America Supports You E-Newsletter for Apr. 26, 2007

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Our Message to the Military.... "America Supports You"

April 26, 2007

E-Newsletter Volume CVIII

Rockville, Md.

Army Sgt. 1st Class David Cook, an amputee outpatient from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, balances while practicing his form with a six-iron during the “First Swing” golf seminar co-hosted by ASY groups Disabled Sports USA and Wounded Warrior Project.

Grand Prairie, Tx.

(Budweiser Racing/Harold Hinson Photography)NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. shows off two new military-themed paint schemes for his Budweiser-sponsored #8 car. The designs incorporate the signature brown and beige “Desert Camo” and American flag “Stars & Stripes.”

Chelsea, Ala.

Elementary school students at Chelsea Intermediate School stuff 425 sock monkeys to send to troops stationed overseas as a reminder to service members that they are not forgotten.
ASY from Coast to Coast and Across the Ocean

A group of disabled veterans use adaptive golf equipment at the “First Swing” golf seminar.
For ten amputee outpatients from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, last Friday was a chance to enjoy the outdoors and life on the links. Several disabled golf instructors worked with America Supports You homefront groups Disabled Sports USA and Wounded Warrior Project to put on the “First Swing” golf seminar at the Woodmont Country Club in Maryland last week. “It’s just an obstacle,” said Tom Willard, instructor and former Army paratrooper whose left arm was amputated after he suffered five gunshot wounds in Vietnam. “You can go over the obstacle, under it, around it or through it, and ‘through’ is the best way to go.” Willard also invented one of the prosthetics, the “Amputee Golf Grip,” used by clinic participants to assist with swinging the club. Other prosthetic devices or adaptive equipment included putter extensions so above-knee amputees do not have to bend over, special gloves for hand injuries and swivel-head golf clubs that can be used from a seated position. “There is no tool better than sports to get people active again, self-confident again and to believe in themselves again after they’ve become disabled,” said Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA Kirk Bauer. “[Wounded service members] teach all of us that no matter what life throws at you, if you’ve got the right opportunities and the right attitude, you can overcome that and lead a very active and successful life.” This year, the two ASY organizations will partner to host more than 70 events covering 19 different sports in 14 states. Read more.

NASCAR has been an ASY supporter since the beginning, and now, one of the most popular NASCAR drivers is putting his support for the troops front and center. Dale Earnhardt, Jr., driver of the #8 Budweiser car, recently introduced two new military-themed paint schemes for his car and matching collectible diecasts to salute the troops. Proceeds from the sales of the diecasts will go to benefit America Supports You homefront organization Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF), which provides full college scholarships to the children of fallen special operations personnel from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The first design, “Desert Camo” will race Memorial Day weekend during the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway, and the “Stars and Stripes” car will take the track at the Pepsi 400 at Daytona International Speedway in honor of July 4th. “Budweiser, Dale Jr. and fans of the #8 Chevy are proud to align with the Special Operations Warrior Foundation to help the families of our fallen soldiers and draw attention to their needs,” said Randall Blackford, Director of Budweiser Marketing for ASY corporate supporter Anheuser-Busch, Inc. “Anheuser-Busch has supported our nation’s military and their families for more than 150 years, and we felt that a program such as this would receive great support from our friends in the NASCAR nation.” More than 700 children attending 73 colleges and universities currently benefit from SOWF’s grants and other programs.

