TRAIL OF HONORS

Lots of pictures from the past three days. Today is the big day when all the motorcycles come roaring in at approximately 11:00 this morning, then they will head out and make a stop in Meridian, then on to the Wall in WAshington, DC. Lots of Metal of Honor recipients were on hand for the event. What an honor to be able to sit and talk with these fine veterans. 

NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH

"May No Soldier Go Unloved. May No Soldier Walk Alone. May No Soldier Be Forgotten. Until They All Come Home."

As an all out effort to support National Military Appreciation Month, held in May, Soldiers' Angels is asking Americans to show their appreciation for our military by adopting a deployed service member at Soldiers Angels.

This year more than any other, our service men and women need to know they are truly appreciated for their role in protecting and defending our nation’s freedom. It doesn't take much time to become involved with Soldiers' Angels.

To Adopt-A-Hero go to the website Soldiers Angels and click on the ADOPT button. Your commitment each month is simply a letter a week and a small package each month. Join our team. Our nation's heroes need you. Soldiers' Angels is the place to start to show your appreciation.

WHEREAS, The freedom and security that citizens of the United States enjoy today are direct results of the blood shed and continued vigilance given by the United States Armed Forces over the history of our great nation; and

WHEREAS, the sacrifices that such members of the United States Armed Forces and of the family members that support them, have preserved the liberties that have enriched this nation making it unique in the world community; and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress, in two thousand and four, passed a resolution proclaiming May as National Military Appreciation Month, calling all Americans to remember those who gave their lives in defense of freedom and to honor the men and women of all of our Armed Services who have served and are now serving our Country, together with their families; and

WHEREAS, the months of May and June were selected for this display of patriotism because during these months, we celebrate Victory in Europe (VE) Day, Military Spouse Day, Loyalty Day, Armed Forces Day/Week, National Day of Prayer, Memorial Day, Navy Day, Army Day and Flag Day;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Patti Patton-Bader, Founder of Soldiers' Angels, do hereby proclaim the period May 1, through June 14, 2009 as a special time to show appreciation for our Military and proclaim it as NATIONAL MILITARY APPRECIATION MONTH

Packages For Soldiers

Please go here and sign the petition so that we can help get this bill passed and get more packages sent to your troops for FREE...

We ask you to join us in urging our U.S. Senators and Representatives to support the effort to pass a law that would allow for the free mailing of letters and packages to our military personnel in the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation.

Representatives Kathy Castor and Gus Bilirakis have already committed to co-sponsoring a bill that would achieve our goal. They must get the support of the remainder of their colleagues, particularly those in the Senate.

Families and organizations attempting to ship goods to our military have discovered that the cost can be onerous. That should not be a factor in our attempts to make their lives more bearable in the most trying circumstances.

Keep in mind that the members of Congress enjoy the right of free mailing, called “franking” privileges. It is only proper that our fighting men and women who are in harm’s way be granted the same rights.

Rest in Peace CPT Yllescas

Rob is with God now

"Well, today Rob went to be with the Lord. Last night his ICP's went really high and they took him for another CT scan. The scan results were devastating. So, we decided to let him go Home. He went very painlessly and quickly. I don't know when his funeral will be but it will be in Nebraska in my hometown. I will let you all know the details when I get them. Thank so all so much for the thousands of prayers you sent for my husband. We now have an angel looking over us."

Our thoughts and prayers are with this family.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY

THANK YOU to all past and present members of our military, but especially this one for making me the proudest Mom...

Remember to thank a Veteran today. I will be headed to our local VA to spend a little time with our Veterans today and to hand out some beautiful hand made blankets made by Soldiers' Angel Blanket Team.

A Pittance of TIme

WRAPPED IN HOLIDAY SPIRIT

This winter, an estimated 180,000 U.S. military personnel will be serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, in combat environments or in support of combat operations. Some will be on their 3rd or 4th deployments--spending yet another Holiday away from the loving arms of family and friends. We want them to know that they are remembered, that we are thinking of them during the winter Holiday Season, and that we are grateful for their service. Since we can't all wrap our arms around them in person to show how much we love and appreciate them, Soldiers' Angels needs your help to make sure each one of America's heroes is Wrapped in Holiday Spirit. So we ask…..

Can you be there for a Hero this Holiday Season?

To send a Wrapped in Holiday Spirit care package to a deployed service member this Holiday Season please visit us at Soldiers Angels.

Another Mississippi Soldier...

