Soldiers' Angels at the VFW Convention Kansas City

Soldiers' Angels Kansas City has spent the last five days going to the 108th VFW Convention and spreading the word about Soldiers' Angels and how the wonderful veterans and many auxiliary members can help support our troops.

All the Soldiers' Angels had a wonderful time, shared some great camaraderie, met some fantastic people and generally felt rewarded personally and as Angels for the experience.

I'll start at the end because it highlighted the reason why we were there. Angel Christy and I went to the closing party Wednesday evening at the Liberty Memorial Park in Kansas City. As we were preparing to leave, we came across a group of people who were standing in a circle, clasping hands raised above their heads as they sang to Lee Greenwoods, "Proud to be an American". We got a little video and, as usual, asked the group to give a message to our troops so we could send it on CD when we send our care packages. After recording the message, a few folks came over and we talked about what Soldiers' Angels does and how we would like to work with the VFW to extend the amount of support we can provide to our active duty and veteran service members.

A lady and husband from Minnesota told us that their son had served two tours in Iraq. He was wounded and received a purple heart on his last tour. He is going back to Iraq at the end of this year. He's married with three children and one on the way that he will not be here to see born. We thanked her and her husband for sharing their story and then we gave them some "Thank You for your Service" cards to give him and his friends. As I was explaining what we do and the process for signing him up and how he or others could sign up friends, I said, "And then he will be adopted by an Angel..."

I couldn't finish the speech I had given so many times before because this mother broke into tears, put her arms around my neck, hugging me and crying on my shoulder, repeating over and over again, "Thank you for what you do. Thank you."

You know, I couldn't speak for a moment because the tears were choking me up, too. I know how soldiers must feel when a stranger like me thanks them for their service. It wasn't me. I really hadn't done anything special. I did not go into danger like our men and women do every day. In fact, I had been having a great time while they are "over there" doing the hard work. Angels have a lot of different reasons why we join and support our military. I do it because I think it is the right thing to do. It is what we are supposed to do when our people go to war on our behalf. But, I realized that this gratitude was not really for me. It was for all of the Angels who go out there and support the troops unconditionally, untiring every day and the many people who donate time, money or supplies and make it possible for us to support our troops.

So, I hugged her back until she had composed herself and I had, too.

Pardon me. For this one moment, I have no pictures. My arms were a little busy at the time. Besides, I don't think I would have had the presence of mind to snap them.

I wanted to tell people about the Veterans of Foreign Wars. If you don't know, it's not just an organization of old soldiers and their wives getting together Saturday for a beer and to share a few laughs (though they do). These are people who have served our country in a time of war, continue to serve through many projects and programs to assist veterans, their families and many other community programs for children and the under privileged. Like the Military Order of the Cootie, a fun and hard working group of people that "wear funny hats", that volunteers at the VA and works to provide for the needs at the VFW National Homes.



There was another recurring theme that I recognized among these many veterans and their families: they give even more because their sons and daughters carry on the tradition, serving our nation as their parents have for years. Many VFW members told us that their son or daughter was serving in the military today. People know what our men and women are going through every day to complete their missions in Afghanistan and Iraq. We often ask where do we find such people? It is by the example set by such fine people as the Veterans of Foreign Wars that we continue to field the best and the bravest from the Land of the Free.

On Tuesday, a lady came by our booth and purchased a Soldiers' Angels t-shirt. As we had done hundreds of times in the last few days, we explained what Soldiers' Angels was about, sharing a few of our favorite "support" stories about the kinds of things that we did to support our troops. The lady thanked us for our support of the troops and then explained to us why she wanted the t-shirt. She had been a nurse in Vietnam. She would fly on the med-evacs with the soldiers, just like the many wonderful medics, nurses and doctors who do the same for our wounded today. She told us that the nurses that would fly with the wounded were called "Angels". She said the t-hirt would remind her of that always.

We were extremely fortunate throughout the convention. We took turns going to the different speeches by the visiting presidential candidates. Some we were merely able to shake hands or get a picture of, while others we were able to hand some literature and an angel pin with the opportunity for some photo ops. Throughout their speeches, all of them stated the our troops and our veterans have and continue to do extraordinary things that deserve our continued support.

