..Holiday Appeal for Walter Reed Hospital Soldiers - JOE GALLOWAY

JOE GALLOWAY ^ | 11/26/2003 | JOE GALLOWAY

[ALOHA RONNIE]

NEVER FORGET

A Holiday Greeting from 'WE WERE SOLDIERS ONCE and YOUNG' Co-Author JOSEPH GALLOWAY:

Friends:

As we head into the holidays it is time to think of the airplanes which land every night at Andrews AB outside Washington carrying 12 to 15 wounded soldiers from Afghanistan and Iraq bound for Walter Reed Army Hospital.

Many are evacuated straight out of the field with no possessions. They need some of the smaller things to make life a little easier.

A list of what is needed and where to send it is attached.

GOD Bless Them.

JOE GALLOWAY

-----------------------------------------------------

The American Red Cross at Walter Reed is looking for incidentals/comfort items for sick and wounded Armed Forces Personnel now recuperating at the hospital. When someone stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan or elsewhere is wounded or falls ill, they're immediately evacuated and eventually end up stateside. It takes weeks for their personnnel effects to catch up with them.

Things that the Red Cross is asking for are:

telephone cares of at least 30 minutes / rolling luggage (small), totes, carry-ons / individually wrapped snacks / magazines / notepads, pens / playing cards and games / sweat pants and shirts (all sizes) /

All items should be addressed to:

ATTN: Barbara Green / Walter Reed Army Medical Center / 6900 Georgia Ave, N.W. / Washington, DC 20307-5001 /

Checks should be made out to the American Red Cross.

For more information, call (202) 782-2080 or e-mail Barbara.Green.1@AMEDD.army.mil

NEVER FORGET

[MJY1288]

SEE POST #220

[calawah98]

Red Cross
What an absolute disgrace.
I know my husband was in WW11, and he had no tolerance for the Red Cross. He really liked the Salvation Army, according to him, they were the ones who would help the military guys out.
After 9-11, I have no trust in the Red Cross, what so ever.
Instead of having a good report, that makes us feel a little better about these great kids, we hear this, makes you want to cry, and get really mad at the same time.
Thank you and Mike for all you do, and for visiting them, at least we know the two of you are looking out for them.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I am going to the Red Cross room and I am going to volunteer. They don't know it but I am going to make it MY mission to visit the guys who don't have family or friends - and the charge Nurse for each ward knows who is getting visitors and who isn't - and I'm going to make sure that these guys and gals get Red Cross goodies brought TO them, by ME!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please check out TNt's #212. After picking up phone cards, etc, from MJY1288 (thank you, M!), TruthNtegrity's off to lift up the troops and straighten out the Red Cross.

Thank you, TruthNtegrity, and MJY1288.

Looking forward to the report! (^:

[blackie]

Don't neglect your business ~ congratulations on volunteering!

[boxerblues]

Thank you for your time and effort.

[mystery-ak]

I would gladly tape for her but I don't have a VCR anymore...it shot craps several months ago and I am not replacing it since I have a DVD player.

Please, can anyone do this for TNt???

[TEXOKIE]

THanks for your post 214. I did a quick search and found the following article. It is somewhat long, but I feel it is pertinent to the conversation here and might be good to capture in our archives here:

http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m1571/41_17/80449016/p1/article.jhtml

The Red Cross in the cross hairs?

Families of Oklahoma City bombing victims say they did not receive funds sent to them by mail and handled by the Red Cross. And questions are being raised in New York City.


Insight on the News, Nov 5, 2001, by Kelly Patricia O'Meara

In a time of national tragedy the true spirit of America shines through, and nowhere is this more evident than in the outpouring of extraordinary amounts of money for the survivors and families of victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. To date, nearly $800 million has been donated to various funds and charitable organizations. And the flood continues as every day it seems some new fund is created. While it now appears that donations are likely to go well over the $1 billion mark by the end of October, issues are being raised about how much of that will make it to those for whom this outpouring was intended.

Who or what is responsible for making sure this money gets to the intended recipients? Will it go to current victims and their families or will some go into larger portfolios for future crises? And how much of the collected funds will cover administrative expenses and fund raising or mailing-list prospecting?

