Angel Whispers

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2007-06-19T16:00:00.001-07:00

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