Valour-IT Fundraising Competition

Valour-IT Fundraising Competition

As the number of American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines suffering battlefield wounds continues to grow, today’s economic challenges continue to squeeze military support nonprofits. Project Valour-IT—which has supplied over 6,000 severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines with adaptive laptops and other devices to aid their recovery and reintegration—is addressing that squeeze with a fundraising technique it pioneered: online competition.
Held July 1-14, the Valour-IT fundraising competition will draw on blogging, Facebook, Twitter and other social media to raise money and awareness for the needs of wounded troops. Divided among four “virtual teams” named in honor of U.S. military service branches, participants will also use flyers, word-of-mouth and traditional media outlets to spread the word. The goal is to raise at least $100,000, which will meet increased demand for Valour-IT services through October 2011.
“Project Valour-IT changes lives,” says Soldiers’ Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader. “Wounded heroes report that being able to use a laptop helps them feel whole again. Physical therapists are actually designing therapy sessions around Wii Sports! And something as normal as a handheld GPS reduces stress and helps a hero cope. It’s just amazing what this project does!”
Each of the devices Valour-IT supplies helps restore confidence and independence for a wounded hero. Voice-activated laptops reconnect the wounded with the world and develop self-confidence by showing soldiers they can continue to be engaged and productive despite their injuries. Servicemembers also use the laptops to research their medical care or prepare for a post-military career. Physical therapists report Wii Sports is extremely motivational and beneficial when used in physical therapy settings, and wounded personnel with short-term memory loss due to TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) and severe PTSD use GPS systems to keep from getting lost or disoriented when they move on to more independent living.
For more information about the fundraising competition, email campaign@soldiersangels.org or click here. All funds raised go directly to wounded troops with no overhead costs removed, and requests for support are vetted through case managers.
To join a fundraising team as a blogger or webmaster, email one of the team leaders below or click here on July 1st:
Air Force: greyhawk@mudvillegazette.com
Army: spear_sniper at yahoo.com
Marines: howlsatmoon@gmail.com
Navy: cdrsalamander at hotmail.com

ANGEL EYE VIEW

Soldiers’ Angels

Dear Angel,

I have a question for you:

Will you sponsor one or more of the 50,000 pre-paid phone cards we urgently need to send to our brave troops serving in Afghanistan or Iraq this year?

Phone cards may be largely a thing of the past here in the states, but they are precious in war zones for our Marines, soldiers, airmen and sailors.

It’s the only way they can talk to family and loved ones. And for our troops, thousands of miles from home with their lives on the line, contact with home is crucial for morale.

Please click here to give your tax-deductible contribution

You see, our troops get a small amount of phone time from the military. After that’s gone, they have to pay astronomical international rates.

For many of our troops - - especially those raising families - - those rates are out of the question. And so they have very limited contact with loved ones at home.

Won’t you help one of our troops say “Happy Birthday” to his son, who he hasn’t seen for many long months? Or help a serviceman or woman talk to their spouse on their anniversary, or to their family at Christmas, their mother on Mother’s Day . . .. . . or just to talk to their sweetheart before heading out on patrol?

Our troops love these cards. I constantly receive requests for them.
And because I hear the need for these almost every day, Soldiers’ Angels plans to send 50,000 of these phone cards in just the next few months.

Please click here to give your tax-deductible contribution

But we can’t carry out this monumental task without your help and the help of many good people like you.

Just $16 will sponsor a pre-paid 60-minute phone card, which also ships with snacks and hygiene items, for one of our servicemen or women in Afghanistan or Iraq. And you’ll also be helping to support over 30 other projects that Soldiers’ Angels conducts to support our troops.

Perhaps you can sponsor more than one card by giving $32, or $48, or even more.

I started Soldiers’ Angels so that we would never have to say “No” to a soldier in need.

I fervently believe that we can never show too much love or support for those who are sacrificing so much for us.

As a loyal Soldiers’ Angel, I’m sure you agree. So I hope you’ll join this monumental project to send 50,000 pre-paid phone cards in just the next few months.

Please click here to give your tax-deductible contribution

Soldiers’ Angels doesn’t receive government grants or support. We can only be successful with the generous help of good people like you.

And this is just one small way we can make their service a little easier.

