Day of the Deployed October 26

 

Soldiers’ Angels 4th Annual Day of the Deployed is upon us.

Americans are encouraged to reaffirm their patriotism and allegiance to our flag and country, and to honor our brave men and women in uniform who are selflessly putting their lives on the line to protect and preserve our way of life. How? Think big, think small, but just…think. Ideas are under my signature line.

Then put those thinking muscles in motion and do something that day in their honor. Join us in celebrating our deployed heroes and their families on October 26, 2009.

Do you want to help honor our deployed heroes and their families on Oct 26– DAY OF THE DEPLOYED? Email ShelleMichaels@msn.com or ShelleMichaels@soldiersangels.org to get a Day of the Deployed Kit. Time is ticking— learn how to help. SUBJECT LINE: DoD Kit

Flag Still Stands for Freedom

 

Flag Still Stands for Freedom

America’s Giving Challenge

Our cause just entered in America’s Giving Challenge, which gives us a chance to win $50,000!

Please donate today: http://www.facebook.com/l/093a4;www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?m=eed19519&cause_id=20611

To win, between now and November 7th we have to get the most donations to our cause (every person can donate once per day and have it count as a unique donation). We can also win daily awards of $1,000 and $500 if we can get the most people to donate in any 24-hour period. The great thing about this Challenge is that it doesn’t matter how much you give, but instead how much you do to encourage friends and family to get involved in our cause. We all need to come together and start promoting the cause if we want to win.

Each of us has tons of friends on Facebook who we can ask to donate to our cause. But let’s think big too—can you put our cause in your email signature, can you throw a party and get people to donate through the cause when they enter, can you organize other people to go out and fundraise from all of their friends? As you reach out to your friends be sure to tell them why this cause matters to you. The possibilities are endless so let’s talk about what we can do to win on the Wall of the cause or by replying to this bulletin.

I think we can do it! But it’s going to take all of us. Check out the Giving Challenge (http://www.facebook.com/l/093a4;www.causes.com?m=eed19519), then visit our cause to see how we’re doing so far and get involved.

Donate right now by going to http://www.facebook.com/l/093a4;www.causes.com/donations/select_donation_method?m=eed19519&cause_id=20611

Let’s win $50,000 for our cause!
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Today was that day……..

“It was a very touching time for me.  Ever since Viet Nam I have wanted to be able to do SOMETHING to show how much I appreciate every soldier for everything they have done for me and my country.  Today was that day, and I made a point of thanking each and every one of them.  I shook the hands of some of them  and hugged others.  I won’t forget this special day, and I don’t think they will either.  I can’t wait until next year.”

Sandy Marcell
Roseburg, Oregon Angel

 

 

Roseburg VA Photos by Soldiers Angel Sandy Marcell 1st frame : Chef at the Luncheon. Awesome apron! The Candy filled mugs and balloons were for the patients. 2nd frame: The second picture is of our Vet's playing the Wii game (SA gave them) during the celebration. They had a great time. It really is a great way to exercise. I hear it is quite addictive. 3rd Frame: a quilter demonstrating some of the wares. You can see some of themwere made by our Angel's. They were beautiful.

 

Roseburg VA photo#1 : Angel Sandy Marcell with Veteran enjoying the celebration. photo #2: The next one is of a few of the wonderful nurses partaking in some of the goodies. photo #3: a very dark picture taken during hospital administrator's speech thanking our Vet's for everything they have done for us, and our country You can't really see all of the people in the audience, or the beautiful decorations. There were about 100 guests, and at least half of them were there to go and visit with the patients. We each took two mugs and went in groups to visit with the patients.

Thank you Sandy for sharing your wonderful experience with the Veterans at the Roseburg VA!

1st Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Conference

 

If you are interested in attending this event, please email Julie at soldiersangelswashington@gmail.com or soldiersangelsoregon@gmail.com  for more information and a registration form.  This is a wonderful learning opportunity in our own backyard!   Hope to see you there! 

 

We invite you to join us at the 1^st Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Conference, presented by the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services and the Washington State Traumatic Brain Injury Strategic Partnership Advisory Council on: May 4, 2009, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., at the Seattle Airport Marriott, 3201 S. 176^th St., SeaTac, WA 98188. 

A registration form is attached. The conference fee is $35.00 per person (includes a meal). A confirmation with the final agenda and other details will be sent in April via email or mail. 

