Support the Troops! Here's How! 
Let's share our loving side with the ones who need it the most: our troops. Let's get busy and show them who really supports them, ok?
I've tried to make this as pain-free and fun as possible. Some of the action items can be done right in front of your computer screen. Other items will require you to get up and move about into the fresh air outside - maybe even mingle with other people. Still others will require you open up your wallet, if you so choose to do. No pressure there from me.
You ready to start showing the troops you care?
Read Love Letters Home to America From Our Troops
Presented by the America Supports You website, read through a few of the thousands of comments left by our troops serving overseas. This will get you in the mood for the actions below... Read Letters
Sign the Save the Veterans Hospital Petition
Here's you chance to "demand that the seven VA Hospitals slated for closure be kept open and that the Department increase funding and staff to each hospital." Sign Here (And find a slew of other petitions here.)
Join Sen. John Kerry in Supporting Rep. John Murtha
The petition: "Mr. Mehlman: We ask that you and your minions please honor our veterans and that you immediately denounce and retract the recent attacks made on Rep. Murtha. We have over 50 veterans running for office in 2006 with millions of supporters and we will not allow ANY veteran to be persecuted by the Republican attack machine." Sign Here
Thank Those Who Are Working on Veterans Issues
There are many I left off (if you know of a legislator who is working tirelessly on veterans' issues, please drop that info in comments). Click on name to arrive at the person's contact page:
- Rep. Lane Evans [D-IL #17] introduced the Comprehensive Assistance for Veterans Exposed to Traumatic Stressors Act of 2005. The legislation was crafted with the aim of improving the mental health benefits given our returning veterans. Tell him you have his back!
- Sen John Kerry [D-MA] introduced the Strengthening America's Armed Forces and Military Family Bill of Rights Act of 2005. The legislation will expand TRICARE, allow military widows to stay in base housing for one year, and expand PTSD programs and outreach among other things. Tell him you have his back!
- Rep. Bob Filner [D-CA #51] supports the GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century, a comprehensive package of legislation to improve benefits for our men and women in uniform and for the nation's military retirees and veterans. Tell him you have his back!
- Rep. Steve Buyer (R-IN #4), Chairman of the House Comitte on Veterans' Affairs, is a strong proponent of modernizing the GI Bill enabling members of the Guard and Reserve to continue their education after they are discharged. In addition, increasing the flexibility of benefits would enable veterans to prepare for a wider variety of good jobs and careers. Tell him you have his back!
Tell the Media to Start Reporting on PTSD and Other Vet Issues
Use FAIR's excellent media contact page. Ask them why we don't see any stories on our returning veterans. Tell them you want more hard-hitting or public-service announcement type pieces on PTSD. Ask them why we hardly ever see any pro-veterans groups on the airwaves or quoted in articles.
::
Send Some Baseballs/Softballs to Our Soldiers
The Northwest Illinois Chapter of Operation Homefront has launched its Operation Softball program. From the website: "With a goal of collecting 10,000 softballs and baseballs to send to soldiers in Iraq, the original goal was to collect 1,016 softballs to build a pyramid of support for our soldiers. For months, softballs were distributed to area businesses, churches, and schools for people to sign and write words of support for our troops. Because of the tremendous outpouring of support, the program has been continued through April 15, 2006 and extended to the national level. The goal has now been raised to collect 10,000 softballs and baseballs for our soldiers." Signed balls can be mailed to: Operation Homefront, 1204 South Maple, Freeport, IL, 61032. For more information, contact Mike Brinkmeier at (815) 579-8436.
Deliver a Care Package
Fill it with some of the items on this handy list [pdf file]. Packing and mailing instructions also included. Please do not send to 'Any Service Member' -- they will not be accepted. Instead, find a lucky troop to 'adopt' at AnySoldier.com.
Share a Good Book (or Two)
If you're a writer (and obviously we all are here), chances are you're a voracious reader, too. Do you have some dusty books on your shelves at home? Why not recycle them by sending them to our troops overseas? Books for Soldiers has all of the tools necessary to link you up with the troop(s) looking for just the books you're ready to part with. One of my favorites on this list...
::
Lots of oppotunities for generosity; pick and choose the ones that appeal to you most.