I need to put the final sign-off on this massive Phone Card Campaign in the next few weeks, so I need to hear soon if we’ll have the funds to send out these 50,000 pre-paid phone cards.

Please do your very best right now, before you put my letter aside and go on to something else. I’ll be waiting to hear from you in the next few days.
Gratefully,

Patti Patton Bader
Founder and Chairman
Soldiers’ Angels

P.S. Sending 50,000 pre-paid phone cards to our troops in Afghanistan and Iraq is a massive undertaking, and a very expensive one.

I need to know in just the next few weeks if we’ll have the funds necessary to send the full 50,000, or if we need to cut back or even eliminate this program.

Please let me hear from you today. Thank you so much!

Please click here to give your tax-deductible contribution

Soldiers Angels Sewing Team making a difference everyday!!

Sewing Team

The Sewing Team covers several sub-teams of Angels who support the troops through their sewing skills. Whether you are an expert seamstress or just a casual hobbyist, you can help our Sewing Team meet the needs of the troops with your talents. Blankets of Hope even has a no-sew option! You can join all the Sewing Team groups, or just one if you like. To join Soldiers' Angels and participate in the Sewing team click here to get started, or go to ApprovedAngels.com if you're already an Angel! Check out our latest newsletter, or click the following to learn more about each group:

• Blankets of Belief - Showing our deployed heroes, "We believe in you!"
• Blankets of Gratitude - Knitted/crocheted/loomed blankets for hospitalized veterans
• Blankets of Hope - Handmade sewn and no-sew blankets for the wounded
• Patriot Pillowcases - Handmade pillow cases to bring cheer to troops hospitalized in the war zones
• Scarves - Simple scarves to protect and cool deployed troops
• VA Crochet and Craft - Knit/crochet/sew a variety of items to improve VA patients' dignity and comfort
• Operation Top Knot - Not part of the sewing team, but includes sewing for infants of deployed fathers

OVER 1500 HEROES WAITING...will you help

Soldiers' Angels - Adopting a Soldier

OVER 1500 HEROES WAITING...will you help

What Next?: The next step is writing your first letter and preparing your first care package for your soldier. Each Angel who adopts a soldier commits to sending at least one letter a week and at least one care package a month (if you have any questions, you can find out who your mentor is on ApprovedAngels.com). You may or may not hear back from your soldier, so do not be disappointed if your soldier does not reply. Our troops are very busy (they are in a war zone!) and sometimes they might be a little shy, but you can be sure that your letters and care packages are treasured by your soldier! Some Angels have experienced writing to a soldier an entire deployment without getting a reply until the soldier returns home and tells the Angel how much the letters and packages meant during deployment.

OVER 1500 HEROES WAITING...will you help

Please support the family of Lcpl Nicholas S. O'Brien, 21, of Stanley, NC.

Lance Cpl. Nicholas S. O’Brien, 21, of Stanley, N.C., died June 9 while conducting combat operations in Helmand province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, IMarine Expeditionary Force, Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Best friend and fire teammate, Lcpl Josh Cawthorn, was 10 feet behind O'Brien.

"We hit the IED and all I remember is a loud bang." said Lcpl Cawthorn, who was severly injured in the roadside blast. His right eye socket was crushed and his right eye had to be removed.

"I loved Nic like a brother. They lost their only son. I'm more than willing to be their son for them," Lcpl Cawthorn said. "I really appreciate it that they're thinking of me. I know that they're always going to be there for me now and I'm always going to be there for them. They told me that I was like a son to them."

Lcpl O’Brien graduated East Gaston High School in 2008, where he was centerfielder for baseball team and played soccer. He was named Defensive Player of the year in his junior and senior years. He earned his school's Math Award during his junior year.

Lcpl O’Brien joined the Marines in Fall of 2009, following in the footsteps of his father, a Marine veteran, and his grandfather, a Navy veteran. He intended to serve his four or five year enlistment and go to college to become a firefighter, like his uncle, a Charlotte firefighter.

This was Lcpl O'Brien's first deployment. He had just turned 21 years old, two weeks prior.

His father, Richard, said his son was a talented high school baseball player who was offered college scholarships to continue playing. "He had a lot of choices in front of him. Nic made his mind up when he was about 15 years old that he was going into the Marine Corps, come hell or high water."

