|
NEW PROGRAMS YOUR
SQUADRON CAN HELP WITH
OPERATION
COMFORT WARRIOR
WE HAVE BEEN ASKED TO MEET THE CHALLENGE:
The U.S. Government does a good job providing for the essential
needs of the men and women recovering from war injuries in hospitals
like Walter Reed, Brooke Army Medical Center and Bethesday Naval
Medical Center just to name a few. But what about the
so-called nonessentials, the items that don't show up as a
budget-line on a government spreadsheet? Nonessential comfort
items such as loose fitting sweat suits that can cover a soldier's
healing body without adding pressure to the burns he suffered during
an RPG attack in Ramadi? Or an I-Pod to help drown out the
tinnitus that has plagued the medic ever since she drove too close
to a roadside bomb in Afghanistan? Or a gripping novel that
provides a welcome distraction from PTSD?
In 2007, Past National Commander Paul Morin, Auxiliary National
President JoAnn Cronin and S.A.L. Commander Earl Ruttkofsky
challenged The American Legion family to raise $50,000 to purchase
comfort items for our wounded warriors at Landstuhl Regional Medical
Center in Germany. Legion family members and other caring
Americans responded in a big way. Thanks to the generosity, nearly
$350,000 was raised and spent directly on the troops.
When the Red Cross notified The American Legion that zip-up
sweatsuits were in short supply at Walter Reed, the Legion
immediately ordered 100 sets. But it's just a drop in the bucket.
We have been told there is an even greater need for items at Fort
Hood and Fort Bragg. Consider that there are 67 other U.S.
military inpatient facilities and 1,369 VA inpatient and outpatient
centers, and you can grasp the enormous need. Their size and
needs, however, are dwarfed by the obligation that America has to
these heroes.
The American Legion family is calling this effort Operation
Comfort Warriors. Contributing is effortless. No trips
to the post office or packaging of comfort items are needed.
We will handle all of that. You can use your credit card to
make an online donation at
www.legion.org/ocw or you can mail a check to Operation Comfort
Warriors, PO Box 1055, Indianapolos, IN 46206.
Administrative and promotional costs for Operation Comfort
Warriors will be paid by The American Legion, so you can be sure
that the entire donation will go directly to the troops. Many
centers are not equipped to store large quantities of care packages,
so monetary donations are needed in order to purchase items that are
truly needed.
Semper Fi, or Semper Fidelis, is the Marine Corps motto meaning
"Always Faithful." Well today's wounded warriors in all
service branches remain faithful. Faithful to their country,
their comrades in arms and their loved ones back home.
Operation Comfort Warrior will never be able to compensate these
heroes for their sacrifices. But it will show them we care.
|
