Today your help is desperately needed? As the troop buildup in Afghanistan continues, facilities and supplies are stretched?many of our troops are living in the most basic and uncomfortable conditions. As part of the counter-insurgency strategy, they are also leaving big bases and going into primitive areas where they can?t easily buy hygiene supplies or even get hot food. Just today a soldier sent us this:
I?m writing on behalf of 10 soldiers attached to my unit. At this moment their living areas are deplorable: one hot meal every other week, sleeping on floors, no internet access, etc?My chaplain will make a trip to that place in one month?. [They] need personal hygiene stuff?like toilet paper, baby wipes, deodorant, soap, etc. This is the only way they can receive help.?
style="font-size:12;">At the Combat Support Hospitals in-country and the hospitals in Germany and stateside, Angel representatives are constantly requesting more supplies. Roger Godskesen of Tactical Medical Support says he is having trouble keeping up with the demand for backpacks for the wounded, and MaryAnn in Germany describes how busy things are at Landstuhl:
As you read this, patients are being airlifted to Landstuhl hospital in Germany from Iraq and Afghanistan. Highly skilled medical staff tend to them during flight. Preparations are being made for their arrival at Landstuhl. Nursing and surgical staff are called in.
As you read this, a patient regains consciousness for the first time since being hurt and asks about his buddies. Sometimes he must be told they didn't make it.
As you read this, other patients are being prepared for departure to US medical facilities, where they will begin their recovery. Up to 700 patients are medevaced to Germany each month, making Landstuhl the busiest trauma hospital in the world.
As you read this, our troops are fighting so that you don't have to. They want you to go on with your lives - that's why they do it. But we do have an obligation to let them know we appreciate all they do for us. Please help Soldiers' Angels show our nation's heroes that no Soldier, Airman, Marine, or Sailor will ever go unloved.
style="color: rgb(0, 0, 255);">style="font-size:12;"> As summer comes to Iraq and Afghanistan, the demand for ?cool ties,? sand scarves, powdered drinks, sunscreen and lip balm is high, and thousands of pounds of coffee are still requested to help our heroes stay alert; On the homefront, Operation Top Knot baby kits for infants with deployed fathers are flying off the shelves, and we have shipped hundreds and hundreds of vet packs, phonecards and sets of clothing for patients in the last three months alone.
The postage to continue this pace is staggering! We need your help! Every donation of any size helps speed one more package for a hero out the door to service members America remembers and supports them, allows us to stand with one more expectant military mother facing motherhood alone, and helps provide one more backpack to a wounded hero.
If you think you can?t do much to help, consider Tess, a 5th grader who led her school in collecting items for wounded backpacks. It?s amazing what one little person can do!
Please do what you can?donate $5, $10, $25, $50? $100 or even $500. Give what you can, team up with friends/coworkers on a project to gather supplies or challenge each other to see who can inspire the most donations. The only limit is your imagination! See www.soldiersangels.org/groups.html for ideas.
Our troops need us?both for the comfort of a few things to make life in the war zone easier and for the comfort that comes from knowing we have their backs.
style="font-size:12;">Please join me wingtip-to-wingtip in showing them how much we care. Every bit matters and every bit counts. As MaryAnn wrote, they are facing so much for us and we must make sure they know we appreciate them. Please help.
(If the buttons don't work for you, please visit www.soldiersangels.org/donate.html or mail to Soldiers' Angels, 1792 E Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104) style="font-size:12;">
style="font-size:12;">Thank you for standing with me!
Wingtip to Wingtip,
Patti Patton-Bader Soldiers' Angels Founder and CEO
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