The Columbian Progress

Columbia resident makes the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq...

Private First-Class Christopher A.(Chris) McCraw, son of Avon McCraw and Cathy McCraw, both of Columbia, was killed in Iraq this week. He was 23 years old and joined the Army in Feb. 2006. He went to Basic Training at Fort Benning, Ga., where he graduated in June 2006. McCraw had been stationed in Hawaii prior to being deployed to Iraq in Dec. 2007. In Iraq he was stationed at Camp Liberty outside Baghdad. McCraw attended city schools until his family moved to North Carolina in the late 1990’s. He graduated high school there prior to the family moving back to Columbia.

The Clarion Ledger

Avon McCraw clearly remembers the last time he talked with his son, Pfc. Christopher McCraw.

"I was talking with him on the cell phone, and he was laughing when it cut out," said Avon, of Marion County. "That was the last time I got to hear his voice, his laughter."

Christopher McCraw, 23, died Tuesday in Baghdad from wounds suffered when he encountered small-arms fire while on patrol, according to the Department of Defense.

At least 67 people from Mississippi or with strong ties to the state have died in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Christopher McCraw is the third soldier from Marion County to be killed in Iraq.

"We all knew the danger was there, but I didn't expect this to happen," Avon McCraw said. "I'll probably never get over it, but I don't want to because he was my child."

Christopher McCraw comes from a family of soldiers, with Avon's brothers, Jerry and Monroe, both having served in the Army. Christopher McCraw's brother also served in Iraq and came home two years ago with post-traumatic stress disorder, a family member said.

Christopher McCraw was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii and was looking forward to coming home from Iraq and marrying the mother of his young son.

There was no mistaking Christopher's sweet sense of humor, friends said.

"Chris was just a charmer, an all around, happy-go-lucky kid," said Wendy Bracey, his Sunday school teacher at Woodlawn Pentecostal Church in Columbia. "He was a prankster with a sweet smile. I remember he would always sneak up behind me, then tap me on my shoulder trying to scare me."

Christopher McCraw called Columbia home until his parents separated as he entered high school. He moved with his mother to North Carolina, where he eventually graduated.

Jerron Carney, 28, of Columbia said Christopher was always loyal to his friends in Mississippi and would always stop by to say hello when he was in town.

On Oct. 1, Christopher McCraw sent Carney a message on MySpace checking in on Carney and his family.

"He was a favorite of mine. He will be missed by a lot of people, and I know I'm one of them," he said.

A message Christopher McCraw wrote before his death on his MySpace.com page said: "For man hath no greater love than that he would lay down his own life for his friends."

Avon McCraw said he supported his son's decision to join the military.

"He loved his job. He was a true soldier," he said. "He never mentioned anything about being scared, which is why I say he was a soldier."

A Proud But Broken Hearted Dad

Thanks to David at The Thunder Run for this letter from a Gold Star Dad...

What fear at times like these should our nation hold given the willing sacrifice of my son, SGT Mike Stokely and many others like him?

Wall Street may heave, it may even tumble. Some may lose their homes, and others their golden parachute, but the price of freedom is not devalued by the greed and failure of those who lead in politics or private business. Let us be careful, for while enemies like Al-Qaeda may seek from without to devour us, there are those of our own kind whose selfishness can lead to a similarly disastrous effect on our country.

In these coming days, when there are those who call-out to bail out Wall Street and others, who bails out the financial needs of soldiers who work for $63.00 and change in a war zone? When loved ones come home in a flag draped casket, their severance pay paltry compared to the golden parachutes that many corporate executives seek. Most recently the CEO of Washington Mutual, who after 17 days on the job walked away with $20,000,000.00 severance ($1.2 million per day, $50,000 per hour on a 24/7 time clock)?

And for those in the mortgage industry taking back the bad fruits of their ill given labor - billions in bad loans only an idiot would have made in the first place, consider this: Mike Stokely owned but one piece of Real Estate in his time, small as it is. For three years in a severe drought I have traveled 70 miles one way and fought to get grass to grow on his lawn in Georgia red clay. But, finally, a good stand these last few weeks, after hours of digging down two plus feet, taking out red clay and putting back rich organic soil with fresh cut sod on top and hauling water from a mile down the road to drench it, and keeping it drenched with a bucket brigade of friends.

DUTY - HONOR - COUNTRY

Grave of SGT Mike Stokely, Corinth Christian Church Cemetery, Loganville GA KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG (Photo by author)

What you are willing to give, how much you get in return and what you are willing to worry about is relative.

