRACELETS FOR SALE

On June 14th, Soldiers’ Angels formed a special partnership with GI Bracelet to resell GI Bracelets for individual and organizational fund raising efforts.

The bracelets cost $1.00 each and the proceeds will be donated to a military charity of your choice. You can buy as many as you wish for that price and then resell them for $5.00. Suggested ideas for reselling include fund raisers, tag sales, or to neighbors, friends and family and coworkers.

Any proceeds raised from the sale of these bracelets is yours to keep because you have already donated the $1.00 per bracelet when you purchased them. Soldiers’ Angels hopes that this partnership can be used as a way to help subsidize all the time, energy, and money that Angels have put into supporting our troops and their families. The official public announcement that Angels are authorized to resell GI Bracelets can be found at gi-bracelet.org. Of course, if you prefer, you may donate all proceeds to the Soldiers’ Angels Foundation.

Since the money received from the sales is mailed out on a weekly basis to the military charities named, Angels are asked not to order more GI Bracelets than you think you can sell. To see how much money has been raised to date, check out the “Money Raised” section of www.gi-bracelet.org.

If you are interested in making a purchase, visit the SA Only page at https://www.gi-bracelet.org/GIBracelet/SoldiersAngels.html. To access the page, the user name is “sa” and the password is “angel.”

Please do not order these bracelet to sell on eBay; we don’t want to give counterfeiters an opportunity to dilute our cause and efforts to support the troops.

ANGELS NOW ELIGIBLE FOR THE PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD

This award was created by President George W. Bush to give Presidential recognition to individuals, families, and groups who meet specific requirements for volunteer service, measured by the number of service hours performed over a12- month period. Soldiers' Angels has announced that it is teaming with the White House to become a Certifying Organization for the PVSA.

As SA volunteers, Angels are role models in their community, donating their time, energy, and talents to support our deployed heroes and ensure that no soldier will go unloved, walk alone, or be forgotten until they all come home. Becoming a CVO and offering this award is Soldiers' Angels way of thanking all Angels—and, hopefully, inspire others in their communities to make volunteering a central part of their lives.For more information about the requirements for this award, please see the "Documents" on the MSN message board or send an e-mail to apvsaprojectteam at gmail.com . Please be sure to put “PVSA Question” in the subject line. All emails will be answered as quickly as possible.

OPERATION TOP DOG

While Paul, one of our military heroes, was deployed, his beloved Newfoundland dog ran away and unfortunately never returned home. During this time, Paul, who was wounded and scheduled to return home on July 6th. His fiancée, Faith, did not want him to return home to find that his pet dog was gone--so she went about trying to get him a Newfoundland puppy as a surprise.

She contacted SA to see if there was any way they could help this wounded hero get a new dog. A post was put on the message board and the Angels sprang to action. Angel Renee from IL contacted a local radio station to see if they could help. They aired her story and a breeder (the Davis family in IL) heard the story and donated a Newfoundland, food, and medications.

However, one obstacle remained: the dog was in Illinois and Paul and Faith were in Ohio. So another post went up, asking if there were any Angels who could help get the dog from Spring Grove, IL to West Salem, Ohio . Angel Renee from IL picked up the pup on July 3rd, met Angel Penny in Indiana , who then took the dog to Toledo, OH, where Michigan Angel Nalon took over the final leg of the journey and presented the dog to Faith in West Salem, OH.

Thanks to the generosity of so many wonderful people, Paul was welcomed home by his family, fiancee, and friends, and by his new dog, KitKat, as well.

SA MAKES ITS GOOD HOUSEKEEPING DEBUT

Good Housekeeping magazine featured Operation Top Knot in a recent issue; as a result, OTK has received some much-needed assistance. Because of the article in the July issue, Angel Audri receives at least 10 emails a day from people who know expecting families or who just want to help. Donations have increased and many very talented people have lent a hand to help support our military families. And Operation Top Knot is not the only beneficiary of this publicity: Soldiers’ Angels has seen an increase in adoption inquiries, as well!

SA’S 4TH OF JULY VISIT TO GERMANY’S KLEBER BARRACKS

MaryAnn Philips submitted this heartwarming account of an Independence Day spent with some true heroes.

As we sit outside the barracks on this beautiful Independence Day, the planes heading into Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany fly overhead. Each time, we all look up. “C-17,” comments a soldier, “much more comfortable evac than a C-130.” “C-5,” says another, a few minutes later. Then, “another C-17,” says a Marine. Each time, we fall silent for a moment before we start talking again.

They talk about how weird it is to ride on the bus from Ramstein to the hospital on a public highway with non-military vehicles all around them. One says, “I’m like, those vehicles are so close to us! Where the &#^#^% is the gunner - why isn’t he firing warning shots at them?!?” He’s been here for two days now, so it’s funny.

I look over at a guy with a cast on his arm who’s really quiet and ask, “When’d you get here?” “A couple of hours ago”, he answers. I hand him a beer and welcome him “home.”

As always, they can’t initially comprehend what the Angels are doing there. “You guys aren’t military, are you?” “Is your husband down range?” “Are you a military mom?” they ask.

“Then why are you here?” they eventually ask.

“Well, we’re Soldiers’ Angels and we’re here because we love and support you.”

A chorus of “Wow, that’s really nice,” “Cool!,” “We get so much stuff from ya’ll down range, “ “Damn… ” rings out.

Willie, Rudi, Natalie and I arrive at 10 am because we know the staff is busy with new arrivals in the afternoons. We have snacks like brownies and chips in baskets decorated with red, white and blue ribbons, 5 more pictures for the Wall of Thanks (our goal is to fill the hallways of the barracks with pictures from people back home as a personal expression of thanks and support), and 10 more transitional backpacks for the hospital.

After we’re done, we go out to the picnic table outside the barracks. A group of younger troops who feel well enough and have passes are gathering to go into town for a local street festival. They are apparently waiting on a straggler, a female soldier. Her roommate yells out regular reports through the window of their room in the barracks: “She’s in the shower!” and later, “She’s getting dressed!”, prompting catcalls and groans from the group. It takes about an hour, but they finally head out.

Then we take over the picnic table. Willie and Rudi brought soft drinks, beer, and picnic baskets full of food, plates, silverware – even a tablecloth. We know there are lots of guys who don’t feel up to leaving the barracks and don’t have much to look forward to this 4th of July.

As guys come out for some sun or to smoke, we round them up. Soon it’s standing room only. It’s like a big backyard picnic with a bunch of strangers who come and go, but everybody has fun and is able to forget about other stuff for a little while. Our evening finally ended at 9 pm.

Thank you, Angels & Friends, for your support!

Everything you do--your cards, letters, pictures, Blankets of Hope, items for the Transitional Backpacks, microwave meals, donations for phone cards, etc.--makes a difference!

For more information on supporting our projects in Germany, please contact Willie at JosephineFS at aol.com or MaryAnn at maryann.phillips at gmail.com –or visit http://www.soldierangels.org/ .

Angels at Play

2005-07-19T20:35:00.000-07:00

NEW ENGLAND BBQ

On July 16, Soldiers' Angels from around the New England area gathered for a BBQ. There were 9 Massachusets and Connecticut Angels in all (with some driving over 2 hours to join the festivities!). Kim, Danielle, Paula (aka Cricket), Patty, Becky, Amy, Tracey, Kelly and Kathy were all present to share in the great food, conversations and gifts! Every Angel left with a Soldiers' Angels pin and coin set donated by none other than the "Head of all Angels," Patti Bader. There were also books and magazines available for the taking that were donated by various people for our soldiers. Kim stated, "The weather was absolutely beautiful and the company was wonderful!"

The New England Angels plan to hold regular gatherings; for information on future events, please contact Kim at justinkim69 at aol.com.

MICHIGAN ANGELS CONNECT

Nine Michigan Angels gathered on July 9 for a "meet n' greet" (and "eat"!) at a Canton-area Denny's. Angels introduced themselves and talked about why each got involved with SA. Although the majority of the morning was spent getting to know their fellow Angels, fundraising and community outreach were also discussed.

There will be a monthly Michigan Angels meeting somewhere in the state every second Saturday (the location will change to accomodate all Angels throughout this spreadout state). For more information, please contact Chele at chelestair at earthlink.net or Nalon at naloncolley at cs.com.

On the Frontline

2005-07-19T20:33:00.000-07:00

While we Angels don't expect to hear from the wonderful military men and women we support, it's always nice to be surprised by a free mail or an email. Here are a few to remind us all of how much we are appreciated.

"I got your letter today and read it immediately. You are such a great person. I feel so lucky. I wanted to say thank you so much for being my angel. I’m so happy that I have people like you who is always taking care of the needs of others and always worrying and caring about the things others forget. I’m really happy that you guys came into my life. I remember always and will never forget how much this means to me, especially because I’m by myself here. You came into my life when I needed you the most and for that I can’t repay you because it’s priceless. I will never forget when the card arrived today. It was such a joy and morale boost. To be honest with you, I started to cry because I feel so blessed."

"It was good to receive your letter and thank you for being part of the Soldiers’ Angels organization. It’s always nice to receive mail from strangers, supporting us in what we are trying to accomplish here in Iraq. "

"Thanks for taking the time to write and share your news about your life."

"Thank you for taking time to write and thank you for all your support. You are incredible."

