10 November 2006

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference... "

... the Marines don't have that problem."

- President Ronald Reagan, 1985


Happy Birthday!


(Not only did I get this post up late due to the birthday dinner I attended, but it is also semi-tipsy blogging. Hope I don't wake up tomorrow and find that I've posted an Army logo with this or something... )

09 November 2006

Valour-IT: All gave some....



... and some gave all.

Now it's your turn.

Please help support our Wounded Warriors by donating here or by sending a check to:

Soldiers Angels
Valour-IT Marine Fund
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91104


Thank you and Semper Fi !

08 November 2006

The Kindess of Strangers and Angels

Soldiers' Angels is running low on Blankets of Hope, which are included in our First Response Backpacks. We are currently distributing 360 backpacks each month to wounded and ill troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Germany.

I put out a mailing which has starting snowballing. Here's an example from Lauren, who together with her friend Catherine sent 9 blankets, and then passed the word.

Well, I sent your call to provide extra blankets of hope to my lovely daughter... She forwarded the note to a friend who is part of her sorority and who is still at Syracuse Uni. Yesterday the girls of the sorority made 20 blankets which are being shipped today...

But it doesn't stop there.

Good morning! Thought I'd share part of an email from Davia who organised her sorority sisters at Syracuse to make 20 Blankets of Hope -

"Another sister in the house was shipping the blankets out for me because I did not have time. As she boxed them up and started to walk out of the house, the UPS delivery man happened to walk in at the same time.

He asked what all the boxes were for, and after she explained they were being sent to soldiers he took all of the boxes and shipped them for free... "


Sharon and the women of Bethel Baptist Church sent 17.

Mary Beth simply replied, "Okeedokee, MaryAnn."

MoJo wrote, "MaryAnn, Our group has several quilts that will ready in the next week or so."

From Maureen: "Good Morning MaryAnn. Great minds must think alike, I’m sending out a box tomorrow. I’m also going to forward your e-mail to all my crochet buddies. Hopefully that will inspire them to stitch faster... :-)"

Larisa: "Will get the ones I'm working on done as quickly as I can and get them sent out. I will also check with the ladies of my church to see if we can get another group sewing circle together ASAP."

"Hi Maryann, I got the e-mail about the urgency of the need for blankets. I have one tied and one I am beginning to cut out. Susan"

"Hi! My name is Terrie and I am new to Blankets of Hope. I don't sew but some friends do so I am buying the material. Hooah!"

"Dear Mary Ann: I have sent 12 fleece blankets today. Rita"

"Hi MaryAnn, I just wanted to let you know that we have sent out four packages of handmade blankets. It is such a wonderful project for all of us to do, as we feel we can at least make a little difference. Susan" (project coordinator at a retirement home)

Dorothy: "Hi Maryann, Mailed another box of 2 dozen quilts on Saturday..."

"Hi MaryAnn, I have a link up on my front page. I also posted your email on some online sewing communities that I belong to. Looks like a good response will be forthcoming. God bless you and all the angels. Tink"

"On the way! I just mailed you several quilts and put in a few get well cards that the lady in my daughters office wrote. Ann Marie"

"Dear Maryann, Hi my name is Cathy and just read about the need for blankets, I love to quilt. I'm homebound and have had several strokes so if I could do something for these young men it would be an honor..."

Robin's Blanket

"Okay, I am going to find time to make a blanket this weekend. I can do the "no-sew" blankets. Robin"

If you would like to make Blankets of Hope, click here or send me an email for complete information.

07 November 2006

Marines at Landstuhl Start Birthday Celebrations Early

Sgt. Nibya Contreras cutting the Marines' Birthday cake at Landstuhl. Photo: Steve Mraz / S&S


Although the 231st birthday of the USMC isn't until Friday, the Marines at Landstuhl carried out their traditional cake cutting ceremony on Monday.

Maj. Gen. Andrew Davis of the U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe attended the event along with the Landstuhl Marines, some of their patients, and guests from the other service branches.

Sgt. Contreras is with the Marine Liaision office, with whom we work to help support our Wounded Warriors.

Steve's full story at S&S here.

06 November 2006

Army Stoopid

The Armorer linked today to this video called "Army Stupid" created by Point Five which gave me the best laugh I've had in days.



That got me in the mood to view the original "Army Strong" again, so here's that one too.



Now that you're all fired up, I don't want you to forget that this blog is a member of the Valour-IT Marines Team, so hit that button up in the right hand corner if you haven't yet made your contribution to this great cause. Thank you!

From the Marines at Landstuhl

MaryAnn,


Please pass this on to all the folks that have been so generous in their giving to our wounded Marines here at Landstuhl, Germany.

All of the foot warmers, hats, gloves, candies, popcorn, books, movies, clothes, phone cards, gift cards, blankets, and too many other things to name, they have been given out and used with great appreciation.

Our inpatients and outpatients are all being treated with the generous gifts that so many people have donated and given up their time and money to present to us. It makes their transition easier, and all of the generosity and outpouring of love is overwhelming.

Here at the Marine Liaision, we want to thank each and every one of you who has donated so generously of your time and money. It's people like you who make the world a better place!! As always, we can only hope that we don't have people come through, but when they do, we shower them with the gifts that you have sent our way.

For those of you who don't know, we are getting ready to celebrate 231st birthday of the Marine Corps. Our official birthday is on 10 November, and today we are celebrating with our cake cutting ceremony here at Landstuhl.

Again, thank you for your generosity, we appreciate all you do for us.


Semper Fidelis,

MSgt Robin Thomas
NCOIC, Marine Liaision HLT


My thanks to all of you for your generous support of our mission at Soldiers' Angels Germany. What you do makes a difference... one Marine and Soldier at a time.

Semper Fi and Happy Birthday, Marines!

04 November 2006

&$(/§#*?!

So I'm visiting some patients this evening and one has the latest issue of S&S showing the "Halp Us Jon Carry" photo.

The conversation in the room went something like this:

"&$)=§#... "

"$§)$? #& *)"=)/$???"

"#$§+$ &"#+*!!"

"Bwahahahaha!!!"

Feel free to fill in the blanks yourself.

Valour-IT Fundaising Competition in Need of a Little "Fun"

So the Marine Team Leader wants some FUN?? Some "motivational posters"? You got it, Cassandra.


The Valour-IT Marine blogging team is not about to let those other "support" services win this competition!

We're raising money to provide laptops with voice-controlled software to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering with hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers in the United States and Germany.

You can donate via the PayPal button to the right or by sending a check to:

Soldiers Angels
Valour-IT Marine Fund
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91104

Thank you and Semper Fi!

01 November 2006

A Cry for Help


Not only are they smart, and brave, but they can actually pull off a joke without "botching" it.

HOOAH!

"The members of the United States military are plenty smart... and plenty brave... and the Senator from Massachusetts owes them an apology."

- George Bush today in Georgia.