The goal of the conference is to provide opportunities for survivors of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), caregivers, advocates, and TBI professionals to increase their understanding of TBI, improve TBI programs, and improve collaborations in Washington State. 

The conference topics and confirmed speakers include: 

w TBI Model Systems, Kathy Bell, M.D., University of Washington Medical Center

w The Healing Power of Humor, Debbie Wooten, Comedian

w Yoga and Meditation for Individuals with TBI, Colleen Mehner, Instructor

w Advocacy 101: How to Advocate for Yourself and Your Loved One, Fred Langer,

   R.N., Esquire, Advocate 

w Soldiers & Veterans with TBI, Fred Flynn, DO, FAAN, Medical Director/Neurologist, TBI Program,

    Madigan Army Medical Center; Maryanna Karl, MS, MFTI, Regional Care Coordinator, DVBIC;

    Tara Stablein, LICSW, CCM, Polytrauma Social Work Case Mgr., VA Puget Sound.

w The TBI Council: Open Forum Interactive Discussion

w Speak Out! Advocating for Youth, High School SAMs (Self-Advocacy for Motion)      

   students from Eastern Washington

w TBI 202: Best Practices in Washington State

w And Others! 

Participants will have the opportunity to network with colleagues from across the state. The conference will include exhibits from non-profit and for-profit organizations.  

To make lodging arrangements, please contact the Seattle Airport Marriott at: 1-800-314-0925 by April 13, to receive the conference rate ($108) or at www.marriot.com  Please make sure you mention you are attending the TBI Conference.

Facebook and Twitter

In our efforts to keep connected and to increase our support efforts beyond what the main Soldiers’ Angels Forum can do,  Soldiers’ Angels Oregon has added Patti & Soldiers’ Angels approved,  Facebook page, Facebook group and Twitter Page.  I encourage you all to join…  These social networking sites  are great ways to ‘meet’ other angels, discuss projects and events you may be working on, brainstorm ideas or simply  see what’s coming up next in the state without having to dig for information or wait for an email.  By being a part of these Oregon State sites you not only can connect on a local level, but you will be directly connected (with a click) on the national level to the directors and official group. It’s a fast way to receive information! I love it!  These are great tools for strengthening a team and spreading the word of support!

Here are the links  Just click!  JOIN THEM ALL & SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG

Oregon Facebook Page  

Oregon Facebook Group

Oregon Twitter Page

Oregon Army National Guard Deployment Ceremony

I happened to see a reference on our Oregon Facebook page   by  Spc Kirby

Rider about the Oregon Army National Guard Deployment Ceremony and followed the link he provided to a great story with accompanying pictures. 

Thanks Kirby!

 

 

Soldiers from Company D, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, stand in formation and listen to words of encouragement from honored guests at a mobilization ceremony in Central Point, Ore., May 4.” 

See the full article and the rest of the great photos  Here > Oregon Army National Guard Deployment Ceremony

So Proud… a deployment reflection

By Angel Kendra Abraham  (Thanks so much for sharing Kendra)

 

“As the girlfriend of a deploying Soldier, attending the deployment ceremony this year had a different effect on me than it did 5 years ago as a sister of a deploying soldier. Together, with my soldier, and his 3 children, we arrived at the fairgrounds early for the rehearsal. David disappeared and met up with his unit, A CO. 2/162. His children and I, ages 9, 10 and 17 went into the convention center and found our seats. We watched the units do 3 run-throughs of how the ceremony would run. I felt emotional watching all of the soldiers stand at attention, then at parade rest, knowing that while I’m watching this from my point-of-view there were many other moms and dads, wives, girlfriends and children watching their dads and even some mom’s stand tall and proud for this next step in their journey as National Guardsmen.

 

The ceremony started right at 9 am. Emotionally, I’m doing ok, no tears, just this immensely strong feeling of how proud I am of my soldier, of this man I’ve known for a year and a half. This man I called my best friend before we evolved into a relationship.

 

The official party consisted of The Honorable Governor Ted Kulingoski, Congressman Peter DeFazio, Commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Team, Dan Hokanson, Springfield Mayor Sid Liekin,  and Eugene Mayor Kitty Piercy. Battalion 2/162 presented Gov. Kulongoski with the unit colors for him to hang in the capital while the unit is deployed, in return, Gov. Kulongsoski presented Battalion 2/162 with the Oregon state flag to fly wherever the units are stationed overseas. 

Short and precise speeches consisting of how proud this State and community is of our National Guard troops were spoken by all who were part of the official party. The ceremony ended with a song written by two young ladies when their father was deployed at an earlier time. The official party exited to the Army song.