A Marine Corps League member holds up a sock monkey created by Sock Monkey Ministries for the troops.
Service members stationed in the Middle East will have some new friends joining them soon, carrying with them the love and support of the volunteers who helped make the curious critters. Sock Monkey Ministries, an Alabama-based group that hand-makes sock monkey dolls to inspire hope in those in need of encouragement, is teaming up with America Supports You group Operation Homefront to execute “Operation Monkey Drop” and send approximately 1,000 sock monkeys to troops stationed overseas. “I feel that sometimes our soldiers… get forgotten,” said Beth VanSickle, founder of Sock Monkey Ministries. “We’re just trying to let everyone know, we need to…forget about the political and just remember that our soldiers are still there.” Each of the monkeys, created from socks that are stuffed and sewn by one of more than 1,500 volunteers, includes a small foam heart representing the thoughts and prayers of its maker. For Operation Monkey Drop, VanSickle enlisted the fourth and fifth-graders of Chelsea Intermediate School to stuff 425 monkeys in one afternoon. The school will also send the shipment off in style with a “Monkey March” on May 1 to help involve the community in their show of support for the troops and present several monkeys to military family members before Operation Homefront sends the monkeys on to their final destination. Read more.

For the second year, America Supports You was on display in Louisville, Ky., for Louisville Navy Week and Thunder Over Louisville, the largest annual fireworks display in America. This year, a record crowd of 800,000 cheered as the Navy’s Parachute Team, Leap Frogs, landed in the stadium with the American flag to open Thunder Over Louisville. An America Supports You banner was also brought in to help kick off the festivities before a minor league baseball game between the Louisville Bats and the Norfolk Tides. “Louisville has been one of our best weeks ever,” said Special Warfare Boat Operator 1st Class (SWCC) Dave Fisher, who carried the ASY banner. “The patriotism of this town is in our face. Everywhere we go, people call out to us, ‘Thank you for serving!” Read more.

Featured on the ASY Web Site Last Week

Stars for Stripes
“[The troops] believe in what they’re doing (and say), ‘[you] didn’t have to come over here.’ My response is, ‘Yes we did. As long as you’re here, we do have to come over here, because you need to be told that America supports you, and we thank you.’”
-Judy Seale, Founder, Stars for Stripes

Wounded Warriors
“When America goes to war, the families go to war. What Wounded Warriors seeks to do is to provide a sense of normalcy for these young families.”
-John Folsom, Founder, Wounded Warriors

Packages From Home
“Packages From Home gives to our (servicemembers) in harm’s way…the necessary things that they would like to have to make their stay more comfortable and to give them a bit of home…Networking within (America Supports You) is terrific. If my group doesn’t fit someone’s needs, I certainly know a group that will fit their needs.”
-Kathleen Lewis, Founder, Packages From Home


ASY In the News
Blackanthem.com published a story highlighting the efforts of ASY organization Employer Support of the Guard Reserve to foster employer support for military.

Military.com posted a story about Arizona ASY homefront group Packages From Home sending approximately 2,500 care packages to service members each month.

NewsBlaze (Calif.) and Media Newswire (N.Y.) both previewed the 2007 America Supports You Freedom Walks to be held nationwide.


Press Zoom reported that actor Gary Sinise, the DuPont company and six other people were recognized by ASY group the Military Officers Association of America for their support of the military.

ASY Homefront Organization of the Week

Our Military Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing extracurricular programs for the children of deployed Reserve and National Guard military personnel. Our Military Kids provides funding grants to enable these special children to participate in activities such as youth sports, fine arts and tutoring programs that are important in their young lives, even if their parent is away serving our country or recovering from severe injury. The program provides businesses, associations, foundations and individuals a chance to support the children of military personnel through donations or volunteering. For more information, please visit www.ourmilitarykids.org.

Thank You's from Soldiers

“Thank you for all for the OUTSTANDING and OVERWHELMING support from back home, especially from my family and friends. It is an honor and a privilege to be a member of the United States military. No matter which branch of service, we are all fighting for the same overall mission. After reading the ‘Thank You’ notes from the people back at home, it really means a lot to know that there are many others praying for us.”

Heather McAleavey, TSgt, USAF, Tampa, Fla.

“Thank you so much for your support and uplifting words. Being stationed so far away from home, it's comforting to read the words of members who support our efforts. Thank you again.”

SSgt K, USAF, Kearns, Utah

Our troops deserve to be applauded, and so do you!

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