High school coach, Brian Sellers said “I knew when it came time to play, Nic was going to give me all he had,” said Sellers. “You never had to worry about his desire to win or play hard. He was going to leave everything on the field.”

“Our best memories of him were based on his ability to make anyone laugh at any given time,” said Johnson. “I remember getting frustrated with him sometimes, but then I’d turn around and he’d be doing something to make me crack up laughing. “Even if he was doing something you didn’t like, it was impossible to be mad at him.”

Ginger Petty said she'd known O'Brien since he was about 10 years old and was devastated by his death, saying he grew up playing baseball with her eldest son, Lee.

She described O'Brien has a "wonderful boy" and a great outfielder who never belittled anyone and found a friend in everyone. He was the kind of person who wasn't afraid to step in when he saw a friend in need. She said her son, Lee, struggled with the death of his father when he was a senior in high school and he was in jeopardy of not graduating, but O'Brien talked to him about what was going on and encouraged him. The pair graduated together weeks later.

Petty said she hadn't heard that story until Friday. "It was the first time Lee ever told me," she said. "I thought it was amazing for someone at that age...Nic deserves to be recognized."

From friends:

June 20, 2011

I grieve with you over the loss of your precious son. I lost my son Sgt. Kevin Brian Balduf, USMC on May 12th and buried him in Arlington last Wednesday. I know your pain. Ironically, Josh who was with your son is a relative of my wife by marriage. Please know that we are here for you and feel your pain in a very real way.~ Chip Balduf, Ellenboro, North Carolina

June 20, 2011

My son (Travis) and his girlfriend both went to school with Nic and thought that world of him. My son couldn't be there today so I came out not only for him but to also show my support and respect for you and your son. No words can replace him but his love lives on in you. You raised an amazing young man. You are in our thoughts and prayers.~William and Jennifer H., blacksburg, South Carolina

June 20, 2011

To the O'Brien Family,
My first memories of Nic are from watching him play soccer as a 6 or 7 year old on a league in Coulwood. Every time I think of Nic, I remember how I loved to watch him play. He was the star of the team and even at that very young age, he impressed me with his drive to give the game all he had. I have kept up with him thru more recent years through my daughter and Hayley and have been equally impressed with his courageous ambition when he joined the Marines. Nic is truly an inspiration. It would seem that he lived more in his short life than some could live in 90. My heart has been broken for you all since we got the truly shocking news of his death on that Thursday night. My prayer for you all is that the God who gave him to you and now has taken him Home, will strengthen you and hold you in His loving care, close to His heart, until you see your precious Nic again. Proverbs 10:7 says; "The memory of the righteous is blessed..." Nic's life was a blessing and an inspiration. His memory will forever be blessed. May God's comfort and peace be with you all.~ Kim W., Stanley, North Carolina

June 18, 2011

I don't know if your family remembers me, I kept (little Nic) as I used to call him, at Shady Brook Daycare. My name is Toni aka Ms Toni. Nic was a very sweet little boy as well as his sister, Haley. They were two of my favorites. I didn't know him as he was growing up, but it looked like he grew up to be a fine, young man. I was devastated when I heard about his death. I didn't want to believe the news. I know you all are very proud of little Nic and his accomplishments and especially for protecting our country. I'm sure it's going to take some time to heal from this, but always remember he'll always be in yall's hearts and you will see him again one day. God Bless you, Tammie, Richard, Haley and Ms Lila. you are all in my prayers.~Toni L., Charlotte, North Carolina

June 12, 2011

Richard and Tammy, we also mourn with you in the death of Nic, for our son, LCpl. David B. Houck, was killed in the Battle for Fallujah, 26 Nov 2004, one of 13 in 1/8, Bravo Co. David's body was laid to rest in section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery. Arlington has become our family's burial place as my dad (USAF) and mom are buried in section 6...We want to support you as you trudge through day by day. Please call xxx xxx-xxx or email xxxxxxx My hubby is a retired Navy senior chief and we will put flowers on Nic's grave each time we visit Arlington. Thank you for raising such a fine son who willingly joined the USMC to defend and protect our freedoms. May our Lord comfort you.~ Bob & Beth H., MOUNT ULLA, North Carolina