Robert Stokely

proud, but broken hearted dad

SGT Mike Stokely

Thinking of you and your family today Mr. Stokely.

SGT Mike Stokely
KIA 16 AUG 05 near Yusufiyah Iraq
USA E 108 CAV 48th BCT GAARNG

Video made by Mike's sister.

Other blogs honoring SGT Mike Stokely

The Thunder Run
Some Soldiers Mom

Soldiers' Angels Meet & Greet in Mississippi

What an awesome day. We had a good turnout and enjoyed lots of good fellowship and good food. It was extremely hot, but we made the best of it. Lots of water was drank...

Larry Vetter (Manager of Fisher House in Biloxi), Michael and Norris (Wounded Veterans)
Michael and Joyce, Rhonda, (Soliders' Angel CTL) and I
Mark Scarbrough, Mayor of Richland and Carol, CTL Soldiers' Angel
North Mississippi Soldiers' Angels
Rhonda, Larry and I

It was a great day. Good turnout and lots of good fellowship. Our food drive for our local hero and his family was a huge success. Thanks to everyone who either brought food or gift cards. A huge thanks to the Mississippi Patriot Guard Riders for coming out and supporting us.

We are planning on making this an annual event, just moving it to a month that is not so hot for next year.

Link to all pictures

SOLDIERS' ANGELS MEET & GREET

I'M HEADED OUT TO THE VERY FIRST MISSISSIPPI SOLDIERS' ANGELS MEET AND GREET.  

I WILL TAKE LOTS OF PICTURES AND POST AS SOON AS I CAN.  HAVE A HUGE SURPRISE IN STORE FOR ONE OF MISSISSIPPI'S HERO'S AND HIS FAMILY.  THEY HAVE NO CLUE WHAT IS IN STORE FOR THEM TODAY...

Give a Veteran Some Tank Support

Give A Veteran Some Tank Support

Soldiers’ Angels VA Team Announces New Project

PASADENA, CA July 19, 2008 - Thousands of troops are returning home and making regular trips to their local VA Hospital for evaluation, treatment or rehabilitation, and regular health care. With the high cost of gas, these vital trips are becoming more and more of a burden for some veterans.

Now the Soldiers’ Angels VA Team is stepping up to help with the Tank Support program. Grateful Americans can help give a veteran some “tank support” by purchasing a gasoline gift card. All gas cards received will be sent to the VA Hospitals across the country to help ensure returning OEF/OIF Veterans get the checkups and medical care they need.

“It’s so important that our returning heroes get regular evaluations and basic healthcare after having been in combat,” says Soldiers’ Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader. “The Tank Support program is an important way to help veterans to stay on top of their ongoing healthcare needs.”

Supportive Americans can help returning veterans by purchasing a $10.00 gas card today at any chain gas station in their area, or ordering online through www.svmcards.net and using the shipping address below. People can also make a donation to the Soldiers’ Angels Veterans’ Support Team at Soldiers' Angels and indicate that it is for the Tank Support program.

Gas cars should be mailed to:

Soldiers’ Angels Tank Support

914 Tourmaline Dr.

Newbury Park, CA 91320

Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer-led 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing aid and comfort to the men and women of U.S. military and their families. Comprised of 200,000 volunteer members in over twenty different teams and programs, their activities include letters, care packages, and comfort items to the deployed, and support for their families at home. They also provide assistance to the wounded, continuing support for veterans, remembrances and comfort for families of the fallen, and immediate response to unique difficulties. For more info Soldiers' Angels or soldiersangels@gmail.com

WOUNDED WARRIORS ARRIVED IN MISSISSIPPI

The Wounded Warriors made their stop in Pearl, Mississippi today. They arrived at the Cracker Barrel around 1115 this morning and did not leave until almost 1600. A great time was had by all.

The five Wounded Warriors. Three from the Wounded Warrior Project and two local veterans, Norris Galatas and Lex, the MWD.

Some of the Mississippi Patriot Guard Riders also were on hand to welcome these Wounded Warriors to Pearl, Mississippi. I was told that this was a first for the Wounded Warriors on their road tour, for the Patriot Guard Riders to come and welcome them.

Giff, giving a thumbs up.

Don't think that Lex needs any introduction.

Two Wounded Warriors exchanging stories.

Wounded Warriors and Veterans on the porch at Cracker Barrel.

