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!

TapOut Magazine for Soldiers' Angels Support

From Mixed Martial Arts fighter Chad Robineaux-- For each person who signs up for a Tapout Magazine subscription and uses the promo code below, $9 goes to Soldiers’ Angels.

Chad is sponsored by SA supporter Ranger Up. He’s flying the SA flag high wherever he goes and he is 100% responsible for this fundraiser. Please encourage people to share this with anyone they know who might be interested in MMA.

*************

Wanted to share with you great news about support from Tapout Magazine and Editor-In-Chief, Chris Staab.
TapouT is doing a Special Tribute to the Military with several fighters from the military featured to include myself in an upcoming issue. I spoke with him about Soldiers Angels and not only is he going to support and promote it, but is creating a promo code for $9 donations!

Outstanding to see everyone so willing to work hand and hand for such a great effort!

The Promotion code is "ROBO" Link: http://mmaworldwide.com/subscribe-options.html?ref=ROBO

The military issue will hit stands around June 1st. That will be the first issue people who subscribe now will receive (well, the first PRINT issue... they will have access to the digital right away).

Thanks all,
Robo

---

Orphan, a lifestyle brand for those who ride, is partnering with Soldiers’ Angels to raise money to send care packages to deployed men and women in honor of the upcoming Memorial Day.

To raise this money, Orphan has designed a special memorial t-shirt honoring those who have paid the ultimate price. Throughout the month of May, 50% of proceeds from sale of the shirt will go to Soldiers’ Angels for postage and supplies to send much-needed items to our heroes overseas. "Orphan is excited to raise funds for this important organization, and to give back to the troops," says Robyn Byrd, Social Media Manager for Orphan. "Many of our customers are military or retired military (as are many riders), so we are thrilled to be able to honor them in this way!"

The special memorial t-shirt for sale is themed for the rider and features Orphan's motorcycle frame shop "The Wrench" over original artwork of an eagle in red, white and blue. The eagle bears a ribbon reading, “NEVER FORGET those who have fallen in the name of Freedom.” The shirt is available in men’s and women’s styles.

As a Thank You to those who purchase the Memorial t-shirt, Orphan will give customers $10 off their order if they add any additional items to the T-shirt purchase. In addition, all shirts at this link result in donations to Soldiers' Angels.

---

Soldiers’ Angels calls on all Americans to actively observe Memorial Day this May 30 by participating in an official Moment of Remembrance or undertaking other acts in honor of the over 1.3 million service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

Established by Congress, National Moment of Remembrance asks Americans to pause in an act of remembrance for one minute on Memorial Day at 3 p.m. local time. The Moment can be as informal as ringing a bell, a moment of silence, a prayer or singing at a concert, etc.

Additional acts of Memorial Day remembrance can include the following:

• Visit a local VA hospital to learn the stories of patients’ fellow soldiers who never came home
• Use blogs, Facebook or other online resources tell the stories of family members who died in service to the country
• Read the names of fallen heroes on websites such as Honor the Fallen.
  
• Throw a care package party or write letters of encouragement for a hard-hit unit or the Mortuary Affairs units that care for America’s fallen heroes (for info, email events@soldiersangels.org)
• Visit a local military cemetery or memorial to stand in quiet solidarity with those who have lost their brothers and sisters in arms on the battlefield
  
• With conscious awareness of those who have made our safety possible, enjoy a weekend vacation or celebration in “the land of the free because of the brave”
  
• Attend a local parade
• Fly the American flag (at half-staff until noon and then full height until dusk, if possible)
• Use Angels Mail to tell your story of a fallen hero (send it to angels@soldiersangels.org and we will post it for you)
  

Please make a commitment to promote the National Moment of Remembrance and other Memorial Day activities to local leaders and businesses. This is a time to come together in honor of those who have given their lives so that we may continue to live free. In this shared remembrance and shared activities, we connect in gratitude as one America.

Wedding Dress Essay Contest

---

Due to a donation from a lovely bridal boutique, Soldiers’ Angels has on hand sixteen gorgeous wedding dresses that will be awarded to sixteen lucky military brides! Dresses will be awarded by contest, with the brides who write the best essay about their own love story receiving their choice of dress.

Dress sizes range from 6 to 14, with a size 24 and a size 42 as well. Some are brand new, others have been rented, but all are clean and in superb condition. Most are very detailed, with additions of lace, cutouts or sequins, and styles vary greatly.

