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Holiday Challenge - Time to be Mailing!
A new PSA campaign for Veterans.
From Mamaw - an announcement.
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We’re Making History Today
I want to share something very exciting with you.
Today, IAVA is launching a ground-breaking Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign with the Ad Council. This historic, multi-year, national effort is aimed at easing the transition for veterans returning home from combat.
Even if you’re not familiar with the Ad Council, you know their work. They have been behind some of our country’s most iconic PSA campaigns, including Smokey the Bear, “Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk”, and “A Mind is A Terrible Thing to Waste”. Now, they’ve teamed up with IAVA to create the largest campaign to date focused on veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
And at the center of this campaign is a new private social network, exclusively for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, at CommunityOfVeterans.org.
Please help us spread the word about this historic campaign. Forward this email to your friends and family members, and tell the veterans in your life to check out CommunityofVeterans.org.
Together, we have the potential to dramatically improve the lives of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and their families nationwide.
Thank you for standing with us, and Happy Veterans Day.
Holiday Cards - to “any soldier”
(Hat/tip to Love My Tanker at Spousebuzz)
The old Any Soldier mail was discontinued, but the Red Cross is making it possible again. Follow the link - lets get those cards moving!
If the link doesn’t work - here’s the address to “cut and paste” http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/11/ap_holidaycards_111208/
LAW
CHRISTMAS & HOLIDAY PACKAGES FOR THE TROOPS
Shipping deadlines are approaching and my site meter over at Some Soldier’s Mom is filled with people searching for suggestions and information on gifts, shipping information and deadlines for holiday packages, so I put up my annual post… over at Some Soldier’s Mom.
What a week - and the Future Plans
As you have (hopefully) been reading, it’s been a week to remember. PZ was honoured to be a conduit for the news of Spc Hunter Levine, and he has been getting a lot of love, a lot of “stuff” and it has also spilled over from him to the others in the hospital, with a visit from Gary Sinise (link takes you to HH6’s report of the visit) and also the beginning of a new service members related “list” - called HASMO which is a FREE service trying to connect service members with a need, to all those people out here who want to fill it. Again, this is Free - no charge to anyone signing up either to give or to request. We’ll have a link to HASMO on this page soon.
ParentsZone will now return to our regular programming - with a few differences! We have a new mom ready to post, and as you have seen on the side (left side) we are slowly doing some more construction here. When the dust settles, we hope to have a site that is useful, handy and what YOU the families need.
In that vein - we’d like to ask for your help in the construction. If you have a site that has helped you cope, that answered a questions, filled a need or just helped you figure out how to negotiate this life as a military mom, dad, brother, sister… we’d like to know about it. ONE CAVEAT - it has to be free. No “registration” fees, no “administration” fees. If it’s political/religious/sponsored - we’ll link to it, but remember, we don’t endorse anything. We just provide the link. So please, if you have such a site, and don’t want to comment on this site, just email LAW at parentszone at gmail.com.
As the signs say “pardon our dust while we make it better for you”. We’ll keep adding new posts while we build - so you can ignore the dust!
LAW
Update on PFC Levine - 10/24
It’s been an intense, crazy-busy couple of days around here but in a good way! We are so proud of our readers for jumping into action when it counted! Your cards, letters of encouragement,etc are definitely doing the trick and lifting Hunter’s spirits.!
We are extra proud of our PZ Tech Mama – Tammy for jumping in and helping out the point of contact for this endeavor! She responded to all the emails and phone calls to make sure that Hunter got letters of encourgment, cards,etc. and that the right information was being sent out! Tammy will continue to be working on this directly with Hunter, his Foundation, Hearts for Hunter as well as Blake Meaux, long time freind of Hunter and foundation executor. So, check out her blog for more information about that.
The biggest HAT TIP goes to 1SG Brian Disque! Brian made sure that one of his soldiers got the help and support that he needed by letting the blogosphere know about Hunter. Brian certainly is a shining example of what a 1SG should be!
I AM A FIRST SERGEANT
My job is people — Every One is My Business.
I dedicate my time and energy to their needs;
their health, morale, discipline, and welfare.
I grow in strength by strengthening my people.
My job is done in faith; my people build faith.