To try to answer these questions Insight has been looking at what happened to the huge sums collected in the aftermath of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. While the families interviewed were reluctant to discuss the level of support provided them by charitable organizations, this magazine discovered a different picture than was (and is) being publicly portrayed.

For instance, Insight has learned that letters of condolence and donations sent through the U.S. Postal Service and deemed "undeliverable" often are turned over to charitable organizations involved in disaster relief. Sometimes mail would be addressed in care of a charity or fund. A case in point: the American Red Cross. The Postal Service received thousands of cards, letters and gift packages that were addressed, for example, to "the woman who lost two kids" the "rescue dogs" or the "family who lost the little boy" Both the Postal Service and the Red Cross have confirmed that within weeks of the bombings most of this mail was forwarded through the postal system to the Oklahoma City chapter of the American Red Cross where it was opened and read by volunteers. When possible, letters and packages were forwarded to the intended families.

Mike Ellis, the postal inspector in Oklahoma City at the time of the bombing, tells Insight: "These procedures will change post office to post office depending on the situation. There is no set policy. The Postal Service sat down with the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the governor's and mayor's offices, and it was decided the post office would deliver it if it was addressed to specific places and people and the Red Cross would take any undeliverable mail."

"The Red Cross," continues Ellis, "had volunteers who would open the mail, and if there were donations in the envelopes they would go into a general fund that the Red Cross had set up. The general fund was distributed to the victims at the time." Three of four families directly affected by the bombing who spoke with Insight about the mail-delivery system acknowledged that all of the mail they received from the American Red Cross had been opened. More notable, however, is what these families reported about the surprising change in their mail deliveries after the American Red Cross took over for the Postal Service.


Continued from page 1


"The first days after the bombing" says one family member, "people from all over the country were sending checks in lieu of flowers and we were getting a lot of checks and cash every day -- hundreds, even thousands, of dollars. Then the Red Cross went down to the post office and made arrangements to collect the mail and they would deliver it to us in bulk. All the mail had been opened, and from that point on there never was a dime, even in letters that said money was enclosed."

A member of another family recalls a similar experience: "We got this big box from the American Red Cross with more than 100 letters and each one of them had been opened. People told us that there was money in the envelopes, but we never got it. We heard that volunteers were opening the mail and putting the letters in one pile and the money in another. We complained to the Red Cross that it was mail fraud to open our mail. The letters, after all, were addressed to our family. We even went to local television stations asking them to do a piece on it, but they said it would make us look money-hungry. That wasn't it, of course. We were upset that our mail was being opened. We were so angry we just blocked it out and moved on."

One member of a third family recalls a large number of opened letters addressed to the family that it received from the American Red Cross but says, "We don't think there was any suspicion that any money was removed in the mail. We didn't see any of this" The family did note, however, like the others, that money had been enclosed in the mail delivered to their home prior to the American Red Cross taking over distribution of the mail -- but none was received afterward.

Formal complaints were lodged with the Postal Service and an investigation was conducted by Ellis, who in the process turned information over to the U.S. attorney in Oklahoma City. A grand jury needed to issue subpoenas to the Red Cross. It took testimony from a variety of individuals. Ultimately, as far as Insight has been able to learn, nothing came of the investigation. Bill Blaul, American Red Cross senior vice president for communications and marketing, tells Insight that his organization "cooperated with the U.S. attorney and he found no inappropriate handling of the matter, and it was closed."

When asked to respond to the allegations that cash or checks may have been removed from the mail prior to its delivery to the intended parties, Blaul says: "The families may feel that way. I'm not sure what their memories and recollections are. The only motivation of the American Red Cross is to provide service to victims and families of the Oklahoma City and Sept. 11 attacks. We have no other motivation in opening individual mail."

Insight then provided Blaul with specific instances where money apparently had been removed from envelopes' clearly intended for a specific family. For instance, members of one family were so upset about what had happened to their mail that they wrote to people who had sent correspondence asking them to confirm whether a donation had been included. In one instance, a donor confirmed that $50 in cash had been sent along with the letter of condolence. The envelope delivered by the American Red Cross was addressed to the family through the Oklahoma City chapter of the American Red Cross. Despite the apparent intent of the donor to provide the enclosed money directly to the family, it did not receive it.