This is Angel Stephanie talking with potential presidential candidate Fred Thompson after she gave him the card, brochure and pin, he diligently read it and commented that, "Supporting the troops was the right thing to do, but we should support them in everything including their mission." Here's hoping some of these folks will put their money where their speeches are and remember that Soldiers' Angels supports the troops every day.

After Angel Christy handed the information and pin to Sen. Barak Obama, he asked her if she would like to have her picture taken with him. Of course, we Angels are always looking for a way to get the information out about our organization and never turn down an opportunity for a little more publicity. While you might not be able to see the back, Christy is wearing a Soldiers' Angels jean jacket (which was extremely popular at the event). She has her Angel pin in the collar.

We also got to see President Bush give his speech. All of the Angels were excited because it was the first time any of us had an opportunity to see and hear a sitting president live and in person. While the hand shake opportunities were limited, we were able to talk to one of his staff named Joshua. We told Joshua that Soldiers' Angels wanted the president to have a "May No Airman Go Unloved" challenge coin, an Angel pin and information about how our organization supports the troops. To our surprise, Joshua had heard of Soldiers' Angels and asked us if we were in Tennessee. We told him that there were Angels everywhere. He thanked us and told us he would get the coin and information to the president. He made sure that he had Soldiers' Angels mailing address so that the president could send something to our organization (so, Patti, et al, if you are reading this, check your mail in a couple weeks for something from the White House).

Even after meeting the candidates and listening to the president, the most exciting moments for us were getting to meet some real heroes and showing them that Soldiers' Angels cares. During a lull in speechifying, we ran into James E. Livingston, Medal of Honor recipient(left). Then we were able to meet Don Ballard, also a Medal of Honor recipient (left). Both of these gentlemen gave us a few minutes of their time and permission to share their photos. In fact, Don Ballard said that he had heard of Soldiers' Angels and told us to "keep up the good work!"

On Wednesday, as we waited for the president, we met some local heroes who had been serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. We told them about Soldiers' Angels, thanked them for their service and handed them a pin or coin. Some of them had heard of Soldiers' Angels and were very happy to see us. We collected a lot of memories, handshakes and hugs that day.



























We also met John Miska from VFW Post 8208, Arlington, Virginia (right) who couldn't say enough about Soldiers' Angels and how our organization had helped the VFW pay for the gas they used to take the wounded to dinner and on other outings. He said to say hello to Lynette from Soldiers' Angels. She's our coordinator at Walter Reed Hospital. Everywhere we went, when ran into Big John and he would tell any VFW member present that Soldiers' Angels was endorsed by his VFW post.


We also met John Hanson from Grand Forks, North Dakota VFW Post 1874 who was the VFW State Commander 2004-2005 (center). He knew all about Soldiers' Angels and had our VP of Public Relations, Shelle Michaels on speed dial. He called her up to report that he had met us and we were all having a great time during the presentation of all the VFW state departments and follow up concert with Lorrie Morgan, the choir from the VFW National Homes for Children and the Army American Idol winner.



Our Angel gear was pretty popular as were the Angel camouflage bear. Many who bought it were sending it to a loved one over seas or to place it in a care package for a soldier they supported. We shook hands and shared the story of Soldiers' Angels with thousands of wonderful people. We sold our Angel gear to raise money for our Vet-Packs. Some people stopped and shared their stories from when they were deployed in defense of our nation. Patriotic colors and themes abounded at the convention and many loved our Red, White and Blue Soldiers' Angels t-shirts. We also met a VFW group from Lautenberg, Germany who knew all about Soldiers' Angels because they work with Landstuhl Medical Center and had seen our First Response Back Packs for the wounded.


This group of great ladies are from the VFW Auxiliary in Farmington, Missouri, right outside of St. Louis. They told us they were working on a project for Fisher House at the St. Louis VA Medical Center that specializes in polytrauma. They told us that they were looking forward to working with Soldiers' Angels to make sure our troops and their families get the best care possible.

We also learned that it was a tradition to exchange pins from the different VFW posts , commanders and presidents of the auxiliary. So, we broke into our private stashes of pins and carried Soldiers' Angels cards wherever we went. It presented a great opportunity to talk with people about our organization and how we could work with the Veterans of Foreign Wars to bring the most support to our troops from every state.

We were also fortunate to meet the next outstanding generation of defenders. A young troop of Army JROTC from Ft. Leavenworth High School received the National VFW award for outstanding drill team. The young men and women were dressed in period uniforms of the United States Calvary.

