Public Service: Project Valour-IT, Soldiers Angels

Project Valour-IT began when Captain Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss was wounded by an IED while serving as commander of a tank company in Iraq in June 2005.

During his deployment he kept a blog (an online personal diary, opinion forum, or news analysis site-called a milblog or military weblog when written by a servicemember or about military subjects). Captivating writing, insightful stories of his experiences, and his self-deprecating humor won him many loyal readers. After he was wounded, his wife continued his blog, keeping his readers informed of his condition.

As he began to recover, CPT Ziegenfuss wanted to return to writing his blog, but serious hand injuries hampered his typing. When a loyal and generous reader gave him a copy of the Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred software, other readers began to realize how important such software could be to CPT Ziegenfuss' fellow wounded soldiers and started cast about for a way to get it to them.

A fellow blogger (blog author) who writes under the pseudonym FbL contacted Captain Ziegenfuss and the two realized they shared a vision of providing laptops with voice-controlled software to wounded soldiers whose injuries prevented them from operating a standard computer. FbL contacted Soldiers Angels, who offered to help develop the project, and Project Valour-IT was born.

In sharing their thoughts, CPT Ziegenfuss (now a Major) and FbL found that memories of their respective fathers were a motivating factor in their work with the project. Both continue their association with this project in memory of the great men in their lives whose fine examples taught them lasting lessons of courage and generosity.

In the years since its founding in 2005, the project has acted to meet emerging needs and its mission of supporting the the severely wounded has expanded. In addition to voice-controlled laptops, Valour-IT now helps provide active and whole-body video games such as Wii Sports, which is used to great effect in physical therapy, and personal GPS systems that help compensate for short-term memory loss and organizational/spacial challenges common in those with brain injuries.

So if the calling seizes you, hit the AF button below and start catching up!

Public Service: Soldiers Angels

Dear Friends of America’s Troops,

In whatever way you support the troops, what truly matters is that they know they are being remembered. Believe it or not, there are so many people out there who don’t even realize we still have well over 150,000 soldiers deployed to danger zones across the world right now. We are all working so hard to keep supporting them and we need to spread the word so that people know there is still a great need for those who can love and support our deployed heroes. Right now so many heroes are waiting for adoption…

Angels are adopting heroes and giving it their all in spite of financial challenges. Right now there are over 1,000 more of our dear heroes waiting to be adopted! Now is the time to tell a friend, a stranger—anybody you know. A lot of people don’t know there is this opportunity and that so many are still deployed. It means so much to these wonderful service members to know someone cares. Please help spread the word so that no solider goes unloved!

Wingtip to Wingtip,

Patti Patton-Bader
Soldiers’ Angels Founder and CEO

Public Service: Letter from the President of the AFA

Thursday, March 12, 2009
AFA Members, Congressional staffers, Civic Leaders, and DOCA members, I remain concerned about the overall level of government spending … and about the amount given to Defense. Last week a Senator released some very interesting numbers on the growth of budgets from 2008 to 2009. He cited the numbers based on the sub-committee which was responsible for the appropriation. We have put his numbers on a slide on our website. You can find it here: http://www.afa.org/ProfessionalDevelopment/IssueBriefs/budgetstats.pdf

The major point to take away from this slide is that most appropriations have grown by an average of 80 percent. So … how much is Defense spending expected to grow. The article at this link [as well as others] (http://www.afa.org/EdOp/2009/edop_3-10-09.asp) says it will increase by only 4%. This, when the economy needs help … and production lines of aircraft are preparing to shut down - which will eliminate key, high-paying manufacturing jobs. It is obvious to most that having been in constant combat for over 18 years … and with the average age of the fleet approaching one-quarter of a century, the Air Force … much like the Navy … needs to recapitalize. It will need funds and our support to do it.

For your consideration.
Michael M. Dunn, Lt Gen (Ret)
President/CEO

Public Service: Service comes in many forms

Since 2005, following her own personal sense of duty, Lorraine Melgosa tracks down the families of fallen service men and women and offers the use of her special funeral cart and horses.

"Whatever gift you can give to these soldiers and their families, you should give," Melgosa said. "It's the least you can do to try to honor them."

She offers free funerals for children and law enforcement officers, as well as for members of the military. She pays her bills by running a local Verizon shop and selling antiques online.
More here...

Public Service: Soldiers Angels - A call heard

We need 50,000 or more morale and encouragement cards and letters for our soldier's serving overseas, especially in Afghanistan!

Guidelines for Cards

Cards can be any size, either purchased or handmade. Envelopes are optional.
Please leave envelopes unsealed, as we screen every card. Per Department of Defense rules.

Homemade cards are great. Be creative. Even little scribbles from young children are wonderful.

Contact your local schools, churches, businesses, TV and radio stations, we need cards for the troops.

Soldier's might write back if you include your name, address or email on your cards.

Please keep your messages positive.

There is no deadline we need morale and encouragement letters all YEAR LONG!!!

