..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

[tsmith130]

I sent a big ole box of goodies to my "adopted soldier" the other day. I'm glad to hear that jerky is popular because I included lots of it, in various forms, along with candy, cookies, cajun peanuts, etc. I also included the latest ESPN magazine and a car magazine.

[MJY1288]

A few years back, a bunch of us here pooled our money together to have some silk scarves made for our troops in Camp Bondsteel (Bosnia), We also sent a bunch of videos (Gladiator, We were Soldiers, Braveheart etc.) and snickers candy bars, Freeper "patriciaruth" was a major organizer of that effort and as we speak she is recovering from surgery and hasn't been around here much lately,

Prayers for a great American and great FReeper "patriciaruth" while she recovers.

I will never stop supporting our troops, especially our Disabled Vets. I've been doing it for a couple of decades and will do so until the day I die. It's the least I can do. God Bless You for all you do

Mike

[Mr. Silverback]

The thought that there is any holdup in getting this stuff to the troops infuriates me.

This will probably sound selfish, but I just sit here steaming over the image in my head of the Christmas cards I sent to Walter Reed sitting in some in basket somewhere because some Red Cross dip is too busy to take them to the wards.

[Mr. Silverback]

My local Red Cross chapter is staffed by the salt of the Earth, and they do an awesome job helping the troops and local families in need. That said, the national org has some serious problems and the ICRC is even worse. The bottom line is that most of the folks at my local United Way are great people but I don't donate because of the Boy scout thing and the national scandals, guess I'm headed that way with the Red Cross.

[Mr. Silverback]

Go get 'em! And if you get any flack, chew 'em out once for me!

[TruthNtegrity]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1039396/posts?page=259

See my trip report here - I don't think you're on my Galloway ping list.

Ragtime Cowgirl and Aloha Ronnie -will you use your ping lists to get folks over to the Friday "A Day in the life of Pres. Bush" to see my #259.

God bless our Military - where do we get people like this from? They are spectacular!

[TEXOKIE]

"How sad...just like with a government, where there is a pot of money, somebody willing
to "lighten the pot" will appear."

You are echoing my own thoughts, VOA! I had not realized that the founder of RC had written Heidi! You learn so much hanging out with other FReepers!

[TEXOKIE]

Bump your post 235, VOA!

[TEXOKIE]

I didnt know this about patriciaruth, Mike! Thanks for the heads up. I'll let the other prayer warriors on the troop prayer threads know.

[TEXOKIE]

This thread is an official Prayer Warrior Field Trip destination.

Following is a repost of the prayer just posted on the Troop Prayer Thread for the phone card delivery mission in the DC area. It is post 146 on Troop Prayer Thread 9.

For those who may wish to hold vigil for our troops with other FReepers, all are cordially invited:

http://freerepublic.com/focus/news/1031704/posts?page=145

Merciful Heavenly FAther,

We are grateful for the service of the FReepers among us who have made it a priority to hold vigil for and minister to our troops. We especially call forth your assistance in the phone card delivery project which TNT and the DC Freeper chapter is currently involved in. Protect from any and all harm and opposition the ones who are doing this work. Clear the way for them and let them be unimpeded in their mission to convey to our special troops hospitalized there in DC that they ARE cared for and NOT FORGOTTEN by their countrymen.

Father, we are placing upon the altar our own patriciaruth who has been steadfast in her efforts to pray for our troops. Please enfold her with your healing light and mercy during her recovery. Let all medications, pain therapies, antibiotics, and other treatments be 100% effective. Heal her so that she may regain her strength and can once more complete the many assignments and projects which you have for her.

Father, we do pray for each and every young person who has received injuries while wearing our nation's uniform. Heal them, encourage them, and grant them hope, Vision, and strength. Grant them true joy and true peace.

We are grateful, Father for these who have stood on the line and those who are yet standing. We have said before and we say again, these are our greatest treasure. Our debt is immense, and yet, because they love us, they have done this. Let us, Father, never forget their sacrifice. Instruct and guide us into tasks and actions which will show them our appreciation. We cannot begin to pay the debt, but we do wish to defray their costs as much as we can.

We are mindful of the family and loved ones of this group of people who have sacrificed their perfect health. Grant these loved ones courage, strength, patience, and exceptional wisdom and insight while they hold the hands of their injured heroes. Let them all be made whole, despite any apparent physical defect there might be. Let their spirits remain strong and completely intact.

We place all of this before your throne and petition you for your mercy, and compassion. We are grateful for your loving care, and we ask that you will reach each one of your Children who may not be able to feel your closeness to them. Let the hands of our visiting Freepers touch the hearts and dispell all darkness and gloom in your Holy Name. Let those hands also convey our own hearts' love. Let there be joy this Christmas season despite challenges. Let there be peace, despite surrounding chaos and discord. Let there be Christmas miracles for our purple-hearted heroes. According to thy blessed Will, let it be done.

Amen

[VOA]

TEXOKIEE...
Mea culpa time, as I "mis-remembered" part of Paul Harvey "Rest of The Story" about the reason "Heidi" was written.

I should have done some fact-checking. The International Red Cross was founded by a fellow named Dumont (sp?) who was the first person to receive a Nobel Prize.