Continued from page 2


Asked about this specific example, Blaul becomes defensive and says, "I don't know what more I can say about it. If mail is addressed to an individual we don't open it" he declares, contradicting what inspector Ellis told Insight. "I'm beginning to resent the implication that the Red Cross is opening mail and lifting money from the envelope" Blaul insists.

Insight did not suggest anything untoward was or is going on in such cases. Rather, it followed up on questions raised by Oklahoma City families and victims who voiced concern about their mail and what they -- and some donors -- later learned about the handling of cash and other monetary donations. Specifically:

* Cash donations may have been lost in the shuffle between and among agencies.

* Checks made out to the Red Cross and intended for specific individuals didn't always go to those individuals and weren't returned to the donor.

* Sometimes cash or checks went into a general fund for the Red Cross and then checks were delivered to the intended recipient.

* Money received for intended relief work may not have gone directly to specified funds or charities but was absorbed into larger operating funds for future disasters.

* Public accounting for how much money was received and then distributed is not readily available for public and/or press review and, apparently, not audited by government agencies.

* Government funds established to receive funds for disaster relief and provide assistance did not make public "cash-in" and "cash-out" ledger records. And requests for such an accounting have not been provided.

All of which has raised disconcerting questions in the minds of many of those interviewed by Insight concerning the hundreds of millions of dollars pouring in to the New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania funds and charities working with the families and victims. For example, how are these groups cataloging the monies received, selecting individuals for disbursements and making sure that intended recipients of direct donations are, in fact, receiving them?

In the case of New York City, according to Blaul, "Thousands of pounds of mail is coming in and the American Red Cross is working with other agencies up there. We've got a room set aside for the mail that is coming in and we're sorting through it. Where there are specific categories, such as firemen, we're taking the mail without opening it and routing it to the appropriate sources. We're not opening mail if it is addressed to individuals. The American Red Cross is doing this in a secure room with other entities and appropriate oversight."

He does not elaborate on who or what those other entities might be.

Nor is Blaul able to provide Insight with the total amount of money received through this mail-review process. "I believe we are keeping track of only the money that is specifically meant for the Red Cross" he says. He does not volunteer how much this amounts to, but published reports indicate the Red Cross thus far has received about $258 million in donations. How much other money Blaul's organization has collected that was not "specifically meant for the Red Cross" could not be determined by press time.

Continued from page 3


How much ultimately was collected to assist the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing wasn't available either. But, as a result of their own experiences, victim families of the Oklahoma City bombing have begun working with families touched by the Sept. 11 attacks. What advice have they for dealing with charitable organizations? "Don't expect anything," says one family, "and that way you won't be disappointed." Another family spokesman summed it up this way: "Oklahoma is doing great, but what about the New York families? I guess I'd tell them, `Don't leave anything for someone else to do when it comes to your well-being.' And I'd tell them to watch how the money is disbursed."

Kelly P. O'Meara is an investigative reporter for Insight magazine.

COPYRIGHT 2001 News World Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group

[prairiebreeze]

You two are super! I'll join you (in spirit by necessity) in visiting the troops in WR.

thanks Prairie

[MJY1288]

Thank You for everything, I wish I could have gone down to Walter Reed and delivered the phone cards myself, I wanted to check in on Sgt. Santos and the others, but I'm so busy here I couldn't get away. TruthNtegrity volunteered to deliver them to Walter Reed.

The Red Cross is a joke, I will send them a piece of my mind when I get the chance

God Bless You,

Mike

[TEXOKIE]

To TruthNtegrity; MJY1288; and all our DC Freepers:


PLEEEEEASE tell the guys you visit that you have a WHOLE bunch of us out here shadowing you and standing with you in spirit in that hospital! Please let them know that you are standing in for me and countless others out in the heartland who would be there with them also if we could.

A humble thank you for being so willing to be the hands and feet of the Lord, as well as for your brothers and sisters who cannot get there.

