America Supports You, E-Newsletter for September 25, 2007

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

September 25, 2007

E-Newsletter Volume CXXIX

Fort Sam Houston, Tex.

U.S. Senators, Representatives, post and community leaders, and wounded warriors help break ground on Sept. 15th for the new Warrior and Family Support Center.

Sewickly, Pa.

John Melia, Director of Wounded Warrior Project; SGT Jeremy Feldbush, severely wounded in Iraq; and CSM (Ret) Steve Greer, founder of The Greer Foundation stand together at the 2nd Annual Western Pa. Golf Outing.

San Diego, Calif.

San Diego Padres pitcher Jake Peavy (center) relaxes with six Marines wounded in Iraq who are recovering at Naval Medical Center San Diego. Bank of America, an official sponsor of Fleet Week San Diego 2007, arranged the meeting as part of the festivities. Courtesy photo.ASY from Coast to Coast and Across the Ocean:
Fort Sam Houston, Tex. is helping to spread the America Supports You message through building a new Warrior and Family Support Center ten times the size of the current facility. At a Sept. 15th groundbreaking ceremony Maj. Gen. Russell Czerw, commander of Army Medical Department Center and School and Fort Sam Houston, quoted President Theodore Roosevelt and remarked: “Not only are we taking care of the soldier, but we are also taking care of their entire family.” The Warrior and Family Support Center (formerly the Soldier and Family Assistance Center) has accommodated more than 180,000 visits from wounded warriors and their families since it opened in 2003. The new center, being built because the current center no longer accommodates the numbers of servicemembers, is designed to comfortably include space for servicemembers to spend time with their families. “This new building is absolutely the most wonderful, precious gift of healing that you as a community, the sponsors and parents can give to these soldiers and their families,” Jayne Webber-Hardy, the mother of Sgt. Matthew Webber, a member of the Michigan National Guard who died of injuries he suffered in Iraq said. Steve Huffman, president of Huffman Developments and the Returning Heroes Home Board of Directors, helped to organize the effort to build the facility, and to date has raised more than $800,000. Construction of the $3.5 million building is scheduled for completion in 2008, and Huffman said he expects that the remainder of the funds will be raised by the end of this year. Huffman attended the ceremony along with U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and several local and state politicians.
Read More
America Supports You homefront group The Greer Foundation just completed its 2nd Annual Western Pa. Golf Outing in Sewickly, Pa. at Diamond Run Golf Club, benefiting Wounded Warrior Project. Among those attending were 15 wounded servicemembers from Walter Reed Army Medical Center who The Greer Foundation transported especially to enjoy the day. $75,000 was raised for wounded servicemembers. In recognition of Fleet Week San Diego 2007, America Supports You corporate supporters the San Diego Padres Major League Baseball team honored San Diego’s military members during their Sept. 17th game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Bank of America, a sponsor of Fleet Week activities, also was a key player in recognizing San Diego’s servicemembers. On Sept. 17th, six wounded Marines recovering at Naval Medical Center San Diego were treated to batting practice and a “meet and greet” with some of the Padres’ players. The Marines were also honored on the field during a pre-game ceremony. At the conclusion of the ceremony, Marine Maj. Gen. Terry Robling, commander of 3rd Marine Air Wing at Miramar Air Station, threw out the ceremonial first pitch as his unit’s band played the Marine Hymn and the national anthem. Bank of America, which hosted the Marines, also donated 3,000 tickets to San Diego servicemembers to attend the Padres versus Pirates game. “Recognizing our wounded warriors and military families at a venue of America’s pastime is a tangible way we that can show our appreciation for their service and the sacrifices they endure in order to serve their country,” said Jack Ensch, a retired Navy captain and San Diego Padres’ director of military marketing. Read More

Featured on the ASY Web Site Last Week:
Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury
“The (fund) assists servicemembers injured while serving in the United States armed forces…. Bob Woodruff and his family have become the face of the injured with whom both military and civilian sectors can relate.”
- Rene Bardorf, Executive Director, Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury

United Service Organizations
“We say, ‘thank you’ every day in lots of different ways. ‘Thank you’ to make sure our men and women in service understand that the American people know what they’re doing, care about what they’re doing, appreciate what they’re doing, and most importantly, care about them.”
- Ned Powell, President and CEO, United Service Organizations

ASY In the News:
The Washington Post reported on different ways that Americans can support our servicemembers, recommending starting with ASY. The article featured a number of D.C. metro area ASY homefront groups.
NewsBlaze.com covered a recent Brooks and Dunn concert, hosted by ASYe corporate supporters Toyota Motor Sales USA.
Jacksonville Daily Record(Jacksonville, Fla.), wrote about the third America Supports You Charity Golf Tournament at the TPC at Sawgrass. The event was
hosted by PGA Tour pro Frank Lickliter, who was joined by PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.
ASY Homefront Organization of the Week:

Hero Hugs’ motto is "Every Hero Needs a Hug!" and was started by Bailey Reese when she was just seven years old after a hurricane hit the area where she lives. After noticing the servicemembers who were helping were not being thanked, Bailey made it her passion to let them know how appreciated they are. Bailey connected with the Safety Office at Balad Air Base in Iraq and has sent packages through this office ever since. While the mailing list has grown and now includes other locations, Hero Hugs is working with the 11th rotation of soldiers to serve in the Safety Office at Balad. Bailey and her team of helpers send 500 to 1200 appreciation packages to U.S. soldiers each month, which include holiday themed packs and special packages for the wounded soldiers. To learn more, please check out: Home
From the Troops:
“I'm all the way over here at Fuji, Japan and it's the longest and farthest I've ever been away from home on my own. Before I could get the chance to get homesick, I received a care package. Not long after, I received another one. The letters that came with them make being away from home all that much better. It's great to feel appreciated!.”

- LCpl/USMC, Kristine Phanthavilay, San Diego, Calif.
“On behalf of my family and I, we would like to say thank you for YOUR support! It is an honor to serve this great country. As an active duty member overseas, I would also like to say that your love and support gives us the strength to go the extra mile. Please keep us in your prayers as we keep all of you in ours. God Bless!"

- SSgt/USAF, David Aponte, Revere, Mass.

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

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