June 12, 2011

Dear Tammy, Richard and Haley:
Words can not express the hurt and loss I feel today. Nic was a wonderful kid. So full of life. One thing just sticks out in my mind like it was yesterday: Nic riding his 4-wheeler in the backyard over in West Chester, just a tot, but going wide open, fearless. Nic has taken that same fearlessness from just a tot to the GREAT MAN he is today. What a remarkable Angel he will be in Heaven. I can see him now. Picking and preparing his ball team for Jesus. What a Great Star, his light will be shining down on you guys for long time to come. Keep the faith and Trust in God he is with you today, tomorrow and always. I love you more than you will ever know. My prayers and thoughts will be with you as you take this long journey. I stand with you and will be here for you at any time of the day,night or whenever you need me. " "Thank you Nic for allowing me the opportunity to know you and thanks for the freedom that you so proudly sought for us each and every day. You will always remain in my heart forever. I am so Very PROUD. What a HERO you are.~Love Pixie B., Charlotte, North Carolina

June 12, 2011

My thoughts and prayers goes out to you. O'Brien and my son Daniel was at Parris Island together in the same company. When my son call home I would always ask him where is O'Brien and he would say right here mom. They even went to California to school together. He will truly be miss by me and my son. Rest in peace O'Brien. We love you.~Daniel S. and Mom, Lulamae S., Goose Creek, South Carolina

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m., Monday, June 20, at First Assembly of God in Gastonia.

Lcpl O'Brien will be buried at Arlington National Cemetary, because, as his father said, "“In his short life, he grew to be a class man. He was a warrior and a hero. And he deserves to be buried beside warriors."

Lcpl O'Brien will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, June 28th.

The day his battalion deployed to Afghanistan in March, he sent his parents an email to reassure them and tell them to sleep easy. "If something happens to me, don't cry over me because this is what I want to be doing," he wrote.

The Department of Defense announced the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

In lieu of flowers, the O'Brien family respectfully requests memorials be sent to the Josh Cawthorn Fund, in care of Shady Brook Baptist Church, 2940 Belmeade Drive, Charlotte, NC 28214.

Lcpl O'Brien is survived by parents, Tammy and Richard; and sister, Haley.

ANGEL EYE VIEW

      
 Dear Angels and Friends,
Welcome to “Angel-Eye View,” our new weekly email designed to keep you informed on Angel projects and events, and to offer you more opportunities for involvement and feedback!
Summer seems to be the busy season for Angel activities and it is so exciting to see the many ways people are working together to support the troops!  From children’s birthday parties to city-wide events, from one person to a Summer seems to be the busy season for Angel activities and it is so exciting to see the many ways people are working together to support the troops!  From children’s birthday parties to city-wide events, from one person to a multi-office company, patriots across the country are stepping up with big hearts and creative spirits to show their heroes the homefront remembers them.  Banding together, they multiple their efforts—the only limit seems to be how big they can think!  Check out the News page at www.soldiersangels.org/past-news.html for some of the latest stories of Angels making it happen: 
          Portland Goes Angel – a city gets in on the act
           Little Birthday Angels Lead – children know what matters
          Sabre Systems Stands for the Troops – a company steps up again
          IBM Angel Shines – one person reaches out to thousands of co-workers

…and there are so many more!  Keep your eyes open for upcoming stories about 200 young people at a packing party, Blue Star Mothers at work, and busy Angels on a naval aircraft carrier! 
In addition to big, splashy events, Angels are quietly doing everyday things to raise funds for the troops--like saving money.  CellarAngels.com and SoldiersAngels.Sale.com are the two most recent ways to purchase things you want or need while supporting the troops, but there’s an entire page  full of companies who donate a percentage of purchases or offer discounts for Angels/troops: www.soldiersangels.org/discounts-for-soldiers-angels.html.  In the Pacific Northwest, Angels are descending on Applebee’s to dine for dollars (soldiersangelswashington@gmail.com for details). 
From bands of Angels doing amazing feats, to individuals who make every cent count by buying from companies that support the troops, it all adds up to big things for our heroes.  Please consider how you can step up and stand wingtip-to-wingtip with other patriotic Americans to do something special...  
Inspired to put your wings to work?  Start here: www.soldiersangels.org/groups.html.  We can’t wait to see what you come up with! 
Wingtip-to-wingtip,

Soldiers’ Angels
www.soldiersangels.org
www.facebook.com/SoldiersAngelsOfficial
 

VALOUR IT in 9 days

Wounded Veteran: Voice-Controlled Laptop "Changed My Life"

Inspiration and Co-founder of Project Valour-IT Tells How Software Helped Him Cope

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When Project Valour-IT began in 2005, it used Nuance's Dragon software to help severely wounded troops.

