How You Can Help
“It is one of the beautiful compensations of life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."
Westonites support platoons with packages, letters and emails. What does it involve? Individually or through teaming up with others, you receive your own platoon in the Brigade to “adopt”. The process is easy and only limited by your own creativity and energy. The men and women of these platoons appreciate the personal attention.
ion– The primary method of involvement with the Brigade comes through platoon adoption. Some platoons are located in one of the main operating bases at Camp Liberty, Justice or Taji, while others are in small forward outposts. One unit is based in Ramadi in Anbar Province.
Support to Wounded Soldiers and Families - Soldiers who are wounded in Iraq are evacuated to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany where they are stabilized before being flown to the U. S., generally to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Weston Supports 2BCT initiative tries to have packets of food treats, homemade cards from Weston kids and phone cards for distribution to each Dagger Soldier passing through Landstuhl. Assistance is very welcome.
Donating DVDs, Magazines and Books - Soldiers in the field and in hospitals really appreciate entertainment in the form of DVDs and reading material. Fiction and non fiction paperbacks and magazines that keep the men and women in touch with sports, news, cars, women’s issues, etc. are very welcome. We are currently arranging for a central collection point in Weston.
“Thank you for everything that you're doing for us over here. You'll never fully understand how much of a difference it makes.” “Thank you so very much for the package you sent! It was filled with so many goodies and everyone loved them so much! The Pringles went really quickly - I think they were the favorite.” “Thanks for the awesome care package. We really appreciated it. All the guys I work with don't really get that much stuff so it was good to give it away. Also, if you don't mind, I gave the DVD to one of the soldiers. Again, thanks for the support.”
Activities in Weston
- Declaration of March 2, 2007 as “