"Thanks for the colorful card with flowers. It has become my new window when relaxing. I’ve been working hard in the gym. It’s one way to work off stress. I can’t wait to look back on this all when I’m enjoying the freedom I fought so hard for."

"We are fine here. Working nonstop. The time flies by that way. We have had a few hard times and a lot of good. The soldiers see the good and also see the support from the angels. A definite blessing for us. Thanks from my soldiers and me. Support from home is awesome. "

"Thank you for writing such a beautiful letter…I truly appreciate it. I thank you very much for taking time out of your busy schedule to keep us in your mind and prayers."

Willie's Corner

2005-07-19T20:24:00.000-07:00

OREGON NG SOLDIER LOST HIS HEART IN HEIDELBERG, GERMANY!

On July 3rd, Mary Ann, Natalie, Rudi, and I were at Kleber Barracks in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Our Swiss Angel Natalie came with us for the first time. She lives near Landstuhl Hospital. (For MaryAnn`s story about this visit, please see Angels at Work.)

While sitting at the picnic table outside Kleber Barracks, I noticed a soldier standing nearby in BDUs who seemed to be listening intently to our conversation. A few minutes later I had to drive off post with another soldier to the gas station to buy something. When I got back a lot of the soldiers were hungry, so I was busy for a while unpacking our picnic baskets. We had a lot of German food with us: Rudi`s special noodle salad, a delicious Bauernbrot (farmer bread), housemade sausages (means Wurst), canned liverwurst, Blutwurst (blood sausage), and more.

When I was done, I sat down again to eat something myself and noticed I was sitting next to that soldier in camo. When I looked on his left arm I saw his unit patch – WOO HOO, I thought!

A snake! And the first thing I thought of was the Snake River and Oregon and Matthew Braddock's Purple Heart ceremony! So I asked the soldier, “Is that a snake?" He answered, "Yes Ma'am, it is! I am from the National Guard. The 2nd Battalion, 116th Armor Cavalry, was originally constituted on 4 March 1920 in the Idaho National Guard as the 1st Cavalry. It organized between March-November 1920 in the valley of the Snake River……."

And I said, “I am Willie! I was in Oregon in April 2005 at Matthew Braddock's Purple Heart ceremony". And he said, “Me too!" Sgt. Calvin J.S. then said, “We met there but I wasn't sure if it was you, so I didn't say anything! Great to see you again – wow, small world! I'm in Matthew's unit. I'm going back soon to my guys in Iraq. They're waiting for me. It's not good that I'm here and my guys are in Iraq."

We talked about Matthew how he has now learned to walk without crutches and so on… (Here is the story about Matthew: http://soldiersangelsnetwork.blogspot.com/2005/05/soldiers-angels-at-matthew-baraddock-s.html )

Since I had the next day off of work, I asked Calvin, “Would you like to go to Heidelberg? I would like to show you something from my wonderful country!" And he answered quickly, “Yes that would be great!" Rudi said to him, “My wife can you pick up at 11 am at the South Gate". But Calvin answered, “Too late - at 7am! The days are so short here.” We finally agreed on 9am, which was still pretty early for me because I needed 1.5 hours to drive to Kleber during the morning rush hour.

We met at 9am at the gate, although I was a bit late due to all the traffic. Calvin was waiting at the gate. As I drove up with my red Nissan 240 SX he called out, “Is that you?" And our wonderful day began!

So we went to Heidelberg. It was so hot that day I cannot tell you. On the way there in the car I told him something about our wonderful Pfalz-Rhineland region. For more Information about the Rhineland see: http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/encyclopedia/r/rh/rhineland-palatinate1.htm .

Calvin kept saying, “It looks like Oregon here! I feel at home! No one will believe this! The green hills and fields! So far from my home in Oregon!" He told me, “I've never been to Germany or Europe. I have never visited a castle! I've never sat outside a sidewalk café with a cup of coffee….." Before Calvin and I enter the castle grounds, we had to walk around the gardens to the hill and go through the stone gates to the side of the castle, which had a lookout where we could see all the way down the Neckar River. Heidelberg is the headquarters from the US Army Europe, too. (http://www.heidelberg.army.mil/sites/about/city.asp)

Calvin kept saying, “What a beautiful and breathtaking place to visit!” It was great, and the old castle really is amazing!

Anyway, one of Calvin's dreams was to sit in a café. So after we visited the castle, we sat at the small Castle Café just outside the South Gate under a large old tree. Here he tried his first strong German coffee with a German apple pie (gedeckter Apfelkuchen). He loved it. After our stop we went into the old town just below the castle to soak up the surroundings. When we arrived at the Korn Marketplace, we visited Old Town Heidelburg with its small shops, old church and wonderful coffeehouses. We had to stop there at another café and order a second strong coffee. It really is a wonderful experience, to just to sit on the sidewalk, watch the people, talk and relax!

Suddenly, the weather changed dramatically! A thunderstorm was coming. So we moved inside the café. After the rain stopped and we went to the car to drive further to Mannheim, Ludwigshafen, and Bad Dürkheim. Bad Dürkheim is located in the mildest climatic zone north of the Alps. Situated only 30 minutes from Heidelberg, this historic health resort, which can trace its history back well over a thousand years, nestles in the area where the eastern hills run into the Palatine Forest, one of the largest nature parks in Germany.

We had lunch here in Bad Dürkheim at the wonderful old Restaurant Dürkheimer Faß (Faß means Barrel). I ordered us both a typical German meal: Rhineland Palatine fresh pork sausages (Bratwurst) with Bratenjus, sauerkraut, and mashed potatoes. When Calvin tried it he said, “What a delicious flavor!" Normally you need a doggy bag at this restaurant, but we both licked our plates clean! After lunch we drove back through the rain to Kaiserslautern.

Fortunately, I had a backpack for Calvin with a blanket (the transport airplanes are so cold), a sleep mask and earplugs. It also contained underwear, socks, Tshirt, personal items, candy, and get well cards. (If you would like to help us provide Transitional Backpacks for our next visit to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, please email Willie at josephinefs2654 at gmail.com.) In the past 4 weeks we brought 40 backpacks to Landstuhl and fulfilled a request for phone cards from a Major from the Army National Guard Liaison Office. Phone cards are really needed for the soldiers in Landstuhl!)

We both had a wonderful time--and one of our Heroes had a Happy 4th of July 2005!

Wilhelmine Aufmkolk (Willie)
"May No Soldier Go Unloved"
josephinefs2654 at gmail.com

Team Updates

2005-07-19T20:13:00.000-07:00

TLC Team

The purpose for the TLC Team is to provide additional and much-needed support to our heroes facing desperate circumstances (i.e., those who are wounded, distressed, or without family support or letters of encouragement). Team members are always on "alert", ready, willing and able to come through for our heroes.

The TLC Team consists of 15 Angels and works closely with our founder, Patti Bader, administrators, state managers and many other Angels, as well as outside sources, to see to the needs of those with special circumstances. When the team leader (Angel Eileen) is apprised of a "TLC" situation or learns of a particular situation through our daily reports, she will either place a post on the forum under "TLC Requests" or contact a team member with the necessary information, who will then write a post.

Here is just one example of the impact made by the TLC Team:

I am not sure if I am sending this message to the right person. My sister is Kristie XXXX stationed in Iraq. I wanted to thank you for spending time out of your life to talk to her. It really means a lot to all of her family. I couldn't imagine being in Iraq myself, but I am sure if I was, I would want to hear from anyone I could. You are a very special person to do what you are doing. Thank you again for what you do and may God bless you and yours.

Sincerely,Miranda

If you would like more information about the TLC Team, please contact Eileen at einch1 at hotmail.com.

Wounded TLC Team

The Wounded TLC Team is now almost 300 members strong! They send out approximately 1000 cards and letters per month and help with supplies to numerous hospitals and aid in special care to wounded soldiers and their families. Although they don't usually hear back from the recipients, it is so gratifying for these Angels to know that they have eased someone's burden in some small way!

For more information, please contact the WTLC coordinators, Elaine at bakerdzen at earthlink.net or Lynette at frascella4 at aol.com.

Letter Writing Team

The LWT had an outstanding 2nd quarter 2005 with over 27,000 letters/cards being sent to our deployed men and women (over 9,100 of those were sent during the month of June alone), thanks to 785 LWT writers. This team is always looking for more writers to ensure that no soldier is unloved and/or forgotten.

Besides letter writing, the month of June was a busy one for the LWT with the addition of 11 new LWT team leaders. Welcome new team leaders: Larisa AhMu, Amber Brickl, Dave Cunningham, Angela Taylor, Mel Mitchell, Vicki Mask, Lydia Stagg, Kelly Johnson, Lisa Martin, Mischelle Andrade, and Christina Webber.

The LWT is comprised of Soldiers' Angels that enjoy writing to ourheroes and know how important it is for them to hear their name at"mail call". Soldiers' who have submitted themselves and or beensubmitted through the SA website are distributed via the LWT "TeamLeaders" on a nightly basis. Though each Soldier is assigned to anAngel, the LWT provides additional support with extra cards andletters. The LWT writer is only ask to send each soldier that receiveone card/letter, but know they do more than one. Some even send mini care packages to some of the soldiers they correspond with.