 

Only after the ceremony was over, did I allow my emotions to spill over and I realized that I face the next year without my friend, my support. I can do this, I’m a single mom, but there’s something about having him here that makes life just a smidgen easier. But I know that this is what he wants to do, he WANTS to serve his country and he wants to go overseas and help and protect wherever he may be. And I will stand here, waiting, supporting, knowing that the best and most loving thing I can and want to do, is to make sure that he knows he’s loved and that we are all proud of who he is and what he is doing.”

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God

 

 

 

 

Dedicated to our Veterans, by Soldiers Angel Elda

“All Gave Some” shared by Veteran Brian Cairns

Thank you for your Service Brian, and thank you for sharing this special message…….

 

“ALL GAVE SOME”

An 18 year old postpones a college education so that an Iraqi child might go to school in safety and freedom.

A Doctor and a Dentist gave time away from their private practices in order to bind wounds and give smiles to Afghan villagers who have never had health care.

A veteran police officer forgoes the benefit of a comfortable retirement so that a faraway land might have competent and capable security forces.

A newlywed sacrifices time with an adored husband or wife so that another married couple will not endure the separation of deployment.

A “Biker” who spends extra time on the road to ensure that military funerals are not dishonored by those who think that there is nothing worth fighting for… or think that it’s “patriotic” to protest in front of grieving families.

“SOME GAVE ALL”

An American Medic takes a fatal wound while rescuing a wounded Afghan soldier who could not make it to safety.

A medical teams’ vehicle is destroyed by a roadside bomb while returning from a humanitarian visit to an ont of the way village.

A platoon sergeant that will not leave his position until all his soldiers are out of danger…

***************************************************************

After thirty years of military service I have seen and heard of many examples of giving and giving all. The examples I’ve shared above are real life. Like it or not, we are a nation at war.

I served in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am grateful to the Patriot Riders who were there when I left, and who were there when I came home. I am grateful and proud of my wife who kept me in her heart and prayers – and who stood up to antiwar protesters for my honor and the nobility of my mission. I am deeply indebted to the Vietnam veterans who have done so much to see to it that me and my “band of brothers” received the “welcome home” that they never received when they returned home. Most of all, I thank God for His protection which brought me through two combat tours without a scratch and never having to fire my weapon in self defense.

Respectfully,

Brian Cairns

Portraits of Love

Volunteering to Help Send a Piece of Home to Soldiers Abroad

The PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) along with Soldiers’ Angels, a grassroots volunteer organization, revealed  the Portraits of Love Project, a volunteer effort aimed at sending family portraits to soldiers around the globe this holiday season.

Designed to help bring a piece of home to soldiers around the world, the project is utilizing the talents of over 150 volunteer photographers across the country who are opening their studios this September, to offer free family portraits to military family members who have a soldier deployed overseas. The portraits will be uploaded to a website, www.pmdaportraitsoflove.com, and a print will be sent, free of charge, directly to the soldier in Iraq, Afghanistan, or wherever they are deployed around the world. The goal of the project is to send 10,000 free family portraits during the month of September.

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

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

As part of this project, Ken Hubbard of Tamron USA, Inc. joins more pro photographers to take professional family portraits of soldier’s families at Fort Hood this September. Military family members on or near Fort Hood can contact the base directly for scheduling information.

About PMDA

Founded in 1939, the PhotoImaging Manufacturers and Distributors Association (PMDA) has promoted the photo industry for over 70 years with an emphasis on photo imaging manufacturers and distributors. PMDA provides an open forum for its members to exchange ideas and learn new technologies and business trends, in addition to administering programs that promote photography to the general public. The member companies of PMDA have a box seat on the changing product and business developments of the photo industry and a unique opportunity to network with other industry principals and managers in the receptions preceding each meeting and special event. PMDA has also teamed up with the Photo Marketing Association to create the Photographic Information Council (PIC) to promote photography to the general public. PIC’s website (www.takegreatpictures.com) provides great photo tips and techniques, celebrity photographers, contests, new product releases and projects. See PMDA’s site, www.pmda.com, for more information.

Soldiers’ Angels host Ice Cream Social at Portland VAMC

Set up and Ready to Go

Melissa and Gang Ready to serve!

Edna Entertains the Veterans!

Thank you Edna for your wonderful dancing!