On the last day of the convention, there were a lot of active duty and recently returned Guard and Reserve military who had been invited to hear the President speak. We sent Angel Julie off to find some more that we might have missed in the crowded auditorium so we could make sure that we had given them each a personal "thank you for your service" from Soldiers' Angels.

To our surprise, she returned with a number of soldiers wearing a lot of brass that sparkled in the overhead lights. It was none other than LTG Caldwell, Commanding General, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas; CSM Bruner, LTC Gilbreti, and Major Stroud.

LTG Caldwell immediately noticed our famous Soldiers' Angels coffee mug. He told all the people with him about how these coffee mugs can be seen all over the combat hospital in Baghdad. As we chatted some more, CSM Bruner shared with us that his brother was wounded in Iraq and was the recipient of one of our First Response Back Packs.

We gave each of the officers a Soldiers' Angels Challenge Coin and a "Thank You For Your Service" card. We asked LTC Gilbreti if he knew what an Angel coin was for and, before we could explain he said, "It means, whenever I meet an Angel, I have to buy them a beer!" We all had a good laugh and enjoyed speaking with such fantastic representatives of our armed forces. Then we posed for some pictures and a video with the group. All the officers sent a message of gratitude to the men and women serving on the battle front. Then LTG Caldwell shook our hands, thanked us for our support and gave us each a Commander's Challenge Coin for "Outstanding Performance" which we accepted on behalf of all Soldiers' Angels.





Soldiers' Angels would like to thank the Veterans of Foreign Wars for having us as an exhibitor at their convention and for welcoming us to all of their events. We weren't simply a group soliciting their assistance in supporting our troops, we were treated as honored guests wherever we went and invited to next years convention in Orlando, Florida. We are looking forward to working with the many VFW posts across the United States to bring support to our troops and seeing them at every convention in the years to come.


- May no soldier go unloved

3000 Marines: Update

According to our adoption committee, we still have over half of the original 3000 Marines left to adopt. The response to our calls for support has been great, but we need to keep spreading the word. Over 1500 marines are still looking for support.

Find out more about the marines and how you can help by going here: Urgent Call for Support of 3000 Marines.


- May no soldier go unloved

Over the Weekend: Soldiers' Angels Around Kansas City

Soldiers' Angels Kansas City was busy this past week continuing to spread the word about Soldiers' Angels and show our support for our troops.

On Thursday, we were invited to a small town "Music in the Park" in Bonner Springs, KS. The City Band played old time favorites, well known pieces from musicals and famous marches. The evening started out with the National Anthem being sung by a local man who had a fantastic baritone. Everyone stood, the men removed their hats, the veterans saluted and the rest of the people placed their hands over their hearts. That's something that you just don't see at urban events. True respect and appreciation for our nation's freedoms and struggles to maintain them seem to come more easily to those who enjoy them at their simplest level. Or, maybe it is because, in small communities, everyone knows someone who has sacrificed to maintain that way of life. People know the names, the families and often the people whose names are carved in the monument in the square. They were never strangers to them. They feel the price more keenly.

People bought ice cream sundae's provided by the local Luthern Church to raise money for their local charity project. Pastor Borroughs from Emaus Luthern Church in Bonner Springs spoke to Mayor Clausie of Bonner Springs and asked him if we could have a few moments. Mayor Clausie agreed and introduced us after a rousing rendition of a medley of songs from "The Music Man". We told the audience of about 100 how much our troops needed their support and how they could help by adopting a service member and writing or sending care packages. I told them about the 3000 marines who has asked for this support. As usual, whenever I read a letter from one of our troops, the people are very quiet and then there was wild applause as hands went up all over the audience for our flyers and business cards.

The letter that always seems to inspire people the most is the one from a young man who wrote that he was excited to receive letters and care packages from home because he knew it came from great Americans. He said he did not mind the fight knowing he was defending such wonderful people. One young school teacher asked for contact information directly so that she could arrange a project with our organization. We are looking forward to hearing from her. I think it is wonderful that teachers are showing children about civic pride and honoring those who defend. There has certainly not been such efforts to honor the soldiers' since World War II.