If you are interested in joining the LWT as a writer, email Linda D. at lindom at cablelynx.com and she will provide you with full information about LWT and information she needs to get you started. General questions about the LWT can be directed to Sara at sje2555 at yahoo.com and/or Linda at lindom at cablelynx.com. They are always around to help and answer your questions about LWT.

Living Legends

Living Legends is a relatively new SA team. This courageous group of Angels perform one of the most emotionally challenging jobs of all: they compare SA’s list of registered heroes to the Department of Defense’s casualty list. When a match is found, the team researches for the family’s information and for general information about the fallen hero. The team then sends cards/letters to the families, asking if they need assistance and for permission to donate a living tree to honor their fallen hero. Families can then plant this tree in their yard or somewhere that they can visit, such as the cemetery or favorite park. If they do not have room for a tree, team members offer a wreath in remembrance. Team members also make follow up calls to make sure everything is okay, the tree is doing fine and to see if the family needs any assistance.

The Living Legends team is in need of donations to help with these trees and wreaths. The trees cost approximately $125.00 to $150.00 and have established a relationship with a wonderful nursery. TYTY from Georgia has been doing a great job; special thanks to J.W. for contacting the families and determining what tree is best for their area. For more information or to contribute, please contact Cathy at CWTreefrog at aol.com.

Christmas Team

Merry Christmas to all Angels! Debra Hicks is the team leader of the Christmas Team, which is gearing up for the holiday season by collecting trees and stockings for our deployed heroes.

There are several ways to get involved with this team. One group consists of Angels who can collect stuffers (such as socks, lip balm, small hand lotion, phone cards, hot chocolate, instant apple cider mix, coffee singles) and ornaments. Stocking makers are also needed: all you need is an average size stocking, and Debra will match you up with someone on the "stuffers" team. Stocking makers are asked to send completed stockings directly to the soldiers. (There is another dedicated group who is making stockings and filling them at their location. They will also ship straight to the APO when the time comes.)

Lastly, the Christmas Team is looking for Tree Collectors. If you have miniature artificial trees, please let Debra know. They need lots of them! Tee Collectors will also ship directly to the APO Address when the time comes--so please hold onto those trees! (If you can supply the ornaments, too, that would be wonderful.) Also, if any Angels have access to larger trees and are willing to ship directly to the APO when the time comes, please contact Cathy. Those are good for the larger meeting rooms.

If you would like to help but can't join a team now, PLEASE don't let that stop you from sending something to one of the members of any of these teams. Contact Debra and she will tell you where to ship your donation, whether it be stockings or stuffers. This team is collecting for 40,000 stockings and need every Angel’s help! For more information or to help, please contact Debra at dahicks at worldnet.att.net .

ESquad

The ESquad has received a few requests for acoustic guitars, flags that can be flown on one of the camps in Afghanistan to be signed and donated to children groups who support our troops, and sports equipment for troops. If you can help with any of these items, please contact Mel at mel.firestone at gmail.com.

The ESquad would like to share the following message of thanks with all Angels:

Hello from Iraq. Trust me when I tell you that we appreciate anyone that supports what we are doing over here. The few times we can catch the news, it seems that all they report is the negative. We are doing some great things over here and I wish those stories were being told as much as the violence and deaths that occur. I appreciate you and your organization, you are all true American Patriots.

Sincerely,
SFC Philip

Cards + Letters Team

Another new team is the Cards + Letters Team. This 188-member team takes all requests for cards (any occasion) and letters from anyone whose soldier or their family might need a little extra support. If you have a request, please email Debby at missouriangel at mindspring.com and put Cards + Letters Team in subject line.

The team will be sent all the names and addresses of those needing cards and letters on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week. If you would like to join this newly formed team, please email Debby.

Cause of the Month

2005-07-19T20:01:00.000-07:00

First Response Backpacks

The majority of the nation’s attention focuses on troops deployed and active in a combat zone. Once they leave combat, however, they are often ignored or forgotten. Ideally, our troops would all return home in one piece to the waiting arms of loved ones. However, all too often our military men and women leave the battlefield to go to a Combat Support Hospital (CSH) due to injuries. Soldiers generally arrive only with what they were wearing when wounded--and many times, those clothes are in shreds from the attack and subsequent medical attention. It can be weeks before the heroes personal belongings arrive.

Soldiers’ Angels provides a way for these wounded heroes to be more comfortable and have some love from home during this traumatic time. First Response Backpacks contain the basic essentials that soldiers are lacking, including clothing and toiletries. A medic in Iraq emailed Soldiers’ Angels regarding the kits: “The First Response Kits arrived and unfortunately the very next day we had two of our soldiers critically inured. I had placed the packs in my Battalion Commander's truck, so when we went to the CSH, I was able to give the soldiers those packs and they truly appreciated it.”

Two ways exist for Angels to help out with First Response Backpacks. You can put together your own backpack (or two or three), filled with the following items: a pair of socks, boxers, shorts, brown/white tee shirt, lounge pants, a small blanket and toiletries (such as deodorant, shampoo, lotion, lip balm, razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, soap, shave cream and a comb/brush). Clothing sizes should be large or extra-large. Also enclose a prepaid phone card. Blankets should measure 36-40 inches wide and 45-50 inches long and can be bought or made. Make sure to attach a card to the blanket and write your name and address on it, along with a brief message to the wounded hero. Email Lynette Frascella, Wounded Team Director, at LDFnjSA at aol.com for the CSH address for completed kits or if you would like to donate items.

Angels can also donate money for Soldiers’ Angels to create and mail a backpack on their behalf (the cost is only $40, which includes shipping, for each backpack). Visit http://www.soldiersangels.homestead.com/wounded-soldiers-project.html for more information and to donate. If you wish to donate money but cannot contribute the entire amount, you may send money (specify that you wish it used for Wounded Backpacks) via PayPal or mail a check to:

Soldiers’ Angels
1792 East Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91104

Soldiers’ Angels is pairing up with the Military Order of the Purple Heart to provide backpack kits for wounded heroes arriving at Andrews Air Force Base. While still in the works, it will be a very big project. Stay tuned or contact Lynette for more information as this project finalizes.Help our wounded soldiers know they are loved and not forgotten!

Angel Spotlight

2005-07-19T19:58:00.000-07:00

Spotlight on…
Sue LaPage (sjlapage55)

Sue LaPage was surprised and honored to be selected as this month’s featured angel in Spotlight. “You know me,” she said. “I’d rather just bump a post or say Welcome.” That willingness to help and those warm greetings are exactly why we appreciate Sue.

Sue served in the Navy as a parachute rigger before marrying husband Paul and starting a family. The birthplaces of their three children reflect the typical Navy life they shared and loved. Guam, Hawaii, and Norfolk…diverse points on the globe, all part of the Navy experience. Paul retired with twenty years of service. He was unable to reenlist after September 11, so the couple looked for other ways to support our military. They helped their local USO send supplies to Afghanistan and supported troops through other web sites. Their daughter, Sarah, found a link to Soldiers’ Angels and soon Sue had five adoptees. That was just the beginning.

Sue and Paul quickly became involved in other projects. Together, they make Blankets of Hope. Sue buys the fabric, cuts, pins and directs and Paul sews. They write many cards, letters and postcards. “I can’t do enough for these Heroes,” Sue says. “They are serving during very difficult and frightening times, beyond anything we had to endure.” She points out that Soldiers’ Angels has kept them from feeling helpless. Boosting morale, letting soldiers know they are loved, and grieving with the families of those wounded or lost all make a big difference, Sue believes. Instead of wringing her hands, Sue gets down to work. “I think about the soldiers in the dust and heat and terrible conditions. They are my example. They keep me going. If they can push on, so can we.”

Sue is happy to be a daily presence at Soldiers’ Angels. She’s found her niche, bumping posts, welcoming newcomers, sewing blankets, sending packages and writing many, many letters to encourage our troops. She does what needs to be done, and does it with pride. “I truly hope that I have been a help to the Soldiers’ Angels mission of making sure no soldier goes unloved. I love and admire our Heroes with all my heart, and I hope to let as many as possible know that.”

Angel to Angel

2005-07-19T19:29:00.000-07:00

Editor's Note: We're test-running a new spin on Angel to Angel. We'd like to have a different Angel write a special feature article each month on any topic related to our troops. If you have an idea for a future article, please contact Jennifer at editjen at gmail.com. Thanks to Ingrid for this month's article.

Anxiety

OK, let’s talk about anxiety. For the past months, you’ve been assuming dual roles in your home, picking up the end that your significant other left behind when he or she deployed out.

Then you get word that they are coming home for leave. Even before you get a hard date, you go into DOMESTIC HYPERDRIVE! I can remember being pregnant with my 2 sons and having a similar feeling: seeing something so obscure out of place and just not being able to rest until it was back where it belonged.

My fiancé has leave coming up, and although we still don’t have a definite date, I find myself anxious to the point of wondering WHAT is wrong with me.

The first thing that struck me as "out of norm" behavior was when I caught myself at my kitchen stove with a putty knife in one hand and a bottle of Fantastik in the other, cleaning the metal trim around the oven door, thinking to myself, “MY GOD, what a SLOB!!” I was waiting for the SWAT team to converge on my kitchen with a voice from a bullhorn saying, “Drop the putty knife and back away from the stove!”