Beloved Heavenly Father,

We call forth your angels to overshadow the missions undertaken for our injured veterans described by TNT and other DC FReepers. Bring into their hands the items which are needful for these young people who have given so much. Protect those who are a part of this effort. Send your special angels to protect the ones who are delivering the gifts and messages of encouragement to these warriors. Protect their cars, trucks, and conveyances while they are working on this project. Father, grant those who are driving with their gifts the special miracle of easy traffic and abundant parking spaces near the doors!

Father, grant that somehow the presence of those of us unable to be in DC for this project is felt by our heroes when they are visited by our brothers and sisters during their recuperation.

Father, this which we call forth for our young hospitalized veterans in DC we call forth for all our veterans from any conflict in any of our nation's hospitals. Let them all be remembered, touched,and thanked.

Amen

TNT, look for freepmail!

[MJY1288]

Just got a call from TNT, she is stuck in traffic after leaving Walter Reed and she is asking for prayers that she can get to her next stop before they close

[VOA]

Just got a call from TNT, she is stuck in traffic after leaving Walter Reed and she
is asking for prayers that she can get to her next stop before they close

Friendly thoughts:
1. Yes, I'll pray for the traffic to subside and to get TNT to WRAMC on time.
2. If she calls back and says she doesn't think she can make it, tell her to "stay the course"
and if late, BEG and GUILT-TRIP the gatekeeper to let her in to do the benevolent
labor of love.
Heck, even the gatekeeper(s) knows it's the holidays.

[mystery-ak]

Just found out the WR is having the December soldier birthday party and holiday celebration tomorrow at 12 to 2pm...they are serving cake and sodas, but goodies are welcome....wrapped presents are appreciated...(they should look at the RC)....sorry for the short notice, I just heard of it...

if you got ping lists, please use them

[VOA]

How much other money Blaul's organization has collected that was not "specifically
meant for the Red Cross" could not be determined by press time.
How much ultimately was collected to assist the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing
wasn't available either.

Funny, I'd never consider that The Red Cross (well, at least some of their functionaries)
were in Bible, if we can consider those making the the decisions about delivery of
some envelopes and the contents therein to be "judges":

Isaiah 10 (New Living Translation)
1 Destruction is certain for the unjust judges, for those who issue unfair laws.
2They deprive the poor, the widows, and the orphans of justice.
Yes, they rob widows and fatherless children!

IIRC, the founder of The Red Cross wrote the book "Heidi" in order to
get the seed money for the organization.
How sad...just like with a government, where there is a pot of money, somebody willing
to "lighten the pot" will appear.

[VOA]

wrapped presents are appreciated...(they should look at the RC)....

If they are short on gifts...and the Red Cross closet is still overloaded...
I hope our journalist Joe Galloway puts The Red Cross on the grill in the press.
And tosses more charcoal and lighter fluid on the fire.

[calawah98]

I know you would like to deliver the cards, but your heart is in the right place, that is all that matters. We all wish we could be there, but it is not meant to be, so our love and thoughts go with the ones that are forunate enough to live close an can visit, and check on these great kids.

God Bless you, Mike and TNT, for your thoughtfulness and kindess.

[MJY1288]

She made it to Walter Reed, was able to distribute the items on many Wards, Huge success, It was after she left Walter Reed when she got hung in traffic and was late getting to one of he big customers. She said she probably wont get home until very late after taking time out of her day to visit Walter Reed

God Bless America,

Mike

[MJY1288]

I think I'm gonna go in on Sunday, I picked up 300 postage stamps that I want to drop off for them to mail their cards and letters

[calawah98]

Give them our love, and thank them for all they have done for all of us.
Got an email from the grandson on Okinawa, I did not tell him what was in the package I had sent him, but I had included four big bags of jerky. He said, if you send another package, remember we love sunflower seeds and jerky! He said the guys that get packages, never shut up about it, and keep reminding every one how some one cared. lol
Take care

[MJY1288]

never shut up about it, and keep reminding every one how some one cared"

That's kinda sad, FReepmail me an APO address and I'll send a care package to your grandson's unit, Sunflower seeds and jerky are easy to ship and one 15 LB. Box will provide snacks for lots of soldiers