Stacy and Carol/Mississippi Soldiers' Angels

Thanks to all for making today such a wonderful success. It was great to be able to sit around on the porch of Cracker Barrel and listen to these wounded vets and veterans exchange war stories.

Cross post at Mississippi Soldiers' Angels/Mississippi VA Team Blog.

Mississippi Soldiers' Angels Website

It has taken me way too long to get it up and going, but here it is finally.

Mississippi Soldiers' Angels/Mississippi Veterans Affairs Team

REMINDER:

WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT SHOULD ARRIVE AT THE CRACKER BARREL IN PEARL AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 P.M., SUNDAY, JULY 20, 2008.

SOLDIERS' ANGELS MEET AND GREET

This is a first...

Mississippi Soldiers' Angels Meet & Greet...

Please join us on August 2, 2008. The time is 8-5 and will be held at the Richland East Park in Richland, Mississippi. This is for all ANGELS & families, Soldiers &/or families, any civic group that supports our Military. 

Everyone is invited.  Bring your own picnic and join us for a day of FUN...

Soldiers’ Angels Salutes USA Together

PASADENA, Calif. (July 9, 2008) – Soldiers' Angels salutes USA Together for its work in meeting the needs of America's returning veterans by connecting them with Americans across the country who want to show gratitude and offer support.

USA Together (www.usatogether.org) was created to connect injured service members and their families who have needs directly with communities across the country on a one-to-one basis. The website is an online community in which injured service members share specific needs with their fellow citizens who want to help, and donors see the impact of their assistance first-hand. Assistance offered and received has ranged from gift cards to legal advice to second-hand office supplies, and more.

"Soldiers' Angels has always emphasized personal support for our military and their families, so we are thrilled to stand with USA Together in this effort," says Patti Patton Bader, founder of Soldiers' Angels. "This website is a wonderful tool for getting Americans of all talents and resource levels directly connected with the people who need them."

"We continued to be stunned by the variety of needs that are shared on the USA Together website by our service members and are enormously encouraged by the generosity of Americans," says Beth Braun of USA Together. "From help with a month's rent to professional advice and even a need for fumigation… these are the practical day-to-day issues that face our military when they return from their tour of duty."

USA Together.org was designed by a group of entrepreneurs in California's Silicon Valley who turned to the resource they know best—technology—to support US military service members who have suffered life-altering injuries during duties in Iraq, Afghanistan and previous conflicts.

"There is a desire on the part of many Americans to help, but they just don't know how," says Dave Mahler, founder of USA Together. "We're trying to use the power of the Internet to connect Americans who want to help those with unmet needs. We're like Craig's List for injured service members and their families. It's remarkable sometimes how little it takes to help someone get their lives back on track."

To get involved or find out more about this wonderful organization, visit www.usatogether.org.

About USA Together

USA Together is a group of people—some with military background, others without—who believe that anyone who has been injured during military service for our country deserves active support from their fellow citizens. Based in Silicon Valley, USA Together leverages technology to directly connect individuals to the individual they can help in the way that suits them best. We are an independent non-profit organization with no political, religious, or other affiliations. For more information, to share a need, or to offer help, visit us at www.usatogether.org.

Soldiers' Angels VA Team Needs Your Help

Dear Friends and Fellow Americans,

Somewhere tonight sleeping under a bridge or on a sidewalk are many of this great country’s Veterans. Somewhere tonight, going to bed without much if anything for dinner are children, wives, husbands who are veterans themselves or families of veterans. I am speaking of those who have given so much for you and I to have the freedoms to protest, go to work in a safe environment, worship as we choose and to vote for the candidate of our choosing in free and honest elections. I have found that there are so many things that we take for granted on a daily basis that thousands of our countrymen have given the ultimate sacrifice for. If you take time in your daily life to look around you; you will see many things that we are free to do that would not be possible if not for these great Americans.

Through my volunteer work with Soldiers’ Angels I have come to realize just how widespread the problems that our Veterans face on a daily basis are. I am speaking of those Veterans from every place our troops have ever been deployed. From World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Kosovo, Somalia, Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During my time spent as the Southwestern US VA Team Leader I have worked with and talked with those who have served and their families. The VA tries to meet the needs, but have found themselves so overwhelmed and not knowing how to handle the influx of Veterans in recent years. Soldiers’ Angels has stepped up to help make a difference and close that gap between their military salaries being gone and their VA Benefits starting. We work daily to help them not only transition back home, but with personal and financial needs until their VA Benefits start coming in, this in itself can take up to six months.