To my relief, there was no SWAT intervention, but I realized that perhaps I had a small problem with anxiety over my loved one coming home on leave. After all, he’s been in a desert – always hot and dirty, many times without running water to take a shower or brush his teeth or shave (OUCH!), battling bugs and bad guys (as he jokes, "both with guns").

When he called me the next day, I didn’t tell him that I had turned completely neurotic on the kitchen stove, but I asked him what he wanted to do when he came home. Do you know that he didn’t once mention inspecting that metal trim?? Hmmm, maybe I was being a little overzealous. He wants to sit on the couch and watch a rented movie. He wants to look in the fridge and cook dinner. He wants to go to the grocery store and shop on a Saturday morning and take a drive by the beach on Sunday afternoon. He wants to make choices for his 2 weeks, because when he goes back, his choices will be made for him.

Those of us left behind worry about the house being clean or the kids behaving well; we may even worry about the weather being perfect. But in reality, those things are the very things that our soldiers long for. Normalcy--kids bickering and the phone ringing and something sticky on the kitchen floor (and the RAIN!). Things our soldiers have missed for the entire time they’ve been gone, things that define who they are, things that mold their reality.

So when you get word that your soldier is coming home, don’t worry about that pesky metal trim around the oven door. The thing we should be worrying about is that our soldier feels like a part of their family again – especially the every day nonsense that we think will irritate them. It may just be music to their ears.

Thanks to...

2005-07-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

We all get by with a little help from our friends. Big and small, these companies have made our job easier…

GI-Bracelet (www.gi-bracelet.org) has a beautiful Support Our Troops bracelet. The entire purchase price is donated to various funds (your choice, from the list) including Soldiers’ Angels.

Walmart in Oshkosh, Wisconsin gave a generous $25 gift certificate to one of our Angels. Walmarts all over the country are very helpful and supportive.

Sav-on-closeouts.com offered a 10% discount for Soldiers’ Angels. Many thanks for their support.

Dick’s Sporting Goods donated a variety of sports items to one of our Angels. Thank you to Dick’s!

Cejon (http://www.cejon.com/) has once again made a generous donation. 500 bathing suits and a variety of scarves and hats were available for soldiers to “send” the women in their lives.

Thank you to Spencers and the Red Cross for providing a complete layette to military babies born since September 11, 2001. This applies to children of military personnel deployed for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Sensible Foods (http://www.sensiblefoods.com/) is giving a military discount as well as a discount to Soldiers’ Angels on their dried fruit. The fruit is shipped free to all bases home and abroad with a 10% discount. 1-888-222-0170. Thank you to David and everyone at Sensible Foods.

Yellow Freight shipped 197 blankets from Lake Charles, LA to Broomfield, CO, free of charge. Many thanks to Mr. Doug Chew, in Urbandale, LA>

The Hug Factory LLC (http://www.hugfactory.com/) is offering a 40% discount on their darling Hugs. The contact person is Kim, the Customer Service Manager. Orders are given via email or fax (972) 669-1488.

Patriotic Greetings (http://www.patrioticgreetings.com/) has military appreciation and support cards. These are available at a 15% discount with the following coupon code: ANGELS. 10% of proceeds are donated to Soldiers’ Angels. Our contact person is Jon (jon@patriotic greetings.com).

The Flower Cart, in Chesterton, IN, continues to help Cathy Woodruff (Living Legends Team Leader) with beautiful wreaths and arrangements. Many thanks to Raymond and Steve.

H&H Enterprises in Las Vegas, NV, generously donated 1,000 new mousepads for our troops. Thank you to Ed Hamilton and everyone at H&H Enterprises!

Thank you to Target in Buffalo, NY, for their $50 gift card. A happy New York Angel was able to buy plenty of treats for her soldiers.

Anna's Linens donated 40 fleece and 80 thermal blankets to our troops. Thank you to Mr. Alan Gladstone for his thoughtfulness!

Many thanks to Textiles Plus in Point Pleasant, NJ for their generous donation of boxes of scrubs for the Combat Support Hospitals.

Last Laugh

2005-07-19T17:50:00.000-07:00

At one Army base, the annual trip to the rifle range had been canceled for the second year in a row, but the semi-annual physical fitness test was still on as planned.

One soldier mused, "Does it bother anyone else that the Army doesn't seem to care how well we can shoot, but they are extremely interested in how fast we can run?"

Contact Us!

2005-07-19T17:40:00.000-07:00

This newsletter is written, edited, designed, and published by a team of Soldiers' Angels who are very proud and happy to be able to work with this great organization and support our amazing military servicemembers!

Editor: Jennifer (krzysjl)
Writer: Carrie (GoBob07)
Writer: Chris Ann (Kuhar352)
Writer: Ingrid (either Skeeter1211 or Dave22777)
Writer: Kathy (OlyCook)
Writer: Lori (LorLor61)
Writer: Marcy (canadian_angel)
Writer: Renee (threejarr)
Web Design: Holly (art-epiphany)

Please give us your feedback! We invite you all to be a part of this newsletter by acting as our eyes and ears. Please let us know if there's a story you think should be included in a future issue or if you really like (or aren't too thrilled with) something we did in this issue. As we move ahead with future editions, we'll need your input to continue making this newsletter the best that it can be.

Please contact Jennifer at editjen at gmail.com with all comments and suggestions.

As always, it's an honor to work with you all.

From Our President

2005-06-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Soldiers' Angels,

This month we commemorate our military on Memorial Day. When I sat down to write this, I was immediately reminded of my favorite uncle. It wasn't until he passed away that I learned what a decorated war hero he was. To learn he had been awarded the Bronze Star and numerous other honors was a surprise to me. Was I ever proud when I read his DD-214 (Discharge Papers) to find out he achieved the rank of E-9 in his short military career. I've always looked up to my uncle as one of the heroes in my life, I admired his dedication to family and his religious beliefs. Not once did I hear this humble man speak of his military decorations or how successful his military career was.

There are many servicemembers, both active duty and retired, who have dutifully served our country. I know my uncle wasn't alone; there are many servicemembers who are modest about their military achievements. It's on Memorial Day that we should take the time to appreciate all the men and women, present and past, who have served in the Armed Forces.

Let's stay focused on our mission: "May No Soldier/Sailor/Marine Go Unloved."

Thank you,

Ana-Marie Smith

On the Frontline

2005-06-18T17:29:00.000-07:00

While we Angels don't expect to hear from the wonderful military men and women we support, it's always nice to be surprised by a free mail or an email. Here are a few to remind us all of how much we are appreciated.

“I just received your mail today and it just happened to be my day for the computer, so I wanted to take a minute to write you and tell you how much it means for me. I love it when they tell me that I have mail. It really makes my day.”

“My name is xxx xxxxxx, the soldier you wrote to, and I would like to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was so happy to receive mail, I did not know what to do. I’ve read this letter more than once. Thank you for writing to me.”

“I got your letter and it was great. Even though most of the war is over, it is still hard to be away from home and it is great to see you care. I totally appreciate the fact that you went out of your way to mail me. I don't care how you mail me, any communication is better that none."

“Thank you for taking time to write me. I just got your letter last night. You can’t possibly know what it means to us to have people back home supporting us. It makes everything worth it."

"I want to thank you so much for your email, It seems it came right on time because I am going through so much over here...Thank you for caring about us."

"I want to thank you for caring and giving love to me and my fellow soldiers that are over here doing what we do. You are a big part of the morale and motivation that keeps the soldiers focused, and again I thank you."

"I really appreciate everything that you do and for all your support. You are really terrific. We owe you a great debt of gratitude. Thank you so much and have a great week."

Boot Camp Boys…with thanks to Angel Marcy and to Eric, the original Boot Camp Boy

I know there are times when an Angel wonders about who is receiving his/her letters and if they are making a difference. Yesterday I found a reason to fight on. After 2 months with nothing more than the occasional quickly written note, I got to hear Eric’s voice again. Eric left for boot camp in January and we knew that is was going to be BIG change all around. I never doubted for a minute that he was made for this. He is one of those natural-born leader types, the ones who don’t rule by intimidation but who get people on their side by friendship and kindness.

The first letter I got after he arrived there was horrible. He sounded slightly broken and it hurt to know that his family still hadn’t come around to his decision to join. As I read this letter, it became apparent that my pillar of strength was, for the first time, doubting himself and things around him. Knowing that he sat there during mail calls and didn’t receive any form of support but mine broke my heart. He wrote about seeing some guys getting 8-10 letters a time and how he had written to his mom but hadn’t heard anything back yet. He wrote about plans for when he was done with boot camp--but most of all, he wrote about the other guys. Stories about some doing great, stories about the ones who were having a hard time keeping up--and stories about the guys who had “bad attitudes,” those he felt joined for every wrong reason possible and who “didn’t like being told what to do.” (I know you’re all probably wondering where this is all going, but it really does have a point so please bear with me.)

I didn’t know what to do to raise his spirits, so I did what any proud supporter would do—I turned to the Angels. When I put out the request to anyone who would be willing to write him and cheer him up (and cheer him on) a little, the response was overwhelming and I thank you. The letters started to flood in. Now, we have to understand that this is boot camp we’re dealing with, so nothing’s free for them in there. The DIs (drill instructors) make them do pushups and sit ups when they receive mail—a certain number for each piece.

When Eric first received Soldiers’ Angels cards and letters it was just a couple, so it was not a big deal (to do the sit ups and pushups). When he read the letters and saw that they were general and inspirational, he put them in a box and shared them with all the guys, mostly the ones who didn’t get anything--the same guys who weren’t taking so well to the Army way of life.