My job is people –EVERY ONE IS MY BUSINESS.- US Army First Sergeant (1SG) Creed
We also want to acknowledge the sites that first posted about Hunter : The Veterans Voice & Email Our Military for first publishing 1SG Levine’s story.
Kudos to Matt at BlackFive, Milblogs, Michelle Malkin, Some Soldiers Mom, Liberal Army Wife, Army Household6, Mark Levinfan.com, Calistalee , Jihad Gene, NiceDoggie.net, and Greyhawk and many many more! Also a big thank you to everyone who emailed others to let them know about it! You guys picked up Hunter’s story as ran with it! We’re so proud to be part of this awesome blogging community!
Hunter’s friend Blake are working on the details for Hunter’s Foundation, Hearts for Hunter. The website currently is under construction but will be up & ready to go by Monday October 27th.
Also, Tammy recently started a list called HASMO (Help a Service Member Out). It is an email list comprised of Rapid Response Team Members to be able to help out soldiers like Hunter and many others. It will also be available to help out service member’s immediate families as well. You can sign up for it on Tammy’s site and its a free service!
So, thanks again and now back to our regular programming.. 
Update on PFC Hunter Levine
Well I just wanted to take a minute and thank everyone who emailed/commented over the last 24 hours about PFC Levine. If I haven’t responded to you yet.. don’t worry I will tonight/tomorrow. There has been an outpouring of support so we are trying to filter it all and get Hunter what he needs. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me at tammy.munson@gmail.com.
I am currently working with the executor of Hunter’s foundation to get a list of what Hunter may need and to setup a fundraiser for him.
Also we’re working on setting up a email list of rapid responders when we hear of things like this if you’d like to be included, please sign up at http://www.armyhousehold6.com (left side of page)
To read Hunter’s story click here
I received this email from Julie with BlueStarMoms who visited with Hunter on Saturday .. so I wanted to pass it along..
Well, we already went today and just got back actually but we wouldn’t mind going again. When I say we, I took my daughter-in-law and granddaughters too. One of the staff did go in ahead and asked Hunter if he minded us coming in. That was Hunters request to be notified ahead of time.
I figured that if he did not want visitors today that we would just leave what we had brought for him there for him to have and I understood his request. He let us come in because I told the nurse about my son serving in Iraq. That seemed to make Hunter feel better.
We just stopped in for a minute and took a card, a box of See’s lollipops, some other candy and a small fimo clay frog wind chime. (FROG=Freely Rely On God) That made him sorta laugh, the wind chime. He said he didn’t know where to put it so we suggested over the a/c unit or hang it on the window that way he could know if the a/c was working or not.
I figured that he could use the practice in getting his other senses a little sharper while his eyesight was getting some work. The room was pretty warm though, and there was a soldier visiting him as well so I didn’t want to take up too much of his time. I will call Stephanie later this week and see if he wouldn’t mind having us visit again, without the girls though. I would love to have you come with or meet me there. I have a map now and it is pretty easy to get to.
He has a DVD player and an i-pod and told me he has all the music he needs, he is still pretty angry inside. I know that later in life he will look back and think about us going there, it will be just a random thought but I hope it will be a good one.
Also, my granddaughters class is going to make a mobile for his room, that should help him with some eye coordination exercises without him knowing that he is actually doing them.
I did see that he had the DVD Gladiator (great movie!) so he has some vision. He also had a watch on with a magnifier on it. Also, the lollipops will help with the muscles in his neck which will in turn help with the face restructuring.
In fact, I am thinking that getting some crossword puzzle books and other items like that as well as some cards for other soldiers who are there would be worthwhile. There were a couple who had no visitors and looked like they could use someone to visit with.
Thanks,
Household6
“Febreze To Go” for the Troops
I’m writing on behalf of Febreze to tell you about a new donation the brand is making to support our troops. Since you are part of a military family, I thought you might be interested in hearing about this or sharing it with your readers at Some Soldier’s Mom. Febreze has partnered with Family Dollar stores nationwide to send bottles of Febreze To Go to troops stationed abroad. The donation — a direct response to military requests — will eliminate odors on military gear and uniforms and bring the troops a refreshing piece of home. You and your readers can help the effort by making your next Febreze purchase at Family Dollar. From now through Veteran’s Day - November 11, 2008 - Febreze and Family Dollar will send one 2.8 ounce bottle of Febreze To Go to a troop abroad for every Febreze item purchased.