Friday morning we got up bright and early to send off the 35 ID Kansas Army National Guard. This event was truly inspiring. The reserve band played some great music and we met many wonderful people. Soldiers' Angels and the Patriot Guard formed a flag line into the auditorium for the ceremonies. As we waited several soldiers thanked us for the efforts. Then, the ranking two star general came up and shook the hand of everyone in the line along with a captain from the unit. As he thanked everyone for being there, I heard the people on the flag line continue to tell him and the captain, "No. Thank you for your service." It was definitely mutual appreciation.

Several soldiers took pictures of the event for mementos. We were unexpectedly asked to go into the auditorium as part of the ceremony. We lined up behind the podium as the guest speakers were presented. The ride captain presented a flag signed by all of the PGR and Soldiers' Angels attendees that read "We Support Our Troops!" After a few moments of applause, the commanding officer thanked us for "standing behind the soldiers, no matter what the mission." Then the officers and dignitaries on the podium and the audience of soldiers and their families turned around and gave us a standing ovation. It was very heartening to know that your support is appreciated.












Finally, Saturday morning, we got up early once again to Welcome Home Sgt Van Ness from Iraq. Sgt Van Ness drove up from Louisiana where he landed with his unit two days before. His uncle is in the PGR down in Louisiana and asked the Kansas Guard to welcome him home. After a few moments of chatting with him in the parking lot of a local park, Sgt. Van Ness said what many have said on return: it is great to come home and see the green, green grass and trees. In fact, Sgt Van Ness was so impressed with it, the first thing he did when he got home was get out the lawnmower and cut the grass.

His family put out a tent in the front with chairs and provided water, soda and snacks. Everyone stood around for awhile and talked. Sgt Van Ness' cousin had recently returned from AIT (technical school) where he was learning to be an electrician to work on the electronics of jets. I had a few moments to talk to his grandfather who was wearing a hat indicating he was a World War II vet who had served with the 20th Army Air Corp which was now the 20th Air Force. Sgt Van Ness was carrying on the family tradition and was serving in that unit. We gave his grandfather a "Thank You for Your Service" card and an angel pin.



Sgt. Van Ness' step-mom asked for information about Soldiers' Angels. She really wanted to get involved so we gave her some information and a business card. We hope to hear from her soon.

It was a wonderful weekend showing our support for our troops. We are looking forward to continuing with these events and spreading the word about Soldiers' Angels. We want to tell everyone about these activities and the joy that it brings to the soldiers, their families and to those who support them. You can't beat it.

- May no soldier go unloved

Why I Became an Angel: The Phone Call

There are certain conversations that you never want to have with someone you love. One of those conversations is about the possibility of dying and what that person wants to happen with their money, property and burial. Normally, that's something that you associate with the elderly or the very ill when they are nearing the end of their life. Those conversations are hard enough. But, when you are talking to your brother who is a year younger than you and is in the prime of health, that conversation takes on a whole different context. It brings things home to you about mortality. In this case, it brings the war home to you.

About three years ago, my brother called me, out of the blue, during the work day. That was pretty unusual. Usually, we talked about every two weeks on a Saturday or Sunday. We would catch up on what the family was doing, how is kids were, his wife, what we were doing here. All the usual things that families do when they live so far apart. On this day, we did the same.

He told me about going to a military funeral with full honors for a man who had served long and unexpectedly died at home from a heart attack. He was asked to be part of the honor guard. He wore full military dress in the blazing heat of an early summer day in the desert. He talked about sweating so badly he had to have his uniform dry cleaned immediately. Then he said something odd, "If something happens to me, that's what I want." I asked, "Really?" Because I always thought my brother was pretty laid back regardless of his career. He replied, "Hell, yes! I want those SOBs to sweat like I had to. Maybe they'll remember!" I thought that was an odd statement, but I laughed a little and told him he was going to be a pain even after death.

After we had a few more laughs and harassed each other a little, as siblings are want to do, he said, "I'm deploying in three days." Just like that. It is not melodramatic to say that for a moment everything stops and your mind goes blank.

We had been at war in Afghanistan for two years and Iraq for almost exactly one. The possibility of deploying was always there, but it is not something that you dwell on. Life still goes on here, even as it does there. I wanted to know all the things that everyone wants to know, but I knew better than to ask: where? how long? why? What I really wanted to know was when he found out. It is not really usual to find out only three days before hand.