Not long after that mail call when he received the first few Angel letters, a couple of guys got into a big fight; all of them were punished and didn’t get mail for a week. On the day that they finally got mail call, Eric was shocked to find about 8 letters from me and, in his words, “half a bunk full” from you Angels. That equals more than a few pushups! All he did was smile at the DIs and hit the deck. There was nothing that was going to keep him from his mail.

Eric recounted this next bit to me with a pride in his voice that I had never heard before (and even remembering it causes me to tear up). Eric went on to tell me that as he was doing his pushups, a guy came over and asked the DI if he could do some of Eric’s pushups. The DI said sure, so on the floor next to Eric went this soldier. A minute later another came...and then another. He went on to tell me that he found himself there doing pushups next to almost all the guys, all of whom wanted to earn the right to read Angel Mail. What amazed him the most was that the first soldiers to get down there with him were those who had previously had the worst attitudes. And yet together, they all “worked off” the letters and then sat down together to read the letters and pass them around. Not only did these guys get their mail (some of whom were receiving it for the first time), but because of this show of brotherhood, they also earned phone time.

I wanted to write this to you, because I read the boards and see that sometimes even Angels can question what happens on the other side of the letters they send. If any of you need a pick-me-up or feel discouraged, please know that no matter how few (or many) words you put on the paper, these people--our heroes--will pull from them everything they need to carry on, to strive, to be the best and do their jobs proudly. This time, you not only made a lonely soldier smile, but you brought a whole group together as brothers.

I know that this will stick with some of you for awhile and for others it will stick forever, but know that this experience will stay with these men for a lifetime.

Willie's Corner

2005-06-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

Soldiers’ Angels at Matthew Braddock’s Purple Heart ceremony

Private 1st Class Matthew Braddock, a twenty four-year-old Cavalry Scout from Oregon, lost his leg in Iraq. In a ceremony held on Sunday, April 24, 2005 at 3 p.m. at the Forest Grove National Guard Armory in Oregon, Matthew was honored with the Purple Heart.

Matthew said, “I like the work I do for the National Guard very much. I love being a soldier.“ He was serving with the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry (Armor) in Kirkuk, Iraq as part of the 116th Brigade Combat Team from Pendleton, Oregon, on the Columbia River. His original unit of assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 162nd Infantry headquartered in Forest Grove, OR.

Rhetta Drennan, Matthew’s mother, wrote me on April 12, 2005. “The date, time and place for Matt's Purple Heart presentation has finally been set: April 24, 1500 hrs (3:00 PM), at the Forest Grove Armory.“ http://www.mil.state.or.us/PressRel/2005/4-18-05bPress.html. This was a great opportunity for me to meet PFC Matthew Braddock in Oregon because I was at this time in the States on vacation.

While PFC Braddock was in a combat operation to liberate Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was injured by an anti-tank mine while conducting mounted patrols. He said, “I remember smoke and stuff flying at me and my truck commander yelling, ‘Is everybody all right?’ My gunner yelled down that he was all right. And I yelled that I was all right because I thought I was. Then I took two steps and hit the ground.”

Braddock sustained injuries caused by the explosion and subsequent shrapnel. The mine pulverized the bones in his feet. He was treated for his injuries at Forward Operating Base Warrior, transported to Tikrit, then on to Landstuhl Army Medical Center. He is now undergoing further treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio.

Matthew told all his guests that Kathy Gregory, Manager from the Fisher House Landstuhl, and Willie from Germany found him - in the last minute. Kathy and Willie looked over the wards and it looked that he was no longer on the ICU and in LRMC, Germany. Someone told us that he was going to Ramstein for transportation to the States. As we arrived on the buses to Ramstein Airbase, a SSG told us, “Sorry, he is off with the first bus.“ A few minutes later we saw that the first bus was parking in front of the second bus. So we asked if we could go into the bus. And here we found PFC Matthew Braddock. He was lying on a stretcher for carrying him and other wounded soldiers to the Ramstein Airbase to go further to other Hospitals in the States. For more information look at the Fisher House website: http://www.armyfisherhouses.org/testsite/supporters-soldiers.html. You can also read the story at http://www.blackfive.net/main/2005/04/the_german_ange.html

Rhetta [Matt's mother] wrote to Patti Bader-Patton Soldiers’ Angels, “I should be the one thanking you, for all the wonderful angels you have sent out into the world and give comfort to our wounded. One of the first stories Matt told me when we were reunited was about Willie. At the time he didn’t know her name or why she had shown up looking for him. All he knew was that someone had appeared, given him the things he needed most at that very moment, and then disappeared. For him it was like a visit from an angel. Later I found Willie’s card in the bottom of the backpack she had given him, and found out she really was an angel.“

Rhetta wrote further, “A Soldiers’ Angel! Since then we have had many Soldiers’ Angels enter our lives in one form or another, and they have all been wonderful. Thank you so much for the work you have done in organizing this group!“

We are always there if Matt or another wounded soldier needs us!

God Bless our wounded heroes.

WillieWilhelmine Aufmkolk, Germany
JosephineFS@aol.com

Team Updates

2005-06-18T14:54:00.000-07:00

LWT

The LWT is comprised of two co-leaders (Sara and Linda D.), 17 Team Leaders (Adele, Amanda, April, Carey, Caro, Don, Jennifer, Julie, Linda D, Lynda, Marcy, Marilyn, Marsha, Michele, Michelle, Renee), and, as of April 30, 2005, a total of 718 writers. The LWT had a great first quarter 2005 with 16,201 letters/cards sent to our deployed men and women and 8,534 letters sent during the month of April alone.

The LWT is always looking for more writers to ensure that no soldier is unloved and/or forgotten. The LWT is comprised of Soldiers' Angels who enjoy writing to our heroes and know how important it is for them to hear their name at mail call. The names of submitted soldiers are distributed via the LWT Team Leaders on a nightly basis. Though each soldier is assigned to an Angel, the LWT provides additional support with extra cards and letters. The LWT writer is only asked to send one card/letter for each name they are given; however, some choose to do more. Some even send mini care packages to soldiers with whom they correspond. If you are interested in joining the LWT, email Linda D. at lindom@gmail.com and she will provide you with full information about LWT and information she needs to get you started. General questions about the LWT can be directed to Sara at sje2555@yahoo.com and/or Linda at lindom@gmail.com. They are always around to help and to answer your questions about LWT.

WTLC Team

During the month of April, the Wounded TLC Team rose in number to over 275. We sent out over 1100 cards to our wounded heroes along with cards to some Veterans and one of our own sick little Angels! We've heard back from some of our past recipients and they all continue to recover! We will continue to keep our wounded in our hearts and prayers. If you would like to join the Wounded TLC Team or would like more information, contact Elaine at bakerdzen@earthlink.net

TLC Team

The TLC Team would like extend a huge thank you to all of the Angels who have spread their wings for the many TLC requests in the last couple of months. There have been a number of heroes needing a morale boost from home, and our Angels have answered the call—and then some! Even with TLC posts going up almost every day, the response has always been overwhelming. Eileen Regan, TLC Team Leader, reports, “We have gotten some great feedback from both the soldiers who have received TLC and the Angels who responded to our posts.”

She wanted to share the following TLC request and response as a sample of the great work you Angels are doing. Not too long ago, the TLC Team received the following email: “I don’t really need anything but I would love to get letters. My family loves me but they don’t write. I’ve been in Iraq since Jan. 19 and I haven't received a letter yet. This is my first trip here and I’m kinda lonely. My best friend is at a camp 6 miles away from me and I can’t see him and...he’s all I got. So if possible I would love to get at least one letter. Thank you very much and God Bless.”

As you can expect, this hero received her letter—and then some. Here is a follow-up email from this grateful soldier:

“Thank you so much for passing my name around. I've been getting lots of letters, so far I get at least four a day! I feel really special. And I don't mind if you continue to send my name out to others. The more the merrier! Plus it helps keep me busy and my morale high. Again, thank you and hope to hear from you again. God bless you and yours.”

Great work, Angels!

Angels at Work

2005-06-18T14:53:00.000-07:00

Soldiers’ Angels Presents Wreath at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Thanks to Robin Bateman’s request, Soldiers’ Angels was granted permission from the Director of Ceremonies and Special Events Memorial Affairs Division to present a wreath at the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On Monday, April 18th, Sara Ehrlich and Robin Bateman had the honor and privilege of representing Soldiers’ Angels at Arlington Cemetery during this solemn and emotional occasion.

Soldier’s Call for Baseball Equipment is Answered

When a soldier requested some used softball equipment, little did he know the response he would receive. With a generous $100.00 donation from Patti, Angel Rebekah Lepore (Rebekahinflorida) was able to buy some used gloves. On top of that, her close friend, DJ Steve Young of 97.9 WRMF, was also able to help her out ever further by getting a local used sports equipment store to make a donation of 15 gloves, 5 bats, tape for the bats and some softballs. The icing on the cake was the gift from her boss's friend: he sponsored a charity golf tournament, with the proceeds going to our heroes! Thanks to this event, Rebekah was able to buy an additional 40 baseball gloves, 10 bats and ever more softballs! Imagine the look on the faces of those heroes when they get this care package! Thanks to Rebekah for coordinating this project—great job!