The use of Dragon Naturally Speaking to use a computer, to connect, to do something that I was able to do before I was injured made me feel somewhat whole, somewhat normal, for the first time.

Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) August 8, 2008

Army Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, wounded Iraq veteran and inspiration for Soldiers' Angels Project Valour-IT, has won an award for describing how the software used by Valour-IT improves his life. Called Dragon Naturally Speaking, it allows users to operate a computer by voice, giving independence and self-confidence to the severely wounded.
Nuance, the maker of Dragon, recently sponsored a competition for users to describe how Dragon improves their lives, work, or creativity. Major Ziegenfuss won three years of Dragon software updates and an electronic personal travel assistant for his entry about how Dragon "changed my life."
"I use Dragon NaturallySpeaking to regain control of the life that was temporarily robbed from me," Ziegenfuss wrote, describing his experiences after being nearly killed by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Iraq. "The use of Dragon Naturally Speaking to use a computer, to connect, to do something that I was able to do before I was injured made me feel somewhat whole, somewhat normal, for the first time."
Major Ziegenfuss' experience with the technology led to Soldiers' Angels purchasing Dragon Naturally Speaking to help severely wounded veterans connect to the world through laptops the organization provided. In its three years of existence, Project Valour-IT has distributed over 2,700 laptops. As Major Ziegenfuss continues to recover, he has become intimately involved in the project, helping others feel whole and normal after being wounded. "It has been my distinct pleasure and honor to give that feeling, a feeling of ability, to our wounded. Dragon has not only improved my life, it has changed my life."
Soldiers' Angels salutes Major Ziegenfuss for his commitment to helping his fellow wounded, and congratulates Nuance for its product that changes lives. Says Patti Patton-Bader, founder of Soldiers' Angels, "It takes both technology and the human touch to help our wounded warriors recover, and Soldiers' Angels is thrilled to see the two work together so well in Project Valour-IT."
SOLDIERS' ANGELS is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) non-profit providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. military and their families. Comprised of 200,000 volunteer members in over twenty different teams and programs, activities include letters, care packages, and comfort items to the deployed, and support for their families at home. The organization also provides assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties. See http://www.soldiersangels.org for more information.
NUANCE is a leading provider of speech and imaging solutions for businesses and consumers around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.nuance.com or http://www.nuance.com/news/pressreleases/2008/20080806_dragonstories.asp.

Thank you from the front

Clint Hundley

Just received 24 boxes from Sodliers Angels!! Absolutely awesome! Couldn't have come at a better time as we are about to relocate to an area without access to a PX

Thanks!!!

Want to helkp make a difference? Click here Soldiers Angels

Little Birthday Angels Lead

Little Birthday Angels Lead

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Recently a well-loved little boy turned six years old and had a great birthday party with his friends… but he didn’t get any presents.
Thanks to his mother, Soldiers’ Angel Heidi, Hunter is an “Angel in training” who has obviously learned his lessons well. Rather than ask for birthday presents this year, he asked his family and friends to bring fabric to make no-sew Blankets of Belief for Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care packages!
Hunter was following in the footsteps of his younger sister Genevieve, who did the same thing for her 4th birthday this Spring. Together, the children have received enough fabric and monetary gifts to make and ship about 15 blankets!
This is the second time that Hunter has forgone birthday gifts. Last year he asked for care package items for the troops rather than presents for himself. Friends responded enthusiastically, bringing in close to $200 worth of items.
Congrats to Heidi for raising two loving and patriotic children, and thank you to Hunter and Genevieve for showing the rest of us how to support the troops and get our friends involved in the fun!

With his "presents" going to the troops, Hunter has learned that the best part of a birthday party is hanging with friends.

Many Fallen Heroes this week here is ONE

Please support the family of Cpl William J. Woitowicz, 23, of Middlesex, MA.

The Department of Defense announced the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

Cpl. William J. Woitowicz, 23, of Middlesex, Mass., died June 7 while conducting combat operations in Badghis province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to 2nd Marine Special Operations Battalion, Marine Special Operations Regiment, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Camp Lejeune, N.C.