Originally offered to a high school drama department who refused them for lack of room, the dresses came to Soldiers' Angels thanks to Patreece, whose husband heard about them through his civilian job on a military base and alerted her. She took home all 16 dresses, cataloged and photographed them, and shipped them to San Antonio for dry cleaning and distribution.

For contest eligibility, procedures and more information, click here. Contest ends April 21, 2011.

Operation Tenshi Report Options

From a Soldiers' Angel in Japan...

I just wanted to let you know I received all the boxes for Operation Tenshi. I got the phone call to come pick them up NOW, so off I went.

Our post office is also ran by local Japanese postal workers. When they took me in the back to get the boxes, seven of them escorted me and waited for my response when I saw them. I just smiled, then they asked me, "What are you doing with so many boxes?" I told them that Soldiers' Angels sent these to me to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami on mainland. They just could not believe it and one of the ladies started to cry. She went to the back and workers told me she just couldn't believe the kindness of Soldiers' Angels and all the Americans that support us. She came back out and hugged me and told me to tell you that she thanks you from the bottom of her heart and will forever be grateful. It was a moment I will never forget. Thank you and the warehouse who worked long and hard. I miss you all and I am singing your praises over here!

Can you hear me....

I just wanted you to know.

Marisa

And here are some of the supplies in action!

"Here are two pics I took as we began to create pallets to load up a flight headed out to Yokota Japan. We received 20 boxes of supplies from Soldiers' Angels. I was able to ship some out directly from the base post office to the MPO in mainland. The other half went to another location where our military are camped."

And from another area that Operation Tenshi is helping...

"I just wanted to send you a few pictures of the Stork's Nest Pantry. This is the island's version of a Fisher House but for the high risk pregnant military mothers and their familes. There are about 5 or so cottages that support these families and we also have moved more that came in into our temporary housing lodging. As you can see, the pantry is small and bare. We are working to get them the supplies, but buying here in bulk is difficult due to stock availability and transportation [because of the earthquake and tsunami]."

Save a Military Family with a Book?

---

This unit is facing an unusually-challenging reintegration period at the end of their current deployment, but their chaplain has a plan... and he needs some help (click pic to enlarge).

Did you know that you can have a direct role in supporting the marriages and family life of returning heroes under great strain? You can, with a simple book…

“Chaplain H” explains via email to the Chaplain Support Team (CST),

“I am starting to work on some family reintegration programming and need some help acquiring a significant amount of books in order to facilitate a quality program that would provide the greatest opportunity for families to reconnect in a healthy manner. I know this is a large request below, but I am not expecting all of it. I am though merely setting my long range goal in this department.

Our unit is in a tough spot on this issue, with the stressors of redeployment and instant reassignment. The story will go something like this. The unit gets home mid-summer at Fort _________ and is expected to PCS to Fort _________ by September 1, 2011. Moreover, the School District will start classes around 15 August, which will increase the rush to get to the new duty assignment.

The list of stressors on our families are redeployment, family reintegration, immediate moving and getting settled. The level of stress that our families will have to endure has the potential to scar and even bring about the destruction of families if the situation is not readily addressed. My solution is as follows:

An extremely large marriage retreat (which is paid for with grant money already procured), family social events, reading materials and books, and some follow up.

Chaplain Harris went on to list eight different books, with copies of 25 to 150 needed for each title. Under the guidance of the CST, over 150 books have been procured so far—including the entire set of 25 for two particular titles—but more help is needed.

CST Leader Dina explains, “If you can buy just one book on this list, it will make a gigantic difference. If you can contact your communities, churches, therapy offices, send email to bookstores requesting even a single book, we can do this to help him. It matters, Angels—every single copy matters. Scour your used bookstores, Goodwill, Salvation Army…blog the need, Facebook the need. ANYTHING will help.”

Anger: Handling a Powerful Emotion in a Healthy Way by Dr. Gary Chapman - 49 Copies still needed

Insiders' Guide to El Paso (Insiders' Guide Series) by Megan Eaves - 113 Copies still needed

Why Marriages Succeed or Fail: And How You Can Make Yours Last by John Gottman - 18 Copies still needed

The Military Marriage Manual: Tactics for Successful Relationships by Janelle Hill - 23 Copies still needed

The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country's Foremost Relationship Expert by John Gottman - 122 Copies still needed

The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts by Gary Chapman - 45 Copies still needed

Please help spread the word—just one single book can have a profound effect on a family and all who know them as they face an unusually challenging post-deployment adjustment period. Wingtip-to-wingtip, Angels can make it happen!

For more info (including shipping instructions and updates on how many copies are needed), email Dina at cst@soldiersangels.org. Project ends in May 2011.