Thank you to everyone who helped with the Soldiers' Angels Ice Cream Social at the Portland VAMC. Thank you to all our wonderful Veterans for allowing us to share in your day!

A new Marine in the family – SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

A new Marine in the family – SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

Posted using ShareThis

Soldiers’ Angels YARD SALES FOR TROOPS

All across the nation on Saturday, October 3rd, community yard/garage sales will take place to support Soldiers’ Angels. To find out if there is one in your area – click here

Yard Sales for Troops Unite Nation Soldiers’ Angels Volunteers Raise Money for Support Projects PASADENA, Calif., Oct. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Across the country this weekend, Americans are uniting in support of the troops through the First Annual Soldiers’ Angels Sale-abration. In metropolitan areas, small towns and on military bases, from Alaska to Florida and Southern California to Vermont, patriots are raising money for troop support activities through community-based yard sales. Angel volunteers organizing each Sale will be donating a percentage of their profits to Soldiers’ Angels, helping to support deployed or wounded soldiers. The grassroots Sales are sponsored by military support nonprofit Soldiers’ Angels, whose motto is “May No Soldier Go Unloved.” An award-winning organization with nearly 200,000 hands-on volunteers around the world, Soldiers’ Angels assists active duty, wounded, veterans, military families through over 30 separate teams and projects. Angels participating in Sale-abration are working on two missions: raising money for the Soldiers’ Angels Holidays for Heroes and Project Valour-IT, and introducing their neighbors to the variety of hands-on ways they can demonstrate their support for America’s military men and women. At each Sale, customers will find blankets and 300 holiday cards on which to write greetings for the troops, and Soldiers’ Angels bracelets will go to the first 25 customers at each site. Sale-abration coordinator Greta Perry has been amazed by the response Soldiers’ Angels has received to this first-time event. “We figured 10 would be a good goal for the first year. To have 80 is just fantastic. Our volunteers really want to bring attention to Soldiers’ Angels in their community, to draw others into actively supporting the troops. So many people are looking for ways to support our heroes, and this is a great opportunity to learn how by connecting with people who are already doing it.” For more information, including a list of Sale-abration locations, see www.soldiersangels.org. Established in 2003, Soldiers’ Angels is a nationwide volunteer-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard, as well as veterans and military families. For more information, seewww.soldiersangels.org or call 615-676-0239. Tax ID# 20-0583415, CFC#25131.

RIP Spc. Taylor D Marks and Sgt. Earl D. Werner

The Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon National Guard has identified two soldiers killed when a convoy they were guarding was attacked in Iraq.

Pfc. Taylor D. Marks, 19, and a decorated veteran, Sgt. Earl D. Werner, 38, died Aug. 28 when the convoy was struck by an explosively formed penetrator, or EFP, an armor-piercing explosive that turns into a projectile when detonated.

Werner was on his third deployment with the Oregon National Guard. He had been awarded the Bronze Star, two Army Commendation Medals and the Combat Action Badge.

He is survived by his wife Casey and son Charles of Amboy, Wash.

Marks, of Monmouth, was a graduate of Central High School. He is survived by his parents and stepfather, and his sister and brother.

Both were serving with the 41st Special Troops Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

 

The Associated Press

MONMOUTH, Ore. — Relatives of an Oregon teenager killed in Iraq remember Taylor Marks as a young man who didn’t want to go into debt, so he went into the National Guard.

His stepfather says the 19-year-old from Monmouth planned to go to the University of Oregon to study finance and Japanese.

He decided to join the Guard to raise college money.

Marks was guarding a convoy Aug. 28 when an armor-piercing projectile struck. He and 38-year-old Sgt. Earl Werner of Amboy, Wash., died. They are the first fatalities in the deployment of about 2,400 Oregon-based soldiers this summer.

“He didn’t want to incur any debt, and he didn’t want us to incur any debt,” said Marks’ stepfather, Don Mack of Monmouth. “He came home and told us that he was going to join the Guard to help pay for his school.”

Marks was born in Salem and raised in Monmouth. On the night of his high school graduation, in late May 2008, Marks told the Statesman Journal that he planned to continue working at his job at a Chevron station, then enter the National Guard in August.

“I’m a little bit nervous, but I’ve got some big plans to look forward to,” Marks said then.

He ended up going to National Guard training with a friend.