Cpl Woitowicz graduated from Groton-Dunstable Regional High School in 2007 where he played basketball. He joined the Marines shortly after graduating high school. He was an avid biker and was due home in two weeks.

In high school, Cpl Woitowicz earned the nickname "class flirt".

"He was a lady's man," former teacher, Michael Donnelly said, adding that he treated female friends with respect.

Donnely said that Woitowicz was a standout in his high-school engineering class who could have easily gone to college to follow in the footsteps of his older brother, who works as a construction engineer.

"I appreciated him so much because he had good work ethics," Donnelly said. "He was a good man," added Donnelly. "He was a fine student from a wonderful family. He was a son I would be proud to have. It just hurts.”

"Definitely, he lived by his word, and always went out of his way to do good things for his classmates and teachers," said Assistant Principal Marisa Brisson.

"He had an uncanny sense of humor," said Brisson, who was dean of students at the high school when Woitowicz attended. "He was very caring, and I would describe him as a gentle soul."

"He was one of those special kids that you never forget," said Dan Twomey, who was the high school's athletic director. He coached Woitowicz on the freshman basketball team, watched him play junior-varsity basketball and run in the cross-country team.

"More than anything, he was just a funny kid and he had fun with everything he did," Twomey said.

He was very friendly, very outgoing — always, always had a smile on his face,” said neighbor Kristin Lacombe. “Always willing to help you in a time of need. Just an incredible kid.”

From friends:

June 15, 2011

Rose, Kevin, Amanda, and Chris,

I can not put into words how sorry I am for your loss. I have so many memories of Billy, his kind heart, and playful spirit. He was so loved and will be missed by everyone he touched. I wish I could have been there today to hug each of you. Your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. Sending love. ~ Courtney Cunningham, Pago Pago, American Samoa

June 15, 2011

I too wanted to pass on my family's condolences to the Woitowicz family. I had the good fortune of getting to know Billy for a short time when I coached his high school rec. basketball team in 2007. He was a terrific player and athlete, but more importantly, someone who always encouraged the lesser skilled players on the team to keep working hard. I admired his energy and positive attitude and knew he would become a leader. Very sorry to hear of his passing. ~ Tom Rosa, Groton, Massachusetts

June 14, 2011

To Kevin, Rosie,Chris,and Amanda
My family will always be in debt for the sacrifices you as well as Billy have made. He always made me laugh and always left me with a smile. It was an honor to know him. He was taken too soon but will always be remembered. You have our deepest sympathy. Semper Fi. ~ Keith, Tracy & Pat Flanagan, Westford, Massachusetts

June 13, 2011

I am so sorry for your loss My son was in school with your son a few years ago in Georgia He is stationed now in Afghanistan and wishes he could be here to pay his respects. I can not even begin to know how you must be feeling. Even though he died a hero, it does not lessen the pain. I will pray for you and your family. God Bless!!Lisa George ( for Cpl George,Patrick ) ~ Lisa George, Hyde Park, Massachusetts

June 12, 2011

Dear Kevin, Rosie, Chris, and Mandy - our hearts are with you. We were blessed with 8 years of watching Billy grow from a boy to a fine young adult. As a young man he touched our lives and we will never forget him. Much love and prayer is coming your way. Love, Bob and Patty Gettman,Temple, New Hampshire

Cpl Woitowicz's awards and decorations include:

Purple Heart

Combat Action Ribbon

Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal

National Defense Service Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

NATO International Security Assistance Force Medal.

Army parachutist wings

Funeral Mass was held 10am, Thursday, 16 June, at St. Catherine’s Church. Burial followed in the Pine Grove Cemetery in Westford.

Sgt Woitowicz is survived by his parents, Rosemary and Kevin; older brother, Chris; younger sister, Amanda.

*Special thanks to researcher Michelle*

Thank you for your support of our Fallen,

Christine Theaker

Living Legends Team

 
www.soldiersangels.org

On the Angel Team

Soldiers' Angels is proud of it's long history of support for start-up military support organizations and individual patriots who care for our troops and their families. Two great examples of this are artist Michael Reagan and the woodcarvers of the Eagle Cane Project, whom Soldiers' Angels has partnered with for years.