But here is the Red Cross connection to "Heidi" as described at http://dmoz.org/Kids_and_Teens/People_and_Society/Biography/Authors/desc.html
"...Swiss author Johanna Spyri (1827-1901), (who) began writing during the Franco-Prussian War to raise money for the Red Cross. She is best remembered for her novel Heidi, which has been translated and sold around the world."

So, my apologies for posting not following Reagan's dictum of "trust, but verify". In this case, I should have applied that wisdom to my own recollection.

Now that I dredge my neurons, the real point of Paul Harvey's real "rest of the story" -- the situation was that Johanna Spyri was a housewife that was disturbed by the need for more philanthropic efforts in war zones, but given the times, didn't have the personal resources to do much about it. Hence, she wrote Heidi and "hit the lottery" and got plenty of, well, I guess Swiss Francs, to help the International Red Cross effort.

Talk about your "win-win situation". Write a nice, gentle book about the life of a girl in Switzerland that was/is beloved by generations of children...and do good for your fellow man at the same time (via the International Red Cross of the time).

Sorry I mis-spoke and mis-led on this noble story...

[Dubya]

Good post. Thanks
DUB

[TEXOKIE]

LOL! well, you were CLOSE!!

Thanks for the verification and clarification! I had had no idea that there was even a connection between RC and Heidi. Wouldnt have even known to ask the question. My statement still stands....you learn so much when you hang out with FReepers!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Bless you both. Prayers in agreement, TEX, for patriciatruth.

I will never stop supporting our troops, especially our Disabled Vets. I've been doing it for a couple of decades and will do so until the day I die. It's the least I can do.

MJY1288, you rock!

[MJY1288]

I can't sit here and accept these attaboys without mentioning FReeper "calawah98" She sent a huge care package for me to deliver to the injured troops. It was an incredible act of generousity and a lot of thought went into putting it together. So much so, that after I handed out the paper, note cards, envelopes, pens, and Christmas cards, I went out and got a second batch of these items for the troops because they were such a big hit.

TruthNtegrity was kind enough to deliver the phone cards that calawah98 donated along with the second batch of the other items I added after we found out that the Red Cross wasn't delivering the items Freepers had sent to them. I'm quite upset with the Red Cross over their policy of waiting until the soldiers come to them before they give them anything. The majority of the injured at Walter Reed are suffering from lost limbs, broken bones and shrapnel injuries and it isn't easy for them to go to the Red Cross and I'm sure many of them would rather do without before contacting the Red Cross.

IMHO there is something really wrong with the Red Cross distribution policy when TruthNtegrity can go into see Sgt. Santos and the soldier next to him, (who is suffering from brain injuries) has nothing to wear beside the standard issue hospital gown.

TruthNtegrity has spent many hours at Walter Reed and plans to become a Red Cross volunteer just so she can be sure that the many gifts sent by the FReepers here and all the other great Americans who make the effort to support our injured heroes.

This forum is chock full of great Americans who go out of their way to support our troops and our veterans. Jim Robinson should be proud of the fact that he is able to draw such fine people to his forum. I can't help but wonder if those folks over at DU do anything for our troops, I seriously doubt it.

Ragtime Cowgirl, kudos to you for the relentless effort you put into making sure we all get to read about the positive things that are happening in Iraq and Afghanistan, I might not reply to the scores of articles you ping me to each and everyday, but I read them all and I thank you for all you do.

God Bless America and God Bless all you fine Freepers

[MJY1288]

UPDATE: I just got a response to the email I sent to the Red Cross voicing my outrage that some of our soldiers were not getting the items we donated to them. The email from the Red Cross explained why they can't deliver the items they receive. They basically said that due to the fact that they can not guarantee that all of the donated items will be equally dispersed among the troops they were intended for, it would leave them open to accusations of favoritism or even discrimination by some of the activist groups out there looking for a reason to call a lawyer.

I just sent them a return email suggesting that they at least post a list of available items for the asking on the bulletin boards at the nursing stations of every ward in Walter Reed at least once a week. I will let you know if they respond to my suggestion

[mystery-ak]

This pisses me off...what about the poor guy who has no family and no way to get to the Red Cross office.....if they make a list and post it, will the RC take it to their room if the GI request something on that list?

So in other words, if you donate, put a soldiers name on it....their claim is bogus...it wouldn't take too much effort to find out who the most neediest is on each ward are.

[mystery-ak]

also...these poor guys don't even kno what's available for them..the RC is sitting on tons of donated items because the fear they might offend someone...BS

[MJY1288]

I just now asked my sister-in-law (she lives with us) about the policy at the VA hospital she works at as a Social Worker and she said that volunteer agencies do not go the rooms, she said that is where the social workers come in. She explained that it's the job of the social workers to evaluate each of the patients and address their needs, she told me that back in the mid 90's Clinton cut the budgets of all the Military hospitals and one of the first things to go were the social workers at the military hospitals that treat active duty personnel.

She said that last the Bush Administrations first defense budget provided for Social Workers for all military hospitals, but because of the stalling Tom Daschle did in approving the Defense bill until after the November 2002 elections, they haven't been able to fill all of the Social Worker positions they desperately need.

Just another example of how Clinton screwed our military

[mystery-ak]

...that figures...Clinton has left his fingerprints everywhere.

So, what happens to all the stuff sent to the RC if they don't have any help to deliver it to the rooms and the GI's don't even know what's available?...it just sits there unused?....