America Supports You E-Newsletter March 27, 2008

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March 27, 2008

E-Newsletter Volume CLIV

New York, New York

Capt. Kenneth J. Braithwaite, director, Joint Public Affairs Support Element Reserve, presents the Department of the Navy Superior Public Service Award to Montel Williams on behalf of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead. The Superior Public Service Award is the second highest award presented to civilians by the Department of the Navy. U.S. Navy photo by Lt. Mark Duehmig.</EM></EM>

Crystal City, Virginia

Army Maj. Ziegenfuss, with his wife Carren (left), displays the Silver Star banner and certificate of appreciation presented to him by Patti Bader of Soldiers' Angels and Terri Rager, vice president of Silver Star Families of America (far right). Maj. Ziegenfuss suffered serious injuries to his hands while serving in Iraq. Photo courtesy of Silver Star Families of America.

Miramar, California

Faithann Ivanov, Julie Ann Ivanov, founder of Operation Stocking Stuffer and Bunny Butler sit with members of the Third Marine Aircraft Wing Band. Operation Stocking Stuffer delivered cookies donated by Arizona Girl Scout troops. Photo courtesy of Operation Stocking Stuffer. </EM>

IN THIS EDITION:
U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program stays true to its mantra of "we will never leave a fallen comrade."
Musician John Ondrasik continues his support of the military.
Visit America Supports You on YouTube.
NEW ON THE ASY TEAM:
America Supports You is proud to welcome five new homefront organizations this week!
Soldiers Undertaking Disabled Scuba (SUDS), Silver Spring, Md., teaches scuba to severely injured servicemembers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Courage Community, located in Glendale, Calif., integrates web-based social networking for military members with social activism.
Delta Blue Star Moms, based in Knightsen, Calif., sends care packages and letters of support to servicemembers and supports veterans and military service activities.
Blue Star Riders, Oakley, Calif., is a support group for wounded veterans. The group also sends care packages to VA hospitals overseas.
Canine Support Teams, Inc. in Temecula, Calif., provides specially trained service dogs to the disabled.

ASY FROM COAST TO COAST AND ACROSS THE OCEAN:
The Department of the Navy Superior Public Service Award was presented to Montel Williams in New York last week during the taping of his program's final show. Williams was recognized for his 17 years of spreading the ASY message supporting and recognizing sailors, Marines and their families. Navy Capt. Kenneth J. Braithwaite II, a rear admiral selectee and director of Joint Public Affairs Support Element Reserve, presented the award to Williams on behalf of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead. The Superior Public Service Award is the second-highest award presented to civilians by the Department of the Navy. "I've tried… to recognize (military servicemembers) and really bring to the forefront what is being sacrificed. I want to thank you, all of (our nation's military members), for what you do," said Williams. "It was an honor to be able to award a true patriot like Mr. Williams," Braithwaite said. "This award signifies his genuine gratitude for military service. He has a definite understanding and appreciation of what sailors and Marines sacrifice, something he knows well from his own military experience." A video message from Roughead, thanking Williams for his dedication and support of all sailors and Marines, will air in a special segment during the final week of "The Montel Williams Show" in May. Read More
Musician John Ondrasik (Five for Fighting) is continuing his troop support efforts. Over Thanksgiving, Ondrasik released "CD for the Troops," a compilation of 13 well-known musicians' music. The CD was made available for free to all servicemembers for the holidays. Now Ondrasik is taking his support to the World Wide Web. "Whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com (named after one of his hit singles) is a ‘You Tube' for charity, where people can upload videos related to any subject they would like, and then pick a charity from the list I've selected," said Ondrasik, who created the site about a year ago. The spotlighted charities include, among others, America Supports You homefront groups Operation Homefront and Fisher House. "We get sponsors to donate money up front, and whenever somebody watches a video, money is raised for the chosen charity, up to a sponsored amount," said Ondrasik. Some of the donations come from big corporations, but there are contributions from individual donors as well. "They (servicemembers) deserve our thanks and praise, and when people like John (Ondrasik) honor them, it's absolutely wonderful," said Jim Weiskopf, Fisher House's executive vice president for communications. Read More
ASY homefront group Silver Star Families of America has been busy making sure servicemembers feel appreciated. Due to the group's efforts in 2007, 44 states honored their war wounded by proclaiming May 1 as "Silver Star Day for the Wounded," with at least two of those states working to make the proclamation permanent. In January 2008, representatives from the group used their attendance at the Third Annual America Supports You National Summit as an opportunity to connect with and honor wounded servicemembers in the D.C. metro area. The day before the summit, Silver Star Families of America honored nine wounded military members at Walter Reed Medical Center with Silver Star banners. After the summit, the group partnered with America Supports You homefront group Soldiers' Angels for a special dinner to award a Silver Star banner and certificate of appreciation to Major Ziegenfuss. The Major suffered serious injuries to his hands when an IED exploded while he was serving in Iraq. The two groups have collaborated in the past to help wounded servicemembers, providing therapeutic hand-held games to those in need.

FEATURED ON THE ASY WEB SITE LAST WEEK:
Give an Hour
"There are approximately 400,000 licensed mental health professionals in the United States. Our goal is to have 10 percent of them join our efforts…. With 40,000 providers offering free services for which the average fee would be $100 an hour, we will be saving the military and the taxpayer a total of $4 million per week."
-- Barbara Romberg, Founder and President, Give an Hour Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard & Airmen's Club
"The main effort of the Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard & Airmen's Club is to provide reasonably priced accommodations to servicemen and women, as well as any members of the (New York Police Department and New York Fire Department) in order to express our gratitude for all of their efforts."
-- Connie Morinello, Committee Member, Soldiers', Sailors', Marines', Coast Guard & Airmen's Club

ASY IN THE NEWS:
The Chronicle of Philanthropyreported on the support that Americans are giving to military support groups.

TradingMarkets.com covered highlights of a recent "America Supports You Live" interview on BlogTalkRadio.com.

Marion Daily Republican (Marion, Ill.) wrote about the United States Postal Service discount to those who wish to send a care package to military personnel serving overseas.
ASY HOMEFRONT ORGANIZATION OF THE WEEK:
U.S. Army Wounded Warrior Program (AW2) was established in 2004 initially as the Disabled Solider Support System (DS3), to respond to the needs of the most severely wounded, injured or ill soldiers returning from Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Under its new name, AW2 serves more than 2,300 soldiers and their families, focusing on the most severely injured. The Army Wounded Warrior Program communicates with soldiers and their families to help them address and mitigate the many issues they confront. The group counsels on subjects including available benefits available, education and employment options and caring for a wounded servicemember. To learn more, go to: http://aw2portal.com/Default.aspx

FROM THE TROOPS:
"We find it an honor and pleasure to serve not only our country, but our countrymen. It does us good knowing that we have the unconditional support of those whose freedom we defend."
-- From a servicemember in a thank you note to A Soldier's Wish List

"I would like thank you all for everything you do for us. The support that we get from home is truly wonderful. I never knew there could be such caring people in this world. Thanks for all."
-- Sgt. Scott Platts, Army, Killeen, Texas ASY REMINDER:
Don't forget to check out America Supports You on YouTube. Click here to see everything from celebrity PSAs to footage of America Supports You Freedom Walks!

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

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