“Wall of Thanks” for Wounded Troops

The Wall of Thanks project was started by MaryAnn Phillips as a way to show how much we support our wounded military men and women on their return home.

When a soldier is wounded, he/she is usually sent to Ramstein AFB in Germany, a 5-hour Medevac flight from Iraq. From there, troops requiring surgery and hospitalization are sent to Landstuhl Hospital. There are usually about 50 soldiers there at any given time, and once they are stabilized they are sent on to a military hospital in the US. Kleber Barracks are for outpatients with minor injuries or illness. There are typically 150 outpatients whose average stay is 7-10 days before being flown home to the US or back to Iraq.

The last time MaryAnn was at Kleber, she was told that some of these heroes are anxious about going home; they were concerned they would be treated poorly upon their arrival at civilian airports, as was the case with their Vietnam War predecessors. MaryAnn wanted to find a way to show our troops just how much Americans really appreciate and support them.

Looking for an inexpensive yet powerful way to pay tribute to our troops, she decided to create a “Wall of Thanks” to be displayed on the bulletin boards located in the military hospital and barracks. This “Wall of Thanks” would contain a collection of photos depicting ourselves, families, friends, pets, school classes, clubs, church groups, etc. The pictures would be from both ordinary and well-known Americans, with the word "thanks" written on them and signed by the person sending them.

Since the troops rotate fairly quickly through the hospital and barracks, thousands of lives will be touched at a time when the love and support is needed the most. If you would like to help reduce the fears of our troops and show them how much we appreciate their service and sacrifices, here are the photo guidelines:
- Please send 2 photos (1 for the hospital, 1 for the barracks).
- Photo size: 8 x10 or letter-size preferred but other sizes are okay.
- Photo quality: Doesn't matter! You can have a snapshot enlarged or print out a digital picture on a black and white printer--whatever is easiest and convenient for you.
- Not sure what to write on the picture? Just sign it and add a simple yet heartfelt sentiment ("thank you," "we love you," etc.)

Please send all pictures to the following address:

MaryAnn Phillips
CNET Networks GmbH
Riesstr. 25
80992 Munich, Germany

If you have any questions, please email MaryAnn at maryann.phillips@gmail.com or Willie at JosephineFS@aol.com.

Also, please consider asking your friends and co-workers if they can help. Thank you!

Requests from Kleber Barracks

The Kleber barracks in Germany are for soldiers with minor injuries or illness. There are typically 150 outpatients whose average stay is 7-10 days before being flown home to the US or back to Iraq. Kleber is requesting the following items for these heroes. Can you help?

1. Microwave meals.
Sometimes a group of outpatients arrive at the barracks in Germany from Iraq after official meal hours. They have a microwave and can boil water. We are requesting donations of microwavable meals.

2. Treats and personal hygiene items
Personal hygiene items (male): shower gel, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, nail clippers, body and foot powder.
Personal hygiene items (female): shower gel, deodorant, shampoo, tampons, toothbrush, toothpaste, small manicure set.
Treats: Candy, gum, other snacks.

3. Fun and patriotic stuff
Playing cards, small USA flags, yellow ribbon pins or USA flag pins, items with "we support the troops," small stuffed animals, and red-white-blue ribbons for use in decorating gifts are all appreciated.

4. Support & Encouragement
We would like to show our appreciation for the personal sacrifices and the work these men and women have been performing with honor in a very difficult part of the world. Cards and letters are always welcome!

Please send all items to the following address:
Nita Patton-Villalobos
Attn: Willie - Soldiers Angels in KleberA Company
2nd MIBNCMR 440
Box 901
APO AE 09175

South Carolina Angels

Angels in South Carolina have been hard at work! 49 Angels from SC (and one from Virginia) have banded together to adopt a unit in Afghanistan. Care packages and letters have been sent to the troops, and some “Angel mail” has already been received. Their adopted unit has been tasked with taking care of an orphanage in Afghanistan, and in typical Angel fashion, this SC group is lending a hand by adopting the orphanage as well.

Blankets for the wounded are being shipped to Landstuhl on a regular basis, and these Angels have started another project – making pants and shirts with Velcro on one side for the amputees.

SC also has also partnered with a bicycle rider to promote Soldiers’ Angels! John Demirjian, a 59 year old Vietnam veteran, makes his multi-state ride every summer and this year, he’s going to be promoting SA along the way! John plans to travel through 19 states, which will get the word out to many people about SA and what we do.

Way to go, John, and our SC Angels!

Stamps for the Wounded

Stamps for the Wounded is a project involving men and women in more than 130 VA hospitals and convalescent centers all over the country. They have served in World War II, the police action in Korea, Vietnam, Middle East, and in trouble spots all over the world.

SFTW is a way to help combat boredom, loneliness, frustration and despair. The hospitalized soldier can sort and mount stamps without effort as he/she lies in bed. If he/she is ambulatory or even in a wheelchair, he/she can pass happy hours soaking stamps and mounting them in his or her own album or albums for beginners in other hospitals. Even the mentally disabled patient takes pleasure in using the commoner stamps to make fanciful greeting cards or create decorative boxes in organized therapy session.
SFTW, now a service of the Lions International Stamp Club. SFTW is 100% volunteer organization. SFTW is looking for ordinary postage stamps (US and foreign, in any quantity), the kind that are tossed unheeded into the trash every day! . Envelopes from daily mail and those with special postmarks, first-day covers, first airmail flights, and so on can be used. (However, please don’t send badly torn, damaged or defective stamps.)

For more information, please visit http://www.35dlions.org/stamps.html .

Operation Top Knot

Operation Top Knot has been getting some great recognition lately. May is National Military Appreciation Month and Angel Audri will be doing an interview for Stardust Radio to get the word out about Operation Top Knot. In June, Angels Kim, Barbara, Earla, and Audri will be attending a luncheon sponsored by the Association of the United States Army to honor Operation Top Knot and other volunteers of Soldiers' Angels groups. June is also the month that the July issue of Good Housekeeping magazine will hit the stands. OTK is scheduled to be featured in the article called "Homefront Heroes," so please don't forget to pick up a copy. Audri has also been busy doing a little work on the website: putting up some thank you's they’ve received, adding a guestbook, etc. She also plans on putting up new pictures of some of the great items you Angels have been creating, so check them out at http://operationtopknot.4t.com/.

Angel Presents Special Blanket to Hero’s Mom

Laura Mottram, a 21-year-old angel from Enola, Pennsylvania, recently surprised a hero's mother with a special Mothers' Day gift. Mottram first met Sergeant Jeremy Klees, currently stationed in Kuwait, through a TLC request posted for the hero. The request simply stated that this soldier's mother had just been diagnosed with breast cancer and could use some cheering up. He asked that breast cancer items and cards be sent to his mother in lieu of anything Angels would like to send to him. Mottram sent cards and items to Klees' mother but also requested the hero's address to thank him for his service, kindness, and compassion toward his mother. A friendship quickly blossomed, and the two began exchanging daily emails.

During one conversation, Klees mentioned that his mother had been "Googling" online to find personalized items that she could order with her brave son's name on them. Due to a computer crash, she lost all the links and had to start over. Klees asked Mottram to do some searching for his mother because of her weakened state. Mottram found a variety of products that could be ordered and fell in love with a personalized military blanket that would feature a hero's picture and name as well as 3 additional lines of text. "I remember when my grandmother had cancer; she was always cold, so when I saw this blanket that could be personalized for Pamela and keep her warm during this difficult time, I knew it was perfect," Mottram said.

After running the idea past Klees and receiving his stamp of approval, she quickly took up a donation from generous Angels and reached the $135 goal necessary to purchase the blanket, which would have been financially impossible on her own. As it turned out, raising the money was the easiest part. Mottram quickly realized that it's difficult to wait for a hero who's saving the world one terrorist at a time to squeeze time into his day to pose for photographs.

When Klees took leave in late April, he left with a promise to return with pictures. The day after he returned to Kuwait, he sent many photos for Mottram to choose from. An appropriate quote was selected for the text on the blanket, and the order was placed. The blanket was received on May 2, 2005 and was shipped out the next day, gift wrapped with a Soldiers' Angels magnet and several cards, notes, and well wishes from other Angels. The blanket is expected to reach Klees' mother in time for Mother’s Day.

Says Klees of his mother, "My mom is like my guardian angel and like a mom to so many. She is loved by almost everyone. She is just a mom like no other."

Wounded Hero Project

The Wounded Hero Project was started by Missy Ledford. She collects “Get Well” cards and “Thank you” messages and incorporates them into a special one-of-a-kind book, which is tied to a stuffed animal with a thick yellow ribbon and then sent on to our wounded heroes.

The first three pages are standard images and messages from her. The fourth page consists of messages from Soldiers’ Angels and the following pages are filled with random images and messages. These special albums are then distributed to Landstuhl Hospital in Germany, through which the troops returning from the “sandbox” travel before heading to other stateside locations.

If you would like to contribute to this special project, you can create your own message; if you prefer, you can send your words and Missy will design a page for you. Your message could include your name, address, e-mail address, pictures or graphics, etc. (Please make sure to include your state!)

To submit a message or image, please e-mail woundedheroproject@hotmail.com. Due to high levels of viruses being sent in e-mails, messages will only be taken from the actual body of the e-mail and images must be in tiff, jpeg, or PDF format. You may also e-mail questions or comments to this address.

