The folks at the NRA and Brownells send us their latest video about Fathers’ Day;
Joseph Collins – a man of unyielding courage and strength – has proudly served his country in more ways than one. Today, Joseph is playing perhaps the most important role of his life, the role of being a father. In this video, Joseph expounds upon the love he has for his son, as well as the influence his own father had on his life and career.
USAToday reports that a plea from a soldier’s twin sister on Craigslist for donations to help her legless brother after he stepped on an IED is just another scam;
“My name is Tiffany Fennery, I’m posting this for my family and my twin brother, Chris, who lost both his legs and his left arm,” the posting states on Craigslist Pensacola (Fla.).
There’s just one problem with the solicitation: It appears to be fraudulent.
The sergeant, Chris Fennery, pictured in fatigues doesn’t seem to exist in Pentagon records.
“According to our records there is no soldier by that name,” said Department of the Army spokesman Paul D. Prince after checking his branch’s database.
The Marine Corps also checked its record, even though the uniform in the Web ad’s photograph appears to be an Army uniform.
“We’ve got no record of a Chris Fennery serving in the Marine Corps,” responded Marine Capt. Greg Wolf in Washington, D.C.
So, donors beware. This kind of crap only hurts the legitimate causes out there.
The folks at NOC sent us this video of Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings and his celebrity golf tournament to benefit modifying homes for recently disabled veterans. I’m not a golf fan, but I might be tempted to watch a golf match with drill sergeants on each hole and ninjas that sneak up on the players at the tee. Maybe that’s just me;
If you’re moved, there’s information for donating to Homes 4 Wounded Warriors at the YouTube link.
The folks at The Heroes Project sent us this information along with a video;
The Heroes Project is an organization that works with the veterans, solider and military families community on all levels. Its mission is to improve the care and protection of heroes through individual support, community empowerment and systemic change. The core work of the Heroes Project includes three initiatives:
Climbs for Heroes – Under the leadership of Tim Medvetz, the Heroes Project supports climbing programs for wounded soldiers and veterans. After a serious accident left Tim injured and in long term physical therapy, he vowed he would climb to the summit of Mt. Everest, which he ultimately did in 2007. The comeback Tim experienced in conquering that challenge transformed his life. It also inspired him to share the challenge and triumph with those who need it the most – wounded warriors – which he has done in a volunteer capacity. On August 16, Tim reached the peak of Elbrus in Europe with a wounded veteran. Tim is now planning climbs to the seven summits of the world, each with soldiers and veterans, as part of the Heroes Project. Video footage of the climbs will be used as part of advocacy and empowerment programs.
Hope for Heroes – The Heroes Project aims to encourage and expand community service programs that support our nation’s heroes. The Heroes Project promotes and augments the good work of organizations working with this community across the country.
Voices for Heroes – Finally, The Heroes Project plans to conduct media campaigns to highlight success stories in veterans care as well as conduct education activities to decision makers and the general public about the needs and successes in caring for veterans and military families.
Click here to read about Tim’s story and how The Heroes Project was started
Liberal Civvy sends us a link to Entertainment Today which tells the story from Marine Kelsey DeSantis about her trip to the Spike TV Guys Choice Awards at the invitation of Justin Timberlake. You might remember that Timberlake took DeSantis to her Marine Corps Ball last year.
But, De Santis didn’t attend the affair alone. She was allowed to bring a guest — her boyfriend, Jake, also a former marine.
“We walked in and they told us that we were way up in the front, and here we are walking past all these celebrities,” De Santis went on. “Aaron Rogers was on our left. We then see Brooke Hogan. We sat down at our table and it was full of models. It was so cool.”
When it was time for Timberlake’s award (he nabbed the show’s Entertainer of the Year Award, and was honored with the Troops’ Choice prize), Kelsey told E! News, “They brought out a bunch of members of the military and showed clips of Justin. I had no idea that he was going to stand up there and talk so much about the Marine Corps Ball and how much it meant to him. All of a sudden he said ‘Kelsey, where you at?’ I was smiling from ear to ear. I did not see that coming. It was really nice and I was super excited.”
As for Timberlake’s admiration for the military, De Santis said, “It is a huge, huge deal. Sometimes we take things for granted. It means so much that Justin shows his appreciation for the service, not just to me, but for all the servicemen and -women out there.”
Like Liberal Civvy wrote to us, I really want to dislike the guy, but I just can’t
Army J sends us this;
A few days ago we lost another brother in arms: Petty Officer 2nd class Sean Edward Brazas. He was killed while attached to our BN during a multi-day combat operation and will be missed. His is survived by his wife and daughter, as well as his dog Sicario, who survived the attack that took his handler’s life. Now we wait the assessment from Lackland AFB to see what will become of the dog. Over a dozen soldiers have already expressed interest in adopting the fallen sailor’s furry partner. After spending most of the morning doing research for the guys who want to try and give this dog a happy and healthy retirement I realized just how large and extensive the MWD adoption program has become. These dogs risk their lives along with the soldiers they protect every day, and they deserve the same amount of respect and dignity we would accord any serviceman who has served honorably. I’d like to take this forum to provide a shameless plug for the military working dog!
adoption program. If you’re considering bringing a dog into your life, and you think you can handle the unique challenges and responsibilities of caring for one of our furry veterans then I’d encourage you to look into this program.
Several of you sent us this link to a story about a 9-year-old boy from Massachusetts, Brendan Haas, who traded up for a free trip to Disney World and then gave it away to the family of a fallen soldier;
Brendan Haas created the “Soldier for a Soldier” Facebook page in February. Inspired by the story of the guy who, through a series of trades, turned a paper clip into a house, Haas started with a toy soldier and eventually traded up to USD 900 worth of Disney gift certificates, airfare and hotel credits.
On Memorial Day, Haas gave the trip to the family of U.S. Army Lt. Timothy Steele, a 25-year-old soldier killed in Afghanistan last year. According to NBC’s WHDH-TV affiliate, Haas pulled the name of Liberty Hope Steele, the fallen soldier’s now-2-year-old daughter, out of a hat and surprised the Steele family at their Duxbury, Mass., home.
From WHDH;
Timothy Steele was killed last August in Afghanistan. He was 25 years old.
“Tim was pretty special to us,” said Jack Steele, Timothy’s father. “He knew what he wanted to do at a very young age.”
The soldier left behind a wife and a 2-year-old daughter named Liberty Hope.
What can I possibly add?
My code monkey hippie chick who keeps this blog running at peak performance sent us a link to the story of a veteran Marine who, fifty years since his service, still remembers his comrades. Rick Hermelin says he was a Marine from 1959 to 1963, but he wants to do something for today’s Marines, so he’s running from Parris Island to MCRD San Diego, CA in 100 days to raise money for the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. He’s running on a contraption to lessen the impact of the run, but it’s still running and more than I can do.
Anyway, he’s half way to his monetary goal, so if there are any Marines out there who want to help here’s his donation page and the whole story.