Cards can be shipped to:

Soldiers' Angels
112 Greenhill Road
Ramseur, NC 27316
OR
Soldiers' Angels
914 Tourmaline Drive
Newbury Park, CA 91320

Public Service: May No Soldier Ever Go Unloved!

The following is a public service announcement for Soldiers Angels. They represent all services. Judy Lee is the leader of the CT Soldiers Angels Organization. From sending stuff overseas like cards and letters to providing Valour IT voice activated Lap Tops to setting up holiday visits to VA hospitals (the 169th went last year)- she and SA are the best!

Editors note: I have made and lost.., some very special family and life long friends through SA. If your interested in knowing more about them go here...

Here is a chance to send your favorite hero a little love from home for Valentine's Day?

This package includes:

A note from you or a thank you for your service letter
Heart Votive Candle
Donated Coffee
Fleece Blanket
Knit Cap
Bear Fruit Bar - Apple Cherry
Kars PB&J Mix
Kars Sweet N Salty Mix
Sun Maid® Raisins
Wrigleys Big Red® Chewing Gum
Tazo® Awake Black Tea
Crystal Light® On the Go Natural Cherry Pomegranate
Motts® Hot Spiced Cider Caramel
Nature Valley® Cinnamon Granola Bar
Sparrer Smoked Beef Stick
Justins Organic Cinnamon Peanut Butter
Wheat Wafers - red box
Bonne Maman® Cherry Preserves
Hero Strawberry Jam
Lifesavers® Gummies - 5 Flavors
Crème Savers® Hard Candy - Strawberry & Crème
For the Guys:
AXE Boost Shower Gel
Old Spice® Red Zone® antiperspirant / deodorant
For the Gals:
Caress® Moisterizing Body Wash - Tahitian renewal
Soft & Dri® Clear Glide Anti-Perspirant Deodorant

Plus, you can add one of the following items to the Pack if you would like:

Sand Scarf + $6.00

Cool Scarf + $6.00

AT&T International 100 Minute Calling Card + $7.95

COMBO: Sand Scarf and AT&T Calling Card + $12.00 Save $2

COMBO: Cool Scarf and AT&T Calling Card + $12.00 Save $2

BEST VALUE!!! Add Sand Scarf, Cool Scarf and AT&T Calling Card for an additional $15 - Save $4.95 !

Click here to order a package now!

Or, you can send them some luck for St. Patrick's Day!

This package includes:

Dial® Deodorant Soap
General Mills® Lucky Charms Cereal (box)
Generic Travel Toothbrush
Gift Pack - Donated by Simple Green
Green Sandscarf
Kars® Salted Peanuts
Kars® Yogurt, Apple, Nut Mix
LA Fresh Dental Finger Mitt
Land O Lakes Cocoa Classics® Irish Creme & Chocolate
Leprechaun Candle
Lifesavers® Wint O Green
Nature Valley® Oats N Honey Granola Bar
One Fresh Cup Mocha Java
Oraline Dental Floss-mint
OraLine® Ice Mint Breath Strips (24 Strips)
Plastic Green Hats - 4
Quaker Oatmeal Variety Pack
Safetec Hand Sanitizer - 3
Scope® Cool Peppermint Mouthwash
Snaplight® Safety Lightstick - Green
Stash Premium Green Tea
Tabasco® Brand Green Pepper Sauce (bottle)
Tang Sport Fitness Drink Mix - Lemon Lime
Tea Tech® XtraGreen Tea to Go Lemon Flavor Beverage Mix
Triple Lanolin® Aloe Vera Hand and Body Lotion
Wet-Nap® Moist Towelette - 3
Wrigleys Doublemint®

Click here to order package now!

Thank you for all your support of troops.

Judy Lee, CT Soldiers Angels

USAF & Public Service: Soldiers Angels, the end of the stolen goods story

AFN's TSgt Colleen Armstrong interviews Gold Star mom Linda Ferrara and patient SPC Stephen Stout during a Soldiers' Angels-sponsored visit to Landstuhl hospital in Germany.

After the death of her son, CPT Matthew Ferrara of the 173rd ABCT in 2007, Linda began making blankets and collecting other donations for the patients at Landstuhl. When the donations were stolen, Linda received an outpooring of support from around the country.

Public Service: A Soldier's Angels Christmas

HI Angels!!

I am checking on who is going to attend our Christmas VA Hospital visits (the 169th Composite Squadron in Manchester attended last year). West Haven will be on Saturday, December 13th. 1:00 - 3:30 ish. We will hand out cards/candy. If anyone has any cards/candy they would like to donate towards this event that would be awesome!!

Cards can be made out to Dear Veteran or Dear Hero. Newington will be on Thursday, December 18th. 11:00-1ish. We have been invited to attend their party. We are bringing baked goods and presenting each attending Veteran with a gift bag, which will contain a blanket, card, candy, and little jugs of CT maple syrup.

Please let me know if you can attend or if you have any cards/candy/baked goods for an event.--

Sincerely,

Judy Lee

Soldiers AngelsCT State Coordinator, CT CTL , CT VA CTLhttp://soldiersangelfarmgirl1967.blogspot.com/