In addition, to help offset the costs of creating these books (each album costs approximately $4.00 to compile, not including labor), monetary donations through PayPal are also greatly needed and appreciated. For more information or to donate, please go to http://www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/WHP_Tennessee.php.

State Manager Needs Your Help!

Renee, state managerfor IL/MO, has a “bunch” of boxes, clothes for the orphanage, and stuffed animals to send over to our heroes. These items have all been gathered by Renee or donated by those in her community; however, she is asking for our help in defraying the shipping costs. She hopes to “get this stuff out of my living room...and over there so they can do some good.” If you can help, please contact Renee at 217-877-2428 or soldiersangels_il_mo@yahoo.com (you can send funds via PayPal using this email address; please contact her for her mailing address).

Georgia Angels at it Again

Emily, the state manager of Georgia, and other local angels recently met at Stone Mountain, where they discussed future fundraisers and any aid they could provide to local troops. This group of dedicated Angels meet the first Saturday of every month; Emily asks all area Angels who haven’t already done so to contact her and find out the details for June’s meeting.

On April 2nd, a group of angels, headed by Lindya Tucker, met at the VA Hospital in Decatur, GA. There, they spent the morning visiting with the 100 veterans in the nursing home and handed out care bags filled with hygiene items like shampoo, soap, razors and combs—bags that were made possible by generous donations by Angels all over Georgia. On April 23rd, Lindya and her team will be returning for "snack time" with these same 100 veterans. They will be handing out snacks and drinks to each veteran; ideally, they’ll be able to make this a monthly event.

Soldiers’ Angels Visit Landstuhl Medical Center and Kleber Barracks in Germany

We received the following update from MaryAnn Phillips:

Willie Aufmkolk of Soldiers’ Angels asked me to accompany her and the rest of the group for another visit of our wounded troops in Landstuhl on Good Friday, my first since mid-December. Exactly one year ago, Willie, her husband Rudi, and their friends Irene and Manfred packed up their cars and drove to Landstuhl for the first time. Since then, they have returned every single month. It is a tribute to the US military and America’s commitment to the global war on terror when even non-US citizens feel compelled to express their acknowledgement in such a personal way. But Willie just says, “It goes without saying. America has helped us and our country in the past.”

The Landstuhl hospital, which is a 5-hour Medevac flight from Iraq, normally has about 50 – 70 combat-wounded patients at any given time with the average stay being 3-4 days. Getting the wounded back to the States as quickly as possible is important for their morale and for their families.

For the wounded in the hospital, we had 90 backpacks filled with sweat suits, snacks, Blankets of Hope, and letters, as well as some Easter baskets for the nurses and chaplains.

Our first stop was Fisher House where we met with Manager Kathy Gregory and Chaplain Warren, the ICU Chaplain at the hospital. Privately funded through donations and the Fisher Foundation, Fisher Houses near military hospitals around the world provide a place for families to stay and be near their wounded loved ones.

Due to additional security that day (no further explanation was provided – this is, after all, the military), we were not permitted inside the hospital. We left the things at Fisher House to be distributed by their staff and the hospital chaplains.

We then set out in our 4-car convoy for the drive to nearby Kleber barracks, where around 150 outpatients are billeted. The average stay here is 7-10 days, at which point most are sent home and the rest go back to Iraq or Afghanistan.

Providing a positive environment of care during medical treatments is an important part of managing this stressful and uncertain situation—and it is the job of the Medical Transition Team at the barracks. Telephones and PCs are provided for the outpatients to communicate with loved ones back home as well as with buddies back “down range.” TVs, a movie room, a video game console (“shoot `em up” games, naturally), and day trips to the surrounding area all help fill time with activities that promote adjustment to normal life. Ideally, troops redeployed back home go through a well-planned preparation process. For wounded troops, this is obviously not possible and the change is abrupt and disorienting.

Celebrating holidays is an important part of the adjustment process, and with Operation Easter, part of our mission was to bring Easter candy and gifts to the outpatients.

We had almost 100 individual Easter gifts with Easter candy and cards (some with cute little stuffed Easter bunnies), as well as 2 large decorated Easter baskets with loose candy, cards, and a few additional stuffed animals. These items, as well as the backpacks for the hospital patients, were donated and assembled by Soldiers’ Angels and their friends in Germany and the US – including many of you.

***
In closing, I’d like to share an email from a Medic whose Humvee crashed while avoiding a suspected IED: He's completed his physical therapy and has since returned to Iraq.

Thank you so much for all that you and your organization have done for us. You all have touched our hearts in ways that will stay with us forever.

I've had a wonderful time in Germany. It was nearly worth getting injured over. LOL

I'm attaching a pic of an Iraqi child that I had been caring for for a couple of weeks. She sustained severe burns to her hands and chin. She used to cry every time she saw us because she knew that the treatment... was painful. She is doing much better and being able to see her smile and laugh like a regular kid is worth being over there.

Nothing can be taken for granted and not a moment wasted. Thank you again for making us smile.

Please keep in touch and God bless,
Sgt. Scott XXX

I won’t add much to his thanks except to pass them on to all of you. They may not all be able to express their gratitude so wonderfully (or at all!), but remember that even a single letter can make a difference in a soldier’s life.

MaryAnn

Angels at Play

2005-06-18T14:46:00.000-07:00

Banner for Wounded Warriors

Patti posted an April contest that had Angels creating a banner for woundedwarriors.org. John, our Wounded Warriors contact, needed a couple of banners for the website and asked Patti to recruit any Angels who were willing to help out—and you Angels got to work almost as soon as the word went out. Patti offered first and second place prizes--a $50 gift certificate and $25 certificate, respectively, to militarycarepackages.net—with the winners to be selected by John. In addition, all participating Angels would receive a coveted Soldiers’ Angels car magnet. Congratulations to Trinity (mama_long_legs), who won not only first place but SECOND place, as well! Thank you, Trinity, for your hard work and support for such an important cause.

A Visit to Philly From Armyguy/Kracker/Chris

Terri reports that board favorite Chris, “the soldier with 100+ Angels,” visited them in April. While home on leave, Chris contacted them and made arrangements to drive down on Friday and stay the weekend with Terri and her daughter Kristin. Their visit included dinners out, seeing the local sites—and, most importantly, being able to visit face-to- face with one of our beloved heroes. Terri reported that they “chatted until after 2 am.” All in all, Terri, Kristin and Chris had “a wonderful time,” said Terri. “We can’t wait until he comes back again!”

Cause of the Month

2005-06-18T14:30:00.000-07:00

Operation Soldiers Helping Children

Angels know that our troops often do not have the little pleasures from home--or even the basic necessities. What many may not be aware of, however, is that even with this deficit, soldiers often give their meager supplies to local Iraqi children. Units visit schools in very poor areas and hand out school supplies and small toys to the children who approach for surprises. One first lieutenant says that one of his men hands out Beanie Babies from his family to the children he meets on patrol.

Operation Soldiers Helping Children is instrumental in providing troops with supplies to give to Iraqi children. School supplies such as pencils, papers, colored pencils and other basics are critically needed. (Due to the extremely hot weather, however, please do not send crayons.) Personal hygiene items, small toys, stuffed animals, candy and snacks are much appreciated, as well. The children also lack clothes and shoes (both sandals and sneakers) for all sizes/ages. Please send only new shoes and new or gently worn clothing.

Items can be mailed to Angel Becky Morton. Monetary gifts, which are needed to offset shipping costs, can be donated in one of two ways: via PayPal through the OSHC website (http://www.soldiersangels.org/angelops/children/) or by check (please send to the main office. Make checks payable to Soldiers’ Angels and specify Operation Soldiers Helping Children, so that 100% of your donation will go towards OSHC).

Through this cause, Angels can help build a positive connection between our troops and the Iraqi children, who are the future of the country.

Please send items to:
Becky Morton
“Operation Soldiers Helping Children”
Soldiers’ Angels
PO Box 375
Graham, NC 27253

336-227-5621
rpmorton375@yahoo.com

For monetary donations, please mail to the main office:
Soldiers’ Angels
“Operation Soldiers Helping Children”
1792 East Washington Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91104

Angel Spotlight

2005-06-18T14:18:00.000-07:00

Spotlight on...
Sarah Vaughn (txladymedic)

Angels help our deployed troops in many ways. We write letters, send cheerful cards, and carefully plan care packages to nurture and to entertain. However, many of us often wish that we could do more to support our cause and our country. Sarah Vaughn (txladymedic) decided to act on that desire.

Born and raised in Texas and now living near Ft. Hood, Sarah stumbled onto the Soldiers’ Angels website in December. She had supported friends who were due home from Iraq, and she was looking for other ways to help out. Eventually, though, she took her need to help a step further.

Sarah is a civilian medic. She had trained military medics for 6-8 months, readying them for duty in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait. But she had never been there herself. “I didn’t think it was fair for someone who had never been there to tell them what the weather was like and what they were going to be seeing,” she noted. Sarah signed up to go to Iraq as a civilian contractor but was sent to Kuwait instead.

New experiences fill Sarah’s days. She has seen her first camel crossing and braved her first sandstorm. When her violin arrived, she started playing regularly and took on a few students. She makes time to sit by the ocean and watch the sunrise. “That’s where I just sit back and let it all go,” she said. But most of her days are filled with medical duties.

