I don’t know if you all remember me and I hope I am not intruding here, but my name is Steve Newton. I am an author, feature writer and a veteran. (And a FReeper) I am also the Founder of the Silver Star Families of America. The mission of the SSFOA is to remember and honor our wounded Armed Forces Members by getting legislation passed authorizing them a Banner or Flag. We call it the Silver Star Shining for Sacrifice.
While waiting for legislation to be passed we designed and had manufactured the Silver Star Flags and Banners. At this time we are presenting every injured, sick or wounded Soldier, or their families, a Banner if they request one. (And if we have the funds) We have distributed well over 300 Banners and Flags at this time with more requests coming in daily.
We are also in the process of establishing our 501 C 3 tax exempt organization. And we take no money for overhead. ALL of our donations go for the purpose intended. We are a member of America Supports You Team and a certifying organization for the Presidential Volunteer Service Award Program.
Our goal is to make sure that EVERY wounded or injured Soldier from ALL wars are honored and remembered. We would like anyone who sees a Silver Star Flag or Banner flying, to remember the blood sacrificed for this great Nation.
However, as the number of wounded has increased and the word of our organization has gotten out, we have found that we need help. All kinds of help. February is our membership drive month and I would like to cordially invite you to join us in our mission. Membership is free but there is lots of work to do.
Besides gathering funds for Flags and Banners we also distribute books, CD’s, phone cards, Prayer Blankets, playing cards and whatever else we can get donated for distribution to our wounded or sick veterans and active Soldiers. And if you do want to donate a buck or two you can do so on our web site below.
We will do all within or power to help our kids that have given so much for us all. We are different from other organizations because we honor our sick and injured veterans as wounded. PTSD to us is a qualifying illness. Please come and visit us and if you decide to join we would welcome you with open arms. We need you and our wounded need you. And Free Republic is were the Silver Star was born.
Our web site is: www.silverstarfamilies.org where you can read about us, and if you wish to join us please go to our Yahoo Board at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SilverStarFamiliesofAmerica/
Our Yahoo Board is where we help each other, the wounded and their families and sometimes just chat and have a good time.
We look forward to seeing you and may God Bless you all, our honored wounded, our Armed Forces and the United States of America.
Chief Steven J. Newton (ret) Founder The Silver Star Families of America Steven.newton1@att.net
America Supports You: Silver Star Families Honor Wounded By Samantha L. Quigley American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Jan. 26, 2006 – "Silver Star Families of America" has one focus: America's war wounded. "Our main mission is to make sure that the wounded of our armed forces are remembered," the group's founder Steven Newton said. Newton, of Clever, Mo., founded the organization April 1, 2005, to establish a service banner that recognizes wounded American servicemembers of all conflicts. The idea was patterned after Gold Star Wives of America and Blue Star Mothers of America Inc. -- groups that recognize spouses of servicemembers who die on active duty and the parents of children in the military, respectively. Newton said he has made strides in initiating legislation to get the Silver Star banner recognized by Congress. "I've been fighting this battle for a couple of years ... to get the government to recognize it as an official banner," he said. "I've talked to the military, ... but it has to be an act of Congress." While SSFA waits for the legislation to work its way through the system, it's already distributing certificates of appreciation and Silver Star banners to wounded veterans, Newton said. The banners can be requested from SSFA and, with reasonable proof of injury and adequate funding to provide them, they're issued. If funds were to run short, the organization would present a certificate and tell people to buy the banner on SSFA's Web site, Newton said. However, "We've been very fortunate that we have had not had to turn anybody down," he said, adding that hundreds of banners have been sent out. The profits from what is sold or received in donations are put right back into SSFA, so the group can continue its mission. No money is kept for overhead, Newton said. Newton, a former police chief with both Navy and Marine Corps active-duty service, uses the profits from sales of "The Old Sergeant," a book he authored, to pay for banners. SSFA considers assisting wounded veterans in any way possible another part of its mission, Newton said. Mostly this means that when a banner is sent, a case of goodies is sent either to the individual or to the hospital where the servicemember is recuperating. The package is filled with donated books, CDs, phone cards and other items SSFA receives. The organization, seeking nonprofit status, provides information on how to donate on its Web site. Currently, SFFA operates with "Soldiers' Angels," another non-profit troop-support organization founded by an SSFA member. SSFA's 60 members take special pride in their goal to support America's wounded veterans, Newton said. "The medals fade away and tarnish, but there was nothing to make the country remember the blood sacrifice," he said. "If (Americans) drive by a (Veterans Affairs) nursing home or a hospital and they see that silver star (banner) and that makes them remember about the wounded, we've done our job."
Related Sites: Silver Star Families of America Gold Star Wives Blue Star Mothers of America Inc. Soldiers' Angels America Supports You
This probably should have gone through "The Mods", for verification, first.
BTTT
BTTT, bookmark, and ping ; )
"I don’t know if you all remember me and I hope I am not intruding here, but my name is Steve Newton."
I remember you Brother!
Thanks for what YOU are doing for our troops.
Welcome back.
Good to see you again.
Great idea, lousy concept.
Every soldier wounded in combat is a member of the order of the Purple Heart.
Not every soldier wounded in combat is entitled to a Silver Star.
Back up regroup and work towards the Families of the Purple Heart, and you may have a winner.
Thank you sir for what you do. I think the idea is great!