A Good News Follow-up

Last month I posted Blankets of Hope for the troops stolen: Please help! . Well things turned about for Linda Fererra's project of making blankets and collecting other donations for patients at Landstuhl hospital in Germany. Here is definitely a feel good story to share.

Blankets of Hope for the troops stolen: Please help!

Photo via Soldier’s Angels Germany

This story has me cursing in my coffee this morning: Linda Ferrara, a California mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan with three other sons in the military, organizes charity blanket drives for the troops. She and other volunteers hand-sewed patriotic blankets and other items worth an estimated $8,000. Ferrara had stored them in her RV while preparing to send them off. Over the weekend, some asshole(s) (pardon my language) broke into the vehicle and stole all the goods.

The story is here at Soldier’s Angels and at the Daily Breeze.

After her son died fighting country, Linda Ferrara wanted to do something
for soldiers like him who sacrifice their safety for others.

So in the year since Army Capt. Matthew Ferrara was killed in
Afghanistan, his mother has dedicated hours collecting clothes and crafting
handmade blankets for wounded soldiers overseas. The Torrance resident had
planned to ship the goods Wednesday to an Army hospital in Germany. Instead,
she’s despondent over the weekend theft of hundreds of socks, sweat shirts,
pajama pants, boxers, blankets and other items. “I don’t want to let them down,”
Ferrara said. “This wasn’t just stuff, this was going to wounded soldiers.”
…Soldiers’ Angels is an organization through which people can send care
packages to soldiers overseas. In Germany, Phillips supports wounded and sick
troops undergoing treatment at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center.

Many of them are transferred there directly from the front lines and
have nothing more than the clothes on their backs, Ferrara said.
Already involved with the West Point Parents Club of Orange County, Ferrara recruited support from other parents and volunteers to collect items for the wounded soldiers. Her RV was packed with boxes, and the Parents Club had printed thank-you letters to the “wounded warriors” to be distributed with the clothes.
On Sunday morning, Ferrara first realized something was amiss when she found
empty boxes outside the RV and her inventory lists on the ground. Inside, she
discovered almost all the collected items missing. Also, some of the letters
were torn to shreds.
Compton sheriff’s deputies took a report and fingerprints, she said. Her insurance company has told her not to expect help. Because she planned to give the items away, they technically didn’t belong to her and aren’t covered by her policy.

You can help:

Anyone who is interested in donating items for wounded soldiers can email Linda
Ferrara at or visit the West Point Parent Club of Orange County web site.
Ferrara says the organization can accept cash donations or brand new items
because the Military hospital does not allow used goods.

BENEFIT FOR WOUNDED WARRIORS

Hope you can come

SILVER STAR DAY 2008

May is National Military Appreciation Month (this is the 10th year)

http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/California.html (California is reviewing whether to recognize Silver Star Banner)

http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/

SILVER STAR DAY 2008

We are pleased to announce that to date 44 states and 89 cities across the country are joining in to declare Silver Star Day. Many cities and states have made Silver Star Day a "permanent" day to honor Wounded. Five state s have recognized the Silver Star Service Banner as their Official symbol for the wounded and ill.

The Silver Star Families of America's mission is to remember, honor and assist the wounded in any way we can. We primarily do this by issuing thousands of Silver Star Banners and Certificates to the wounded or their families. When someone sees a Banner in a window or a Flag flying, we want them to remember the sacrifices made for this country. Many of our members have wounded children or have been wounded themselves . They are dedicated to this cause and they are dedicated to the wounded.

Please join us by honoring a wounded Hero with a Silver Star Banner, visit a V.A. Medical center; a veteran’s home; a military hospital, drive with your lights on where permitted; say a prayer; requests Banners at: http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/RequestSSBanner.html or Sponsor a Silver Star Banner for a wounded Soldier http://www.silverstarfamilies.org/SponsorSSBanner.html .

If nothing else at 5:00 PM central, stop and REMEMBER. Remember those that have shed blood and given up so much for you and I. Remember those who have been affected by the horrors of war.

It is all about our wounded kids and the more we reach - -the more we can help and honor . This has been an all-out team effort. We are also asking all veteran organizations to join with the Silver Star Families of America to say thank you to our wounded. The SSFOA honor and respect all who support our military.Please let us know how you support our Wounded Heroes on May 1st Silver Star Day and throughout the entire military appreciation month of May.