This is straight Febreze sprays… it does NOT include Febreze candles nor any product with Febreze (e.g., Downey fabric softener with Febreze) — both of which I cannot live without! And check out the Febreze special offers — there are coupons for some of their products.
What military support looks like in DJ Emery country
Folks who read milblogs with any frequency will know who Sgt. D.J. Emery is. The latest news on DJ is found here.
In addition to the support from milbloggers, DJ’s own home community is marvelous in their support for him and the vets who live in their area of Pennsylvania
I received this in my inbox today from a lady who has been a big supporter of the Emery family as they go through recovery with him
SPECIAL ‘THANK A VETERAN’ REQUEST: A friend of mine has been named the chairperson of the Veteran’s Day program sponsored by the Ladies Auxiliary at the State College American Legion, Post 245. As part of the program, she is looking for people to write a letter to one of their Legion veterans so that each of their veteran attendees will get a letter of thanks that day. The letter can be written to anyone – male or female and should be addressed: Dear Veteran,. Contents of the letter can include special thanks to the veteran for our freedom, their dedication, sacrifices, etc. She asks that the letter be signed with your name and age - prefers that the letter is handwritten and not typed if possible. Please share this information – the letters need to be received no later than October 25, 2008.
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Now I think this is a great idea!! It could take only 5 minutes or so and the cost of a stamp to let a vet know that you appreciate their service. Not to put pressure on any of our wonderful readers but this lady has only received 10 letters so far.
Please think about it and if you are so inclined to write a letter of thanks, let me know in comments and I’ll send you the address. You all will understand why I am a bit leary of just putting the address up
One of our own needs our help!
I received this information today and it nearly broke my heart! (actually it brought me to tears) I thought I HAVE to do something for this young man! As many of us living this life know , we are one BIG military family. Well… one of our own needs our help!
For those not in the military…if you have ever wondered “what can I do for our wounded warriors”, well THIS IS IT!!!! You can read his story below …
If you would like to send cards, letters and/or care packages… please let me know. You can email me at tammy . munson @ gmail . com (don’t include spaces) We are not publishing this soldiers’ email address on the internet for his safety and security.
Thanks - Tammy aka Household6 (and PZ Techmama too)
x-posted at ArmyHousehold6.com
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From 1SG Brian M. Disque
I know a young man who is in desperate need of help. His name is PFC Hunter Levine. He is 20 years old and hails from Houston, TX.
He was in my company and was wounded on 9 May, 2008 while conducting combat operations in East Baghdad. He received a very serious injury to his face, resulting in the loss of his entire bone structure, mouth, nose, and vision.
He was evacuated to Walter Reed Hospital where the doctors performed numerous surgeries to repair his
face. I was fortunate enough to attend a Purple Heart Ceremony at Walter Reed while I was home on leave in June. I was also able to meet with Hunter’s father Beau.
Hunter was then transferred to a VA hospital in California, where the best care for his vision would be available. He is a true fighter with a heart of gold.
Bad News
Unfortunately, I received some bad news from the hospital doctors. Lately, he has been resisting treatment and being somewhat combative with the hospital staff. He has had a few outbursts and the staff is real worried about him. It seems like a serious case of depression is setting in.
Although his wounds on the outside may look bad, they may never compare with the wounds he has on the inside.
I spoke with him on the phone this evening, and he seemed real down. The reality is that he still has a long road to recover and may never see again. This young man has everything to live for and is a true inspiration. He is exactly the kind of person we would all want in a brother, son, or friend. I feel obligated to try and rally some support for him. I know we have a lot of caring people out there who would love to do something special for an outstanding American who gave his all for his country.
Call to Action
If you know of any church groups, school room classes, or other benevolent organizations that would be interested in assisting this brave young man, please forward this message on to them.
He is a pretty typical young man, so he likes sports and other typical young men stuff. A small care package with some goodies and such would mean the world.
Again, please forward this message to as many people as you know. It would be so great if we can all give way together and show Hunter that his country will never forget his sacrifices or service. He is down and needs our help.
Thank you for your support, it means everything.
V/R,
1SG Brian M. Disque
C CO 2-30 IN
“Our Country, Not Ourselves!”