The Oregon Military Department said he was contracted to go to the Defense Language Institute at the Presidio in California, but made the decision to defer his schooling to deploy with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

The military department says he has been promoted posthumously from private first class to specialist.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Werner, 38, was on his third deployment with the Oregon Guard. He had won the Bronze Star, two Army Commendation Medals and the Combat Action Badge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A third soldier, 24-year-old Specialist Reid Walch of Redmond, was seriously wounded by shrapnel. He was evacuated to a combat support hospital for treatment, Capt. Stephen Bomar said.

Troops to Teachers

The purpose of Troops to Teachers is to assist eligible military and reserve personnel transition to a new career as public school teachers in schools serving students from low-income families. A network of state offices provide counseling, referral and placement assistance. Often this includes evaluating participants’ educational and work background and providing information about state teacher licensure requirements, schools of education and alternative pathways to licensure. Participants may also be eligible for financial assistance to help pay for the cost of teacher licensure.

Veterans or current military personnel who are interested in teaching may be eligible for the federal Troops to Teachers program.

• About the Program
• Eligibility Requirements

More than 9,500 former Troops have become teachers, teaching in America’s classrooms, with help from Troops to Teachers. These individuals make a difference in the life of children everyday.

For additional information or a registration form visit: www.proudtoserveagain.com

The Troops to Teachers program is administered in Oregon by the Lewis and Clark Region Troops to Teacher office and is supported by an Oregon Area Representative (TBD). The Program Manager for the Lewis and Clark Region is Le Gaub.

You may contact a full-time Troops to Teachers Adviser at northernttt@gmail.com or by calling (866) 478-3224 and asking for Donna Habecker.

“Oregon Troops Learning to ‘just do things better’

An update from the Oregonian-

Posted by Julie Sullivan, The Oregonian August 21, 2009 20:11PM

 

Col. Dan Hokanson, commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, spoke to The Oregonian at midnight Friday from his office in southern Iraq:

Suicide bombers struck the Finance and Foreign ministries in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing 95 people and wounding at least 600.

How did that affect the brigade?

We were fortunate that no American soldiers were in that immediate area.

Randy L. Rasmussen/The OregonianThe 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team is setting up its headquarters and working with other Guard units on convoy security in southern Iraq, said commander Col. Dan Hokanson..

I feel so bad for the Iraqi people. It is a dynamic environment here, and we are working very closely with the Iraq army and police trying to help them be successful in securing their own country. Our success will be measured by whether it’s secure enough for us to leave.

 

What’s happened since arriving last month?

A week ago, we took over the (convoy security mission) for the whole southern and western part of the country. Geographically, it’s just a huge area. Since we arrived, our team has taken a warehouse and built our brigade headquarters, they went straight into cross-training with Texas.

Now we’re working with the other brigade here, from the Mississippi National Guard, to combine resources and share tactics and techniques about what’s been learned about the enemy, how to run convoys and just do things better. With a large number of troops leaving, we’re working on becoming more efficient so we can do as much with a lot fewer forces.

The brigade’s first casualty, Spc. Jeremy Pierce, lost a leg and a foot July 12 when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb.

There’s good news there. From the start Adj. Gen. (Raymond) Rees and I wanted every single soldier to go through combat lifesaving, which is usually only mandated for 10 to 20 percent of a unit. I made it mandatory for everyone, and 90 percent of folks have completed that, and we continue to train folks who showed up late.

The two soldiers in the vehicle with Jeremy clearly saved his life because they knew what to do. The ER doc told me that they did the tourniquets just the way they were supposed to, they saved his life. That alone made up for 3,000 soldiers we sent through that program.

READ MORE HERE > THE OREGONIAN

“He has no personal effects”

A must read Blog post from ” My position on the Way”

“He has no personal effects. The only things that came with him from downrange[to Germany] were an envelope with a couple of [military challenge] coins and his Soldiers’ Angels backpack.”

That, in and of itself is a powerful statement.

About 10 last night, a friend of mine from college called to tell my Mrs. her husband (also another friend from college) was wounded in Iraq. His leg was badly injured, and he was in Germany, but would be transported to WRAMC soon.

The Mrs., who has walked many miles in those shoes.

Then I did something that I absolutely hate having to do: I shot a red-star cluster (a flare we use in the army that shoots a rocket up to about 250 feet and then shoots a shower of bright red sparks. In training, it is used to alert everyone on the battlefield that a serious real-world injury has happened, and mark the location for pickup.

In war, it is used to tell the helicopter where to land to pick up the casualties.