Using the family’s favorite photo, professional portrait artist Michael Reagan creates custom, hand-drawn portraits free of charge to the families of all servicemen and women who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. Soldiers' Angels assists Michael in this profound labor of love by helping to cover the cost of shipping his beautiful creations. To learn more or request Michael create a portrait of a fallen hero, see the Fallen Heroes Project website.
Members of the Eastern Oklahoma Woodcarvers Association put their artistry to work for America's wounded heroes, creating symbolic "Presentation Canes" as a representation of support and respect for their sacrifices. Created by Jack Nitz, The Eagle Cane Project is a nationwide network of carving associations who create beautiful canes for wounded warriors. Where possible, canes are made by woodworkers in the veteran's home state and presented in person. When that is not possible, Soldiers' Angels covers the cost of shipping these valuable and beautiful canes to their recipients.
The heart of Soldiers' Angels has always been cooperation and support among those who have the same mission--supporting our heroes and their families. If you would like to help Soldiers' Angels support this great artists who love the troops, please donate. Be sure to indicate in the comments box which project you would like your gift to assist. You can also mail donations to the address below (be sure to write "canes" or "Michael Reagan" on the check":

Independence Day Sale!!!

Independence Day Sale!!!

15% off our Independence Day Pack now thru Sunday only!

This pack is sure to bring the joy of summer and home to your soldier! Send this Red White and Blue themed pack for Independence Day!

Each pack contains:
6 snacks
5 drink mixes
1 loofah sponge
1 pack of baby wipes
1 deck of cards
1 toothpaste

And a free add on!

Choose between 1lb Seattle's Best Coffee, or a box of Girl Scout Cookies

Click the photo below to order now!

Enter coupon code july15 at check out to redeem.

http://www.angelsstore.org/product_p/sa4thpack.htm

Dear Angels and Friends,

Dear Angels and Friends,

Welcome to “Angel-Eye View,” our new weekly email designed to keep you informed on Angel projects and events, and to offer you more opportunities for involvement and feedback!

Throughout June, we’ve been kicking off 6 Months of Christmas—for the next six months we’re working hard to put together a great holiday care package for each deployed hero this December, focusing on a different aspect of the care packages each month. As the drawdowns continue in Iraq and Afghanistan, Soldiers’, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are living in much more austere conditions and counting on care packages from the homefront more than ever. A great Holiday Care Package will be a big morale boost!

This month the 6 Months of Christmas focus is socks. Believe it or not, a nice clean pair of new socks is a welcome luxury for deployed service members, especially in remote areas where they don’t have access to laundry facilities and are walking many miles a day. Colors needed include white, tan or khaki made of 100% cotton/wool (specialty sport/hiking/tactical socks in these colors are also greatly appreciated). Whether 1 pair or 100 pairs, every package of socks will bring a smile to a deployed hero this Holiday Season!

For more details, including shipping instructions, please click here or visit www.soldiersangels.org and click on “6 Months of Christmas - Sock Month.”

Coming much sooner than Christmas, the Project Valour-IT online fundraising competition to help Soldiers’ Angels provide more voice-activated laptops and other adaptive technology to support wounded veterans runs July 1-14. Your help is needed to email friends, share flyers in your community, and rally people to pick their favorite teams! To get involved, please email tcoverride@gmail.com or join the Valour-IT Google Group (www.groups.google.com/group/valour-it). Keep your eyes peeled for the kickoff!

Both these projects are huge, but Angel volunteers have proven over and over again that when we band together, amazing things happen. Whether it’s sending a pair of socks or simply putting up a Valour-IT flyer at work, each Angel can impact a hero’s life!

Wingtip-to-wingtip,


Soldiers’ Angels
www.soldiersangels.org
www.facebook.com/SoldiersAngelsOfficial

Thanks to a partnership with Sale.com

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 c 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!

Despite your injuries..Wingtip to Maryann Phillips

Soldiers' Angels Germany: "Despite your injuries, you're still a Marine... "


Palo Alto — Marine Lance Cpl. Jorge Ortiz, 19, of Fresno, who was critically injured in an explosion in Afghanistan, rests at the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center at the Department of Veterans Affairs hospital in Palo Alto, where physicians and therapists take a team approach to care for those who have suffered catastrophic injuries. Photo: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times.