“I treat mostly other civilian contractors,” Sarah explained, “but I also treat some soldiers as well as workers from other countries.” Although Sarah calls the opportunity a “once in a lifetime chance” to pay off most of her bills and put money aside, she values the experience more than the monetary gain. “It’s such a huge opportunity to learn not only about medical things but about the culture and weather. The list goes on and on,” she stated.

Sarah will be there for at least a year. At that point, she’ll have almost a month at home to relax and decide whether to return for another year. It’s hard to be away from her friends and family, she admitted, but “it’s an experience of a lifetime.”

Thanks to...

2005-06-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

Let's hear it for...

... the companies who assist us with our Angel projects. From DVDs to pillows to monetary donations, companies across the country are instrumental in supporting our troops.

Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 935 (www.vva.org). The VVA made a generous $500 donation to Soldiers’ Angels.

Dr. Peter Schaffer, DPM in Birmingham, Michigan. His donation of foot care supplies to our troops is much appreciated!

The Soothsoft Company (http://www.soothsoft.com/) in Colorado Spring, CO. Soothsoft employee Sandi Klein arranged for Angels to purchase Chillows at a greatly reduced price.

Angels Across America (http://www.angelsacrossamerica.org/). Thanks to founder and president Marino De Silva for donating all proceeds from this CD to various charities, including Soldiers’ Angels. There is also a link to SA on the site.

Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Camarillo, CA. Continued thanks to Phil Doles for his generous coffee donations.

Dr. John Templeton, whose private foundation has donated money for care packages.

Mug a Troop (http://www.appreciateourtroops.org/). For every mug purchased or donated, a FREE personalized Troop Appreciation Mug is sent to one of our brave heroes. Troops also receive a letter addressed to them, thanking them for their service.

Otay Ebay (http://www.otayebay.com/) in Pasadena, CA. A portion of the proceeds from their sales goes to Soldiers’ Angels.

Accurate Credit Bureau (http://www.accuratecredit.com/) in Pasadena, CA. This company donated money to help cover Soldiers’ Angels website fees.

Spring Industries in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. A generous donation of pillows will help our returning heroes sleep comfortably. Thanks to Mr. Tim Jordan for his support.

Becky Farrell and Farrell's Four Star Video in Glencoe, MN. They have donated 25 newly released DVDs to a local Angel and have pledged to continue to donate several more each week. They even paid for the shipping!

Thanks to the Walmarts in Arkansas and California for their support!

Angel to Angel

2005-06-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the premiere of our new Angel to Angel section! Do you have a special Angel you’d like to thank or recognize? Do you have good news to share? Do you just want to say hi to your fellow Angels? Email Marcy at dreams_desire648085@yahoo.com with your comments, kudos and praise!

From Marcy:
I would like to make a shout out and thank you to all the fearless leaders and Angels who week after week keep everything going. Patti, you are not only the mother to all Angels but an inspiration that anyone can start with a beautiful concept and turn it into a dream shared by thousands. Don MacKay for being a pillar of strength and backbone to so many Angel teams and individual angels. Jen aka Edit Jen (krzysjl) for taking on this project and pulling it all together, giving everyone a chance to see the Angels at their finest hours. Most of all to every single Angel-- whether you write 1 letter a week or 100--for your devotion and compassion. Every letter, card and package counts!

From Patti:
I would like to tell a story, a story of the unknown team leaders. We know them, we see their names, but what none see is the tremendous amount of work they did to get their teams going and what they do daily to continue their success, so I shout to the team leaders,
Sara, Elaine, Ilene, Jean, Katie, Georgia, Mary, Don, Susie, Dee Mike, Paul, Pam, Adele, Chris, Rich, Dave, Terri and so many more who have come , some have gone and many have stayed. Their work is invaluable and do so much to insure that NO SOLDIER GOES UNLOVED. I shout out to each and every one of you and say "AWESOME JOB."

From Lisa Martin:
Hi! My name is Lisa Martin and I am from Arkansas. I just wanted to say that ...I have never met a group of such wonderful, warm and generous people. Twice I have posted on this board with requests for somewhat expensive items and twice a fellow angel has come through for me so that I could give a soldier what he requested. Always humble, always swearing that it was "no big deal". It was a very big deal and you ladies know who you are. You are just amazing.

Also, my husband had a kidney removed this month and while it was cancer they did get it all. The outpouring of love and support from all of these wonderful angels has just been overwhelming. I have made so many wonderful friends both in the group and among the soldiers. I can't begin to tell you what a blessing this has been to my life. Thank you all for letting me be a part of this and for being so very good to me and my soldiers.

I love you all!

From Chell:
Hey Angels, Just wanted to give a shout out to my girls and to 2 great guys.... First to my girls... Tae, Vic, Tricia, Marcy, Pam, Holly, Loaney, Jo, Terri, Don & Pat and anyone else that I may have missed you all ROCK..... Tae, Vic, Pam, Maria, Tricia and Marcy, you will always be my girls..... Don, you make the LWT so fun.... Love ya and God Bless All other Angels, thanks for making me feel so welcome. Don & Pat, feel free to send me anything.. I need to laugh..
As for my guys.... Mike aka Big Gun, Marshall, Marcos, Gabriel, Victor and Q... Ya all have brightened every day... Thanks so much and remember...BBQ at my house when y’all are home...
Love ya all.

From Mike Smith (PADofDan):
What better special Angel that I know has touched me very deeply and my son in Iraq and now his unit, than Patti Bader. The highlight of a special moment for me was the recent incident in Ramadi where my son lost 3 good friends. She immediately got the ball rolling to get people to send him and his platoon packages, cards, and letters. She never ceases to amaze me at her willingness to help to the point that I feel guilty at times because there is just no way I can ever give back to Patti or Soldiers’ Angels for all she and they have done for my son and me. Without her being there (and others) I could not imagine trying to get through this deployment.

As far as I'm concerned Patti is Angel of the day, of the month, of the year, and more if I could think of something else. There are many fine Angels in this organization that do so much and many have touched my son and me and I truly am grateful and thank them from the bottom of my heart, but I cannot thank Patti enough for all she has done, does, and I'm sure will do. It's Patti hands down.

From Laurie (chrsgrl):
I nominate Don & Sue as most encouraging angels or cheerleader angels for the next newsletter. They both never fail to have something nice, uplifting, andencouraging to say to everyone and they do so in such an articulate manner.

From Melissa:
I would like to send a shout out to my soldier Brian. I have been writing him a year, and he has been amazing. When he and i first met last year, we got close through e-mail and letters. I sent him a care package and that same day he got it he told me he was so happy that he could hug me. That made me feel like I was on top of the world. He kept on being sweet to me and when I had surgery he (being over in war) sent me 5 balloons so i would get well soon. That was so awesome I cried like a baby. He even called me to see how i was doing a few weeks later. He always said he was sorry when we would get disconnected. Even the day they were getting attacked by mortars, and the satellite went out a few days, he was worried and sorry because he knew I was worried about him.

Brian is home now, and we still talk from time to time. I am glad I met him and have been able to keep in touch with him. I have so much respect for him that I can't even begin to describe it.

From Ingrid:
Bless me Patti, for I have shopped... It has been 4 hours since my last spree and I still have a WalMart urge...thoughts of a quick buy fix of Chef Boy R Dee Ravioli and flat rate boxes have become compulsory... I rummaged through my email to thwart my urge but it has become too strong - I NEED to shop Patti - lol, I have lit 3 candles and still all I can fantasize about is, "What buy am I missing from the Dollar Tree?"

Here's MY version of the SA Rosary...
Hail Patti from SA
The Angels are with thee
Blessed art thou among soldiers and Blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Brandon
Holy Patti, Mother of SA
Pray for US shoppers
Now and in the hour of our Spree.

Last Laugh

2005-06-17T18:24:00.000-07:00

Having just moved into his new office, a pompous new colonel was sitting at his desk when an airman knocked on the door.

Conscious of his new position, the colonel quickly picked up the phone, told the airman to enter, then said into the phone, "Yes, General, I'll be seeing him this afternoon and I'll pass along your message. In the meantime, thank you for your good wishes, sir."

Feeling as though he had sufficiently impressed the young enlisted man, he asked, "What do you want?"

"Nothing important, sir," the airman replied, "I'm just here to hook up your telephone."

Contact us!

2005-06-17T17:52:00.000-07:00

This newsletter is written, edited, designed, and published by a team of Soldiers' Angels who are very proud and happy to be able to work with this great organization and support our amazing military servicemembers!

Editor: Jennifer (krzysjl)
Writer: Carrie (GoBob07)
Writer: Chris Ann (Kuhar352)
Writer: Ingrid (either Skeeter1211 or Dave22777)
Writer: Kathy (OlyCook)
Writer: Lori (LorLor61)
Writer: Marcy (canadian_angel)
Writer: Renee (threejarr)

Please give us your feedback! We invite you all to be a part of this newsletter by acting as our eyes and ears. Please let us know if there's a story you think should be included in a future issue or if you really like (or aren't too thrilled with) something we did in this issue. As we move ahead with future editions, we'll need your input to continue making this newsletter the best that it can be.

Please contact Jennifer at editjen@gmail.com with all comments and suggestions.

As always, it's an honor to work with you all.