Saturday, June 25, 2011

Face of Defense: Airman Aids Afghans With Carpentry Skills

Our troops often make use of non-military skills when they are deployed. One Airman utilizes his carpentry knowledge for a somber, but important, project:

CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan, June 14, 2011 – Some of the heat has burned off as the summer moon rises overhead. An airman labors over scrap wood in a makeshift workshop under a canopy of camouflage. Fitting pieces of wood together, the shape of a tiny coffin emerges.

Click photo for screen-resolution image
Air Force Master Sgt. Jason Reininger builds a child-size coffin to be turned over to the hospital at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan. Reininger is an aerospace medical technician assigned to the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz

(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
When the contract providing coffins for deceased Afghans expired, members at the hospital here immediately began making alternative plans. Americans stepped in to continue the role after their British counterparts brought the deficiency to their attention.

"[British army Maj. Martin Smith] came asking to see if our airmen would help out," said Air Force Lt. Col. Barbara Persons, commander of the 451st Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron Detatchment 1 Contingency Aeromedical Staging Facility. "I didn't even hesitate. I knew my airmen would feel the same way as I did -- anything to preserve the dignity of an innocent child."



Read the whole thing.

Friday, June 17, 2011

From the Soldiers' Angels (Official) facebook page:

A deployed Army staff sergeant has reached out for help for his entire company. Due to their isolated location in Iraq and the base PX closing as the military draws down, they cannot purchase their own supplies. They are in a terrible situation and desperately need hygiene items ASAP. The few things they have left are being stretched for the entire company.

They need:

Soap
Shampoo
Razors
Shaving cream
Toothbrushes
Toothpaste
Deodorant
Lotion
Baby wipes
Foot powder
Body powder
Nail clipper kits
Aloe
Breath mints
Floss
…other basic hygiene items
Sheets (twin size)
Pillow & Pillow cases

If you are a VERIFIED Angel, you can email amyqrf -at- soldiersangels -dot- org with subject line "SSG W" for the shipping address to send things directly to this struggling unit. Please help!

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Thanks to a partnership with Sale.com, Soldiers’ Angels has an amazing new way you can support the troops simply by saving money.

Modeled on the highly-successful social sales site Groupon, Sale.com has created a special page for Soldiers’ Angels with steep discounts on products and services, and 25% of net revenue donated to Soldiers’ Angels. Sale.com was founded by the same person who created GI Bracelet, which raised $140,000 for various military charities (including $70,000 for Soldiers’ Angels).



To get access to amazing deals while helping Soldiers’ Angels support America’s heroes, click the graphic above and sign up for the daily deal email—when you use this link to sign up, an additional 5% of revenue from your purchases will automatically go to Soldiers’ Angels. Be sure that you continue go to soldiersangels.sale.com when making future purchases.

Please spread the word about this exciting opportunity by email, blog, forum, Facebook, etc. It’s a great way to support the troops and save a bunch of money at the same time!

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