He had known for over two weeks. His response was that he was dealing with his wife, the kids, the paperwork, preparation for deployment, etc, and, well, "you know how mom will be. And, Dad, well..." My parents are both proud of my brother and his service, but having your child deploy to a war zone, no matter how old, no matter how proud, is an emotional roller coaster at best. He hadn't told either of them yet. I knew because, if he had, my mom and dad would have called me already. Not that I didn't understand why he waited. I realized that he was getting himself ready and felt that he was not ready to deal with that emotion.

To make matters more interesting, my brother's unit was not deploying. He had volunteered to go as an individual replacement for someone who had been killed several weeks earlier by a mortar attack. His wife was not enthused by his decision. She didn't understand why he would want to volunteer to go. His general response to all inquiries:

"I am no one special. There are men and women there right now who are away from their families for years at a time. Some of them are young and have not even had much of a life with their families. I have had a great life. My family is well provided for. If I go, someone else may not have to. Someone else can be at home with their family, at least for awhile longer. Maybe, they never have to go."

That was my brother? The younger brother who I had fought with as children? The brother I had competed with for grades, for friends and for the coolest car? The brother that would tell me the wild things that he and his military friends got up to while they were stationed in South Korea? Suddenly, I was no longer the mature, wiser, older sibling. Suddenly, my younger brother was my hero.

Then he said the words that no one wants to hear from their younger brother, "I want you to do something for me." I knew without his asking what it would be and, at that moment, I felt the most proud, the most honored, the most privileged and the most wretched I had ever felt in my life.

We started talking in euphemisms: "if something happens." Neither of us were actually willing to say what the final "something" might be, but it had to be discussed. He said he thought that, "if something happened", his wife, our parents, would be a mess and unable to handle it. We went through his life insurance, the property, what he wanted for his family, what he wanted for himself. I remembered our earlier conversation and that part where he said, "Maybe they'll remember."

Remember him. Remember that war is serious business. Remember that they did not join the Boy Scouts, but a dangerous occupation. Remember to do everything possible to come back alive and bring your men back alive so that your widow was not sitting there crying and your friends would not be standing there sweating in the desert heat. Remember.

When we hung up the phone, I sat there for a long time doing nothing. My mind kept going over what I would need to do. I had wanted to go down and be with his wife and kids when he deployed, but he told me to save my days off, "just in case." I knew that, soon, my mom would call and my dad would call and I would have to be strong and supportive. I would have to tell them the same thing, over and over again, that my brother had told me: he volunteered because he wanted to do it. I was going to support him every way I could while he was away so he could do his job and come home.

Before, the war had been on television. The people there were somebody else's sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers. They were not "my family". They were not people that I knew. They were the "others" with barely any connection to me. Now, I wanted to know everything. In two days, I read more books, more newspapers, watched more news than I had ever done in such a short time. I started thinking about all the others that were there. I realized that the conversation I had with my brother must go on hundreds of thousands of times as men and women were deployed to each theater of combat.

I wondered if they had a family like ours. I wondered if they had to worry about their family back home. I wondered if anyone called, or wrote or sent a little something to let them know that someone cared that they were there. I've never been the kind of person to sit back and do nothing. I didn't want to just wait until "something happened". I needed to do something now. But, what?

In an odd twist of fate, my brother was not deployed. Another man with the same rank, who had "been there", had all his shots and all his paperwork in order had put in and been accepted for the billet first. My brother was disappointed. There were no other billets open at the time for his MOS (military operations specialty). When he called on the day he was to deploy and told the family, I could feel the big sigh of relief that came out of everyone. It was like letting the air out of an over inflated balloon. When I spoke to my brother, I could tell that he was not relieved. I knew some of what he was feeling. This man, whose name I still do not know, went and my brother did not. I don't know if he had a family. I don't know what ever happened to him. What I know is, he did what my brother was going to do. He went and someone else did not have to.

I realized that, just because my brother didn't go, it didn't mean that there weren't thousands of men and women who needed support. They were no longer the "others". They were somebody to someone. They were people that we knew. They were OUR people. So, I decided I still had to do something.

I continued to look for organizations that provided support. I went on line and found the "milblogging" community. Military men and women, serving and veterans, who had websites and personal journals. One of those websites was Blackfive.net. He wrote about an organization called Soldiers' Angels. They did direct support for the troops including care packages and letters. That's what I wanted to do. I wanted to personally show our troops that they had someone here pulling for them, someone who cared.