Treat a Soldier to a Baseball Game
The San Francisco Giants and Operation Care and Comfort are hosting their 3rd Annual Salute to Our Military Game on May 26 at 7:15 pm in San Francisco, CA. From the website: "Celebrate the start of Memorial Day weekend and our Armed Forces for our annual Salute to the Military Day complete with post-game fireworks. Thousands of uniformed service men and women will be in attendance and the Giants will be celebrating the night with plenty of pageantry." You'll also get a one-of-a-kind Giants Salute to the Military Night desert camouflage Giants military bucket cap. Game Details | ARC "Tickets for Troops" Donations
Satisfy a Soldier's Sweet Tooth
The Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County offer everyone the opportunity to purchase Girl Scout cookies for those serving overseas. All cookies will be donated to Operation: Care and Comfort who will take care of the shipping. Last year, this program sold over 40,000 boxes donated to our troops! Contact Julie DeMaria at (408) 373-8635 or troopsupport@comcast.net. Learn More
Help Military Families Stay Near Their Hospitalized Troop
From the Follow Me to DC website: "Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers....Annually, the Fisher House<sup>TM</sup> program serves more than 8,500 families, and have made available more than two million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990." Learn More | Donate Online
Buy a Wristband, Support Children Who've Lost a Parent
Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, Inc. is honoring Specialist Patrick J. Sullivan by giving all proceeds of their "Some Gave All" wristbands purchased online in their store now through July 4 to military families from Fort Bragg who've lost a loved one in the WoT. Order Online
Support Emergency Medical Care for Our Troops
From DFJtoo's diary: "Angel Flight for Veterans work to provide long distance transportation for Veterans in need of Medical care. Angel Flight for Veterans is a nonprofit organization that works to ensure that no financially-needy veteran / active duty military person or their family member(s) is denied access to distant specialized medical evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation for lack of a means of long-distance medical air transportation. Patients needing help call the National Patient Travel HELPLINE at 1-800-296-1217." Learn More | Donate Online
Answer the Call: Donate a Free Phone Card
Organized by the USO (and much needed by our troops): "Operation Phone Home is a campaign designed to provide prepaid international calling cards to as many of our service men and women overseas as possible. This program designates 100% of monetary donations to the purchase and distribution of 100, 300 and 500 minute global calling cards to deployed service members." Donate Online
Help To House Our Severly Wounded Troops
Also from DFJtoo's diary: "Homes For Our Troops provides handicap accessible homes for our severely wounded Veterans. Homes for Our Troops is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization strongly committed to helping those who have selflessly given to their country and have returned home with serious disabilities and injuries. They assist injured service men and women and their immediate families by raising donations of money, building materials and professional labor and coordinating the process of building a new home or adapting an existing home for handicapped accessibility. With the growing network of professionals in the building industry, building material manufacturers, and generous donors from across the USA, Homes for Our Troops is able to provide this service at little or no cost to the veteran." Learn More | Donate Online
Buy a Military Family a Bag of Groceries
Operation Homefront, a nonprofit committed to helping to ease the burden of military families left behind during times of war, makes it easy to help. Purchase commissary gift certificates in denominations of $10 or $25. Purchase Online
::
Take Part in National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans Week, February 12-18
From the VA Watchdog website: "Get out this week and visit a veteran in a VA hospital. Take some books or magazines. Take some toiletries. Or...take a Valentine. It's also known as Valentine's for Veterans Week. Maybe sneak in some chocolate with the card." Locate a VA Vet Center near you and ask them how you can help. More Details | Volunteer Sign-up Online
Volunteer Your Time to Help Military Families
Operation Homefront, a nonprofit committed to helping to ease the burden of military families left behind during times of war, always needs a few extra hands. Locate a chapter nearest you and roll up your sleeves!
Plan to spend your $100 of Valentine's cash on air/train fare to one of these events:
Veterans And Survivors March For Peace And Justice: From Mobile to New Orleans
March 14-19, 2006. Support Americans in Iraq and the Gulf Coast--Bring Them Home NOW! See jimstaro's diary for more details.
Million Veteran March - Operation Firing for Effect
April 25-26 in Washington, D.C. From the Veterans for Veteran Connection (VFVC) website: "This march will inform the lawmakers in Washington DC and the American Public about the lack of adequate VA Funding, VA Performance and Veteran Benefits in General. All military veterans are encouraged to attend. Additionally, this March is opened to the Public and they are all invited." Planned events: March on the nation's capitol at 8 am on April 25th (simultaneous marches planned at every state capitol throughout the nation). Meet with the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs regarding veterans' issues on April 26th. Scheduled speakers include Steve Combes and Mark Edwin Layfield. Contact organizer Gene Simes by March 31st if planning to participate. Register for Email Updates | Full Information
KEYWORDS: Iraq, veterans, support the troops, political action, petitions, charity, activism
Sign up for a Complimentary Member Account... Join the community! It's fast. And it'll allow you to take advantage of all this site's great features!
| < Intelligent Deception Part II: The Denial Lobby | KIVA Microlending Update I: The Success of KIVA and the Blogs > |
