Prior to the presidential election last fall, NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams did a story on the American military’s continued-but-winding-down deployment in Iraq; contrasting Iraq with the military’s shift of attention and resources to Afghanistan. In addition to the increased exposure of fighting forces to an uncertain mission in Afghanistan, Williams reported on yet another danger all Americans should be aware of: the dwindling or journalist presence in Iraq, thus making it a ‘forgotten war’.
Thus, as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, there is no better time of year to remember and honor our brave and selfless fighting forces, than for We The People to reach out and be an Angel for them, and their families.
American forces numbering in the tens of thousands are toiling in Afghanistan and Iraq, with a pending decision by President Barak Obama certain to increase their number---if only temporarily---in Afghanistan to battle the Taliban. Many soldiers rotating out of Iraq have been re-assigned to the Afghan effort, many on their third or fourth tour of duty. Additionally, there are still 50,000 troops stationed on the line dividing North and South Korea, as well as countless other countries in various forms of service around the globe.
All of our fighting forces past and present have made unparalleled sacrifices of life, limb, vocation and family. Additionally, soldiers’ families are often left with severely reduced income and feelings of endless loneliness and isolation, despite the immersion and support of base families and services. Thus, this Thanksgiving, opportunities abound for to show our gratitude and appreciation in a variety of ways through an organization called Soldiers’ Angels.
Soldiers’ Angels was founded by the mother of two American soldiers, and is “an international, volunteer-led organization supporting America’s men and women in uniform. With over 30 different teams and projects, our nearly 200,000 volunteers assist veterans, wounded and deployed personnel and their families in a variety of unique and effective ways”.
I became aware of the organization last December, when the ‘Nancy Grace Show’ ran a feature on them at holiday time, and I was able to adopt a soldier, which involved sending a care package when I could and writing letters monthly until I lost my job. I am now going to practice what I preach, and re-up beginning with this holiday season.
In an email exchange with Caren Vink, Vice President, National CTL Director, Operation Outreach/SOS Kids and Operation Top Knot (cvink@soldiersangels.org ), I asked her to share information regarding the needs that donors can meet in support of the troops and their families. According to Ms. Vink,
• “Soldiers’ Angels has long subscribed to the studies that show that soldiers supported from home have a better chance of being more healthy physically and mentally, and coming back home safely.
• Soldiers’ Angels beginnings have been to support the deployed soldier. Angel members have had a variety of ways to express and provide care through our adoption teams, care packages, letter writing, sewing, baking, and TLC teams.
• As the deployments become longer, it became evident that to continue to have a positive impact on our deployed soldiers, we also needed to reach out to the families left behind. While families have benefited knowing that their soldier is supported by Soldiers’ Angels, the care packages have helped lessen some of the financial burden of the families. Additionally, Angels volunteer for other Soldiers’ Angels Teams such as Operation Top Knot, Operation Outreach-Adopt a Military family for the holidays, and toys for their children”.
Additionally, if you desire is to pinpoint your assistance to the considerable needs of the Veterans community, Twyla Choate, Vice President of Veterans’ Support created the team two years ago and has nurtured it’s efforts in a variety of areas, including but not limited to:
• Working to serve the VA’s needs of any veteran of any war. “Our Veterans’ needs are different in every state”, she says, “As for our our VA’s, they ask for toiletry items, sweats and our Soldiers’ Angels Vet Packs (link) to give to those who come to the hospital with nothing”.
• Additionally, gasoline cards are always in demand, and Soldiers’ Angels has a program where the cards can be purchased and donated online. Ms. Choate adds, “This helps Veterans get to their appointments, job interviews, and even sometimes home to see their families when they are enrolled in certain programs at the VA”.
• Finally, the Veterans’ Support program helps Veterans pay their bills until they get back on their feet after returning home from the war zone; including help with utilities, water, rent, and groceries for their families.
In whatever manner you choose to volunteer to help, you will be showing our troops that we remember them at this time of year when so many are so far from home, fighting to protect the freedom and liberty that we all hold so dear.
Let no soldier or their families go unloved.
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