I wrote once that I wish I could answer "no" to the inevitable question I am asked when talking about Soldiers' Angels: "do you have someone in the military". I wanted to be able to talk from the position of a civilian with no military connection in hopes that it would resonate more with the public. I was completely wrong. I will never answer "no", even if my brother retires someday. I do have "someone" in the military; a lot of "someones". Those that serve are "our" people, they are "my people" and they always will be.

Please help Soldiers' Angels support our troops. Adopt a soldier, sailor, airman or marine today. Let them know that they are somebody's someone.

- May no soldier go unloved

Why I Became an Angel Part II: Our Community

There are two questions I get asked routinely at Angel events or when I talked to others about being a Soldiers' Angel:

1) Do I have anyone in the military?
2) Does the military pay me to do this?

Let me answer the second question first: No. The military does not pay me or Soldiers' Angels any money to provide support to our troops. Everything is donated to Soldiers' Angels either by other individuals, companies or Angels themselves. This is a non-profit organization and everyone is a volunteer. We do it from love, pride, patriotism, respect and because it is the right thing to do.

Which brings me to the second question: Yes. My brother is in the military. For a long time now. He is not deployed. Interesting, while he was in some ways the inspiration for me to go the last distance and find a way to support our men and women currently deployed, he is not the ONLY reason I did so. As noted, he is not deployed. He is at home, living comfortably with his family. Something that sometimes bothers him because he wants to be "there" and because many of his friends and fellow service members have been or are "there". It just hasn't been his time yet. But, the knowing and the understanding that he may go at any time and be apart from our family, his wife, his little girls, makes me understand and compels me to be a Soldiers' Angel.

How many must go and sacrifice that time and love to serve our country without support or with limited support because they do not have an extended family network as our family does? How many are there who have a new, young family living off of the limited pay and trying to support a family here and a soldier, sailor, marine or airman "there"? They are many.

Because I have a brother in the military and because I know many others who have family or know someone in the military (six degrees of separation), it has made me very aware that those who serve are not some alien "other". They are people from our community, people that we know and sometimes our friends or family.

Interestingly enough, whenever I answer "Yes", I get a response like, "Ooohh" as if that answers the question of why I do what I do. That apparently explains it all. Everything I say after that sometimes falls on deaf ears because now I am part of "that" community, the military community, and not part of "this" community, the civilian community that has no relation to the military.

Sometimes, I am tempted to say, "no", just to see if anyone listens to the second part of my speech, the part that I have written about many times, the part where I say, "I do it because these are OUR people. People from OUR community. They are family, friends and neighbors. And, when they serve OUR nation, defending OUR people and sent by OUR government, I believe it is OUR responsibility, privilege and an honor to support OUR people as they serve US." That part gets lost sometimes after I say, "Yes".

But, my service as an Angel is truly about serving our community. Maybe my relationship does make me understand that more than others. Still, spend a few minutes talking to people and you will find out how true the phrase "six degrees of separation" really is when it comes to knowing someone who is in the military.

For instance, yesterday I received an email from Marcia, our Angel Advisor in the Kansas City area pointing me to a blog about Sgt Matt Lammers. Matt hails from Olathe, Kansas, just a short 45 minute drive from me, a suburb of Kansas City. Marcia's email said that Matt's dad helped her get her first teaching job. Matt was injured in an IED attack only 30 days ago. He is now making a remarkable recovery as a triple amputee who is on his way to rehabilitation at the Center for the Intrepid.

In that continuing way of "six degrees of separation", Matt was serving with the Black Lions in Baghdad. JD Johannes, from Outside the Wire, made this report about the Black Lions and their successes: Cellular Battle Space. The connection beyond JD running a blog as an independent writer and film maker, writing about the unit that Matt was from? JD's co-producer and friend David Chavarria came to film our "Talking with Heroes" event and allowed me a few minutes to tape an interview with him.

This is literally how close our community is to the military and the people who serve in it. They are everybody and everywhere. Just down the street from me, three houses occupying three corners of the entry to the road I live on have Marine flags flying and blue stars in the window. This is not a "military" town or by any means a "marine" town. But it is a town that has sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, friends and people that we meet serving in our military.

Two days ago I was standing in a parking lot waiting for our welcome home mission to start for Cpl Green. I was talking with a Jackson County Sheriff's Deputy who was forming part of the escort for the other hero arriving. He told me that he was in Iraq in 2003 and had only recently retired from the National Guard after 20 years of service. The local Hyvee? The manager was in Afghanistan in 2005. A lady from Independence just found us through this website and emailed me. Her son was recently deployed to Iraq.