Respectfully,
Steve Newton, Founder mailto:stevenewton69@hotmail.com

Silver Star Families of Ameri ca, 525 Cave Hollow RD, Clever, MO 65631 -6313

Christmas Cards for the Wounded

From Fox News -

http://www.foxnews.com/americaspulse/


Operation Holiday Thanks

Show your appreciation and share your season's greetings with a recovering service member. Simply send your holiday cards to:

Operation Holiday Thanks
c/o E.D. Hill
FOX News Channel
1211 6th Ave.
17th floor
New York, NY 10036

HELP NEEDED FOR A WOUNDED WARRIOR

Overflow crowd jams Braley benefit
Staff reports of the
Manteca (Calif.) Bulletin

It was a gathering fit for a hero.

Congressman Jerry McNerney was present. So was state Assemblyman Greg Aghazarian. They were part of an overflow crowd that arrived at Friday's benefit dinner for wounded sailor Christopher Braley at the Manteca Golf Course clubhouse passing 50 American flags placed along Union Road by the Manteca Chamber of Commerce.

Braley, a sailor corpsman attached to a Marine unit, was wounded by an improvised explosive devise while on patrol in Fallujah in Iraq. Earlier Friday, Braley went into surgery again at the Navy hospital in Bethesda, Maryland - this time to deal with bleeding from his eye and other parts of his head.

The sold-out crowd was there for one purpose only - to support Braley and his family as he faces the daunting task of numerous surgeries and months of recovery before returning to his native Manteca.

Proceeds from the $30 tickets will allow his mother to stay with him beyond the month the military pays for family to stay near their wounded sons and daughters. It is considered crucial given the number of surgeries that await him plus the trauma of dealing with the aftermath of having his cheek bones crushed, his nose broken, his right eye gone, and a part of his scalp still open due to shrapnel hitting his head from an improvised explosive device.

Among those present were Gold Star dads Chuck Palmer and Michael Anderson.

Palmer is the father of Marine Cpl. Charles Palmer, the first Manteca soldier to lose his life in Operation Freedom.

Anderson knows all too well the dangers of Fallujah. He lost his son Cpl. Michael Anderson Jr. there on Dec. 14, 2004 during the fierce "Battle for Fallujah." Anderson resides in Modesto and works at Manteca Auto Plaza.

Braley, 23, is a Sierra High graduate.

Those who wish to make a donation may do so by writing a check to
Larry Braley, Jr., c/o The Christopher Braley Fund, acct. #1250009527 at the Bank of Stockton is located at 660 North Main St., 249-2200.

If you'd like to send him mail, you can do so by writing:
HM Christopher Braley
National Naval Medical Center; Building 9 - ICU
8901 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20889


HIME ROMERO/The Bulletin
Bill Scaces, who is a childhood friend of
Christopher Braley, stands next to a
tribute honoring the Navy corpsman.


HIME ROMERO/The Bulletin
Gold Star dads Chuck Palmer, left,
and Michael Anderson who have
both lost sons in the Iraq war.

SILVER STAR BANNER

This is something I recently found out about....Silver Star Families of America. The number of returning wounded is climbing & they need support as well as advocates for the wounded. Please check out the site for more information.

Also here is a petition to help SSFOA get legislation passed that will designate the Silver Star Flag and Banner as the Official Flag and Banner for our wounded Armed Forces. Please go here to sign the petition.

SEND A MESSAGE TO THE TROOPS

Before you and your family go off to celebrate Our Nations 231st Birthday this July 4th please take a moment to thank the more than 150,000 soldiers, sailors, airmen, guardsmen and Marines in Iraq and over 27,000 in Afghanistan who have pledged THEIR LIVES to defend our country. Those who celebrate this Independence Day on lonely outposts in Afghanistan and Iraq are a magnificent reflection of who we are as a people. On Independence Day we might do well to remember that we have enjoyed “the blessings of Liberty ” for 231 years, since our Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, because true heroes – our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Guardsmen sacrifice their tomorrows for us.
You can send best wishes to our troops by completing the form at FREEDOM ALLIANCE. Your message will be printed on a card and sent to a service member either serving abroad or recuperating in a military hospital in the United States .

Have a Patriotic & Safe Holiday.