[Coop]

Tracy Evans informed me that as of last Friday Joshua Sparling had about two bags of mail waiting for him. :-) Of the ten listed patients in Mr. Kilmeade's article, we only located about half (with one of them having been transferred to another hospital). The rest, I'm happy to say, had already been discharged. We forwarded cards and care items where appropriate. In summary, we visited with Joshua by proxy, with Todd in person, and with Eva by phone. They were all very grateful for the love and caring.

I'm always amazed and humbled by how often these fine wounded warriors thank us for supporting them. Ironic, to say the least.

I would ask anyone considering writing these fine servicemembers to also include MSG Tracy Evans in your list - he was working past 10:00 on a Friday night just to ensure the other patients were receiving comfort items. His colleague - SSG Christian - I'm sure would appreciate some cards as well.

[Coop]

Flag

[75thOVI]

Bump for later read.

[mylife]

Bump!

[bmwcyle]

There is a reason for the season.

[G.Mason]

Thanks for the post.

[BillF]

Thanks so much for a noble project and a great report about it.

[StarCMC]

Coop, I am literally crying here. Thank you SO MUCH for what you have done and continue to do. God bless you real good!

Canteen ping (and I added in a few other friends, too!)...seriously you guys, you HAVE to read this! Please give this thread a bump or two. And if you have a list, please give it a ping.

[BufordP]

Thanks for ping. Great report. Merry Christmas if I don't see you Friday!

[DieHard the Hunter]

Thanks, mate. We need guys like Joshua to watch over us while we sleep. Glad to hear he's doing well.

[Zacs Mom]

Thanks, Coop!
What a great first read of the day!!*

*("first read" after Pookie18's "Todays Toons", that is)

[bluesagewoman]

Thank you.

[mware]

Thanks for the update. God Bless you for playing Santa for us.

Wow, seems my screen has somehow gone all blurry.

[Samwise]

Thanks for the report, coop. I sent Joshua a phone card. I wonder how far down in those two bags of mail it is. :^) I'm glad to see such an outpouring of support. I hope FOX does a follow-up too. I want the scumbag who wrote the original letter to see how his act of evil was turned to good.

[Landry Fan]

Here's my take on the visit. It was a wonderful opportunity to thank some of America's heroes.

http://landrys-life-blog.blogspot.com/2005/12/heroes-at-walter-reed-god-bless-them.html

You'll recognize the pics! Mine haven't been developed yet.

[ajolympian2004]

Excellent report. I forwarded it onto Michelle Malkin.

NOTE!!! Sean Hannity will be taking Hannity & Colmes on the road to Walter Reed this coming Friday December 23rd at 7pm ET.

[Katya]

Thank you,thank you, thank you for posting such a wonderful visit.

[fatima]

Thanks Coop.

[magslinger]

I met "P" - a double below-knee amputee who said he never realized how much support there was for the troops until he got wounded. He's in regular contact with his unit and tells them about all the support he has received, which likely gives their morale a boost. P's mother is a refugee from Vietnam, and he joined the Army as a way to give back to the country which gave his Mom a new life. He said he would do it all again, if he could.

I think you may have done something wrong, all the words started getting blurry at this point.

[freema]

Wonderful! Murphy's law here! I didn't get to bake Sunday, was ready to roll yesterday, and had plenty of everything EXCEPT SUGAR! How in the sam hill could I not have sugar??? I kicked the dog. (Just kidding). But I wanted to kick the dog, and I love the dog. I worked on the tree, instead. I'm still stuck with car trouble so I couldn't get to the store until late. But my oven is cranked, I HAVE SUGAR, I'm ready to roll, and I CAN walk to the Post Office where I will twist Johnny's arm to get my package to you in time! Don't give them all away, some are for you glorious FReepers!

Now, if by some reason, this package doesn't arrive in time- understand you are hereby obligated to make certain the cookies don't go unattended : )

Anyone who is fool enough to not believe in St. Claus, hasn't met St. Coop! Bless you!

[N8VTXNinWV]

follow up ping! with pics!