Personal stories are different, but the one constant is that these men and women need our help and support. I cannot tell you how many are on the brink of losing their homes, cars and are finding themselves unemployed and needing to feed their families. A young family comes to mind that dad has come home with PTSD( Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and TBI(Traumatic Brain Injury) and finds himself jobless, no VA Benefits coming in and needs to feed his family. Many of these heroes are too proud to ask and only after seeing that they can’t provide for their families will they ask. So many have said to me, “I don’t need anything, but I do need to feed my children.”

How can we as a country say no to these men and women who have given and continue to give daily so that you and I can enjoy our freedoms?

I come to you today asking for your help in taking care of those who have stood so proudly for us over the years. Soldiers’ Angels can’t do it alone! We are a 501 c3 organization and need your help to take care of those who have given so much for us. Our Veterans team is now celebrating its first birthday and we are so proud of the work that we have been able to do. We want to start our 2nd year out by helping more of these brave warriors than we did last year.

I am asking that in honor of our Soldiers’ Angels VA Team beginning their second year of making sure that we have “NONE FORGOTTEN” that if you can donate $2.00 or more to help us let them know that we will NEVER FORGET their sacrifices’ and that we as a nation will help to take care of them as they have us for so many years.

With heartfelt thanks and on behalf of Soldier’s Angels Veterans Support Team, thank you for any donation you can give. All of your donations are tax deductible.

If you would like to make your donation in honor or memory of a veteran, Soldier or someone please contact me at twylachoate@tx.rr.com and I will tell you how to do that.

Your tax deductible donations can be mailed to Soldiers’ Angels, 1792 E. Washington Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91104. Please indicate on your check that it is for the Soldiers’ Angels Veterans Support Team.

From my heart,
Twyla J. Choate
Southwestern US VA Team Leader
Soldiers’ Angels

And thank you for your support!!

Soldiers' Angels Veterans Support Team needs your help and is asking for donations toward Vet Packs. All money raised for this fund will be used to create Vet Packs that will be given to homeless Veterans at events called Stand Downs. Stand Downs are held across the nation to help our homeless Veterans get a warm meal, new clothes, a shower, learn about their VA Benefits, and learn about other organizations that can help them and much more. Please help today by clicking the Donate button.

"A SOLDIERS COURAGE" BOOK SIGNING

It was a beautiful day to be outside. I traveled to Meridian, Mississippi to get my copy of "A Soldiers Courage" signed  by Janis Galatas and her husband Norris.

I met up with two Gold Star Moms and we had a great lunch after the book signing.

From left to right, Gold Star Moms, Rachel and Wilma, Janis Galatas and I.

Soldiers’ Angels Veterans Team

Along with Rachel Lee (Mom to Cpl. Dustin Lee who was killed in Iraq March 21, 2007) and Retired Military Working Dog, Lex visited the Jackson, Mississippi Veterans home last Wednesday. It was an awesome visit.  Words can not explain.  We made our rounds and whoever wanted to visit with Lex and Rachel did just that. Lex was his usual self by being a ham.  He even managed to get partially up on a few beds. We were scheduled to be there for an hour, but we somehow managed to be there over two hours. Thanks to Claire for her help in shading out the Veterans pictures so that I could share them.

This Veteran was in the Korean War and was a K-9 Handler. Lex must have knows as he took right to him.

We also were able to visited with an Army Colonel. 

It was a great visit and we will definitely be going back for more visits.  Brock (my bosses son) had the best time ever I think.

"A Soldiers Courage"

Mississippi Soldier returns home last night for a book signing that is to take place Saturday, March 22, 2008. Sergeant Galatas's wife Janis Galatas writes about her husband's survival of a bomb blast in April 2005 and the years of surgeries that followed.

The book signing will take place this Saturday at the Wal-Mart in Meridian, MS.

A book to read. It is a must. Maybe it's because I am partial because they are from Mississippi, but it is a great book. Janis tells it like it was at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and tells about all the hell they went through since he was wounded.

This book was written by Janis W. Galatas, wife to Sergeant First Class Norris Galatas from Meridian, Mississippi. SFC Galatas was a soldier with the Mississippi Army National Guard who served with the 155th Brigade Combat Team and was wounded by an IED blast on April 19, 2005.

 A Soldier's Courage can be purchased at Amazon.