Only a few months ago I was standing in line at Walmart on Barry Rd when a woman behind me said, "Oh, it's great to see you back. How long are you here for?" and the reply told me all I needed to know before I turned around, "I'm here for ten days. It's all the leave I could take. At least, that was all the leave I was told I could ask for." There he was, in uniform, on leave, returning a baby crib. And the lady that I worked with whose son was in the military and whose daughter's best friend's dad was a recruiter.

Sometime back in May I was buying things to send to my guys and girls at the same Walmart. The young clerk asked me if I was going camping based on the things that I bought and the number: six hand warmers, six travel Gold Bond Powder, six deodorant, six liquid soaps, six lotion, six chapsticks, six sun blocks, etc, etc, etc. I explained to her what I was doing and she replied that her brother-in-law was in the military. I gave her one of our cards and told her about our organization. She was very interested because she said she had been wanting to do something to support our military.

All of these people are from our community. All of these people serve. All of these people are "ours".

And that is why I became an Angel. Because I believe we should always take care of the people from our community who stand for our country and, ultimately, defend our community.

Please help us support the service men and women from our community by joining Soldiers' Angels

Part I - Why I Became an Angel: Somebody had to give a damn

Part III will be up next week: The Phone Call That Started It All or "Hell, yes! I want those SOBs to sweat like I had to!"








- May no soldier go unloved

Soldiers' Angels and Soldiers Around the Net

Besides the main website for Soldiers' Angels , several Angels around the country keep "blogs" or Myspace accounts where the post stories of interest about our military or about Angel activities. These links appear on the right hand side bar below "Military Blogs".

Here are some of the things that Angels have been up to.

Reporting from Afghanistan, Dustoff Salerno reports on action from the front as he is called into take care of a casualty:

&*^%%$ almost got shot today.

We got called for a 5-patient mission. I grabbed a Special Forces medic to come with me. We get put into the LZ [Landing Zone] as the infantry guys are bombing the sh*t out of the mountain.

After putting us down my dustoff bird takes off and goes into a holding pattern. I link with a commo guy and he tells me someone from the fire team is coming down the hill a little to meet up with me to take me up to the causalities.

We start moving with the other flight medic, the SF medic, 4 infantry guys, our photographer and me. We have moved 75 meters up hill and we start hearing a whizzing sound and then bullets ripping through leaves. We all hit the deck and find cover.

I start calling to my dustoff bird on the radio telling them we are pinned down so it might be a while for us to get to the patients. Out of nowhere the Apache hovers above us and starts firing about 10 rockets and some bullets.

Well, 10 minutes and some bullets later we are moving again. We link up with the first set of causalities. Nothing too bad... but not good.

Soldiers' Angels New York was at the Ft Drum Salmon Run Mall

Sunday, July 1st, Soldiers' Angels was invited to participate in a special Fort Drum Appreciation Day at the Salmon Run Mall in Watertown, NY. We had two 4' x 8' banners for people to sign, along with an info table and cards for the deck of cards project.

We met many soldiers and their families. One soldier was home on R&R and came over to speak with us. He said he had received one of our mugs in Iraq. He didn't really know what Soldiers' Angels was, but he liked the mug and thought the logo was cool. He told us he carries it everywhere and he can't wait to tell the other guys when he goes back that he met real life Soldiers' Angels.

Soldiers' Angels Meet and Greet at DFW

The Dallas Group of Soldiers Angels did their monthly meet & greet the troops at DFW yesterday. They handed out 250 bags of goodies to those soldiers returning home for R & R. The plane arrived yesterday morning about 7 a.m. There were 6 angels there.

Melissa Kelly one of our Angels got to meet a soldier that she had been writing to on the Letter Writing Team. All the angels got to shake his hand and say thanks. Melissa found out he wasn't assigned to an angel and she adopted him right there on the spot. Next meet and greet for the Dallas area is July 22, 2007. The dog in the picture is Boomer and proudly wears a Soldiers' Angels pin on his collar.

12th Flight

Had my 12th flight this morning, a Marine with injuries from and IED. Flight was smooth, rode in a CH-46, which was unusual since most night flights are done in the Blackhawks. Nice to have the extra room.

