Hero Stories for army family support

America Supports You: Group Builds Homes for Wounded Troops June 2, 2008 By Jamie Findlater WASHINGTON (American Forces Press Service) – Building or remodeling homes to accommodate the needs of severely wounded warriors returning from Iraq and Afghanistan is the way Kirt Rebello and everyone else involved with “Homes for Our Troops” have chosen to thank servicemembers for their sacrifice. “A wounded servicemember’s life is forever changed,” Rebello -- vice president and projects director for ...

Face of Defense: Wounded Warrior Leads Medical Battalion By Elaine Wilson Special to American Forces Press Service FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, May 23, 2008 – When Army Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Cornejo was wounded in Iraq, he had to return stateside for medical treatment, reluctantly leaving his comrades and mission behind. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Cornejo, who was injured in Iraq in 2007, speaks at his change of responsibility ceremony May 13, 2008, at the 187th Medical Battalion headquarters a...

America Supports You: Drive Offers Chance to Show Patriotism By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 22, 2008 – Tens of thousands of care packages will be packed and ready for shipping to servicemembers deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan and on ships at sea in time for Independence Day. Operation Gratitude’s annual “Patriotic Drive” makes sure servicemembers have a little piece of home around the nation’s birthday. "This will be the fastest-paced care package drive we ...

Commission Urges Americans to Pause, Reflect on Memorial Day By Meghan Vittrup American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, May 22, 2008 – While Americans enjoy the traditional summer kick-off weekend with vacations, backyard barbecues, pool openings and picnics, the White House Commission on Remembrance is asking them to take a moment on Memorial Day to remember the true meaning of the holiday. The National Moment of Remembrance was created “to provide a time of remembrance for America’s fallen...

New Program Offers ‘Care for Caregivers’ By Elaine Wilson Special to American Forces Press Service FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas, May 22, 2008 – The U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research here has launched a program aimed at caring for a segment of the military population much more accustomed to administering care than receiving it. Marcie Gemmill, left, and Army Col. Kathryn Gaylord from the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research Compassion Fatigue Program talk with Army Chaplain (Maj.) Philip...

We got this wonderful letter from Deb Meyers today. She lost her step-son in Iraq five years ago and presented President Bush with a HeroBracelet bearing his name, PFC Jason Meyer. ------------------ Dear HeroBracelets, 08 APR 2008 marked the 5th anniversary of Jason's death. We were able to go to Arlington Cemitary, Washington, DC to be with Jason that day. On 09 APR 2008, we were privileged to be invited to a very special ceremony. We took part in a wreath laying ceremony with other Gold St...

Every so often we hear from a HeroBracelet wearer asking to find more information about the service member on their memorial bracelet. Since thousands of you are wearing HeroBracelets memorializing someone you'd never met, we'd like to share a Web site that you might be interested in. The site is www.fallenheroesmemorial.com. This site is a place where friends, family and strangers can post letters and memories about a fallen service member. There is a page there for each one lost in combat....

Great list of support organizations. AAFES Gift Certificates http://www.aafes.com/docs/homefront.htm The Army and Air Force Exchange Services is where most servicemen and women do their shopping. You can purchase gift certificates for those in Iraq and those hospitalized. Adopt a Platoon http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/ Adopt a Platoon has several ongoing projects to ensure that every soldier overseas does not walk away from mail call empty-handed. "America Supports You" Program (U.S. Departmen...

We searched around on the Web and found a series of web sites that offer free goods and services for the troops. -------------------- http://www.operationhomelink.org/ - Free computers for spouses or parents of deployed soldier in ranks E1 - E5. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/2/prweb106818.htm - free mail/gifts sent to children of deployed soldiers. https://www.operationuplink.org/ - Free phone cards. http://anysoldier.com/ForSoldiersOnly.cfm - Sign up to sponsor a soldier care package. h...

HeroBracelets.org has been giving $2 to the Military Order of the Purple Heart for every Purple Heart HeroBracelet sold. We're proud to be able to help this organization that is helping so many of our combat wounded veterans. Please support the organization any way you can. ------------------------------- The Military Order of the Purple Heart Service Foundation, Inc., without stock and not for profit, was Incorporated in the State of Wisconsin in 1957. It qualified with the Internal Revenue ...