My figurative red star was fired out into the community of milbloggers and more importantly, Soldier’s Angels. Between the time I found out (actually before) a Soldier’s Angel in Germanywas present, holding his hand, making sure he was comforted and taken care of, contacting his spouse, who was back in the states trying to wrangle arrangements for their two kids. (Sound familiar so far?) and the time I woke up this morning, SA-stateside had energized their wounded team, making sure that he (and the other critically wounded patients flying in today) would have someone waiting on them.

They’d contacted his spouse again, making sure that anything she needed was also getting taken care of. Did she need someone to watch the kids? The dog? Did she need someone to run errands so she could take a nap? Was there anything at all she needed? Not to mention getting her information–gleaned from thousands of patients and families Soldiers Angels has cared for–to help her ask and answer the questions she had yet to think of. Other Angels were securing a beach head for her–making sure she was taken care of logistically at Walter Reed. Everything they could possibly do to pave the way, allow her to focus on her soldier, is being taken care of. (How many of you know there is a dunkin’ donuts and a subway in the lobby at WRAMC, or would even think that she might want some gift cards for them?) SA already purchased them!

As a leader, one of the scariest places to be is when you don’t know what it is that you don’t know. You can’t be sure if you’ve planned for the most likely possibilities if the battlefield is too uncertain, or if you are entering an area that you never dreamed you’d be entering. You are planning in a vacuum of information, on unfamiliar terrain, and have no idea what you need to do to make progress. Soldiers Angels tries to fill that information void–to help those spouses figure out what they need to do, to prioritize what needs to be done, to provide that much-needed information and prioritization to a spouse who is on an emotional precipice. Moreover, they make sure that no soldier goes unloved–whether it’s holding hands in the ICU in Germany, or in Walter Reed, or Brooke Amy Medical Center, or Bethesda, or Balboa, or anywhere a wounded soldier finds himself.

Read more here >MY POSITION ON THE WAY

Living Legends Team – Angels of Comfort

Soldiers’ Angel Cynthia is a part of theLiving Legends team, which provides condolences and comfort to families of the fallen through letters, cards, and very special gifts of comfort and remembrance.  Cynthia is personally responsible for contacting families and offering them a tree or wreath in memory of their loved one.  She also makes sure any young children involved receive a Patches teddy bear, which is specially crafted to help them express their emotions amid the tragedy of losing a parent.

Angels of Comfort

The last two months have seen a high rate of casualties, especially in Afghanistan, and the Living Legends team has been very busy.  Cynthia recently shared with the rest of the team:

…After talking with family after family the last few days, I thought it was time to make sure each and every one of you understands how very important you are and what a special thing it is you are doing. Mother after mother, wife after wife, father after father, and husband after husband have told me how much those cards mean to them.

Not once in the two years I have been doing this have I ever had to explain Soldiers Angels to any of our families–each and every person knew, and the appreciation is so enormous. One Grandfather told me this weekend that we have done so much for them that they hated to impose anymore by taking a tree. I’m told over and over how amazed they are that people all over the country–people they don’t know–would be so kind, go to such trouble for them.

Each of you, when you send a card, is a wonderful ambassador for Soldiers Angels and you make my job at little easier. Some families have told me that at especially rough times, they go back to their box of Angel cards and read them again for comfort. It doesn’t matter that none of us have the perfect words–when I call, I certainly don’t because there simply are none–but the fact that you reach out to them means so much, they are so grateful that people care; you just can’t imagine.

So, if ever you feel that your one card doesn’t matter, that you can’t possibly say anything that will make a difference, don’t you dare stop! You are a lifeline to so many, and those cards and letters will carry into the future. Sadly, many of our heroes have children they never met or who are too young to remember who Mom or Dad was.  Your cards are being kept to give to those children and hopefully your words will help these children fill that empty place with the understanding that Mom or Dad was very special–so special, so appreciated, that people from all over the States wrote to say so.

So, thank you again.  I, too, appreciate the caring and thoughtful way you pave the road for me. The bios [on each fallen hero, researched and assembled by Living Legend team members] are so helpful to me because I can read each one, and when I talk to one of our families I know something about them, which makes me a little more like a long-lost friend that a stranger. Plus, I see the photos and sometimes it helps me know what to say. I know putting those bios together is not an easy job, reading them isn’t easy either and you know what?–It really shouldn’t be.

Soldiers’ Angels proudly gives its most respectful salute to the amazing Angels of the Living Legends team.  They willingly step into the most painful of situations, honoring America’s heroes and comforting their grieving families during the most difficult time. They are truly Angels of a most special breed.