This was an interesting night (Saturday). Started late, with a TCN (third country national- not Iraqi or American) female who realized she was pregnant as the 1st of 2 children arrived. Regretfully, they were way too premature, and neither were able to survive. At the same time, 2 Marines that were injured by an IED arrived, one with severe (as severe as you can get) leg injuries, and the other with general shrapnel wounds. Both made it through surgery and will make it. Then another patient arrived (I'm going to be purposefully even more vague on this one), who received surgery and joined the 2 Marines and the mother in being flown out in multiple aircraft. Just like that, 3 nurse flights, and one really long night.

I wonder if we will look back as this night being the beginning of our summer surge in business?

Desert Flier's Independence Day

Big voice booms "Clear all roads from Trooper Gate to Charlie Medical. I say again clear all roads from Trooper Gate to Charlie Medical."
Iraqi civilians were struck by a VBIED that was gunning for an Iraqi Police checkpoint. Two families in a big minivan, including seven children! All survived and were treated by Charlie Medical for minor and deep lacerations. It looked like a mess when they came in, but after getting wounds washed out, sutured, and clean sets of clothes for everyone, things shaped up to be a lot better than it could have. One little girl had a severed wrist tendon, and she was taken to the OR for repair. The whole family was released late in the afternoon with a few big bags of toys and extra blankets for the kids. Before they left, we gave the toddlers some Fourth of July cake. From how much ended up on their face and in their hair, I think they really like it! We all knew they were back to normal when they started chucking cake around patient hold...

Tim, D squared, and I had just enough time after the case to walk to the Alamo (3rd Infantry Division Headquarters) for a Battalion cookout and Fourth of July talent show. I'll say this much: entertaining.

Our day culminated in Eric, D squared, and I climbing up for a better view of the Ar Ramadi Fireworks Show. Evoking images similar to what Francis Scott Key witnessed at Fort Henry when he penned the Star Spangled Banner, Palladin artillery sent up volley after volley of illumination and signal shells for about fifteen minutes. The Star Spangled Banner, originally written as a poem, and later adopted as the United States National Anthem, was inspired by Key as Fort Henry was being pummeled by the British in the War of 1812.

Our Independence Day display of bombs bursting in air was reminiscent to the display our forefathers and young Nation saw 195 years ago. I couldn't have asked for a more authentic celebration of National pride, tradition, and freedom.

Doc In the Box, Navy Medic is home from Iraq and notes: I don't enjoy fireworks anymore

I missed the 4th last year being in the middle of an Iraqi vacation and I didn’t notice any problems the year before watching the fireworks with my soon to be wife and son. But this year, I noticed that part of my brain was looking for hard objects to hide behind and another part was subconsciously doing measurements of size, direction and how much ground shake there was. I guess I did carry some baggage back with me from Iraq.

- May no soldier go unloved

Belton Community Days: Soldiers' Angels - Hoo-ah!

I know, you are waiting patiently for the story and video of our Belton Community Days Parade. It was hot. It was muggy. We walked our legs off and handed out a lot of information to the audience about Soldiers' Angels.

No, that is not all of the story. I'll have more on Tuesday, but here's a taste of our experience with the Army Recruiters:

Soldiers' Angels Supports Our Troops - Hoo-ah!



Join Soldiers' Angels in supporting our past, present and future troops.

Next Event:

June 30, 2007 3pm to Midnight. Here is a great opportunity for Soldiers' Angels and others who are interested in showing their support for the troops. Parkville, Missouri American Legion Post 318 is hosting the "Rally in the Alley". This rally will raise money for the Legion's "Support the Troops" fund that the Legion regularly uses to donate to organizations supporting the troops including things like paying for postage of large shipments of care packages to the troops, calling cards, veterans needs and many other great support projects.

Soldiers' Angels has been invited to set up a table and take part in the event that will include at least six blue grass bands, lots of food, drinks and fun. We look forward to supporting the Parkville American Legion as they have pledged to support the Angels and our efforts.

We're looking for Angels to help man the booth and tell people about our organization. With a troop surge on and battles raging, we have many troops that need our support. That means we need to let people know how they can provide that support. I'll be there from 2pm (set up) until 8pm (longer if the crowd is good). For more information on volunteering for our event, please email me at: kehenry1@hotmail.com.

If you're not a member of Soldiers' Angels, come on down, enjoy the music and show your support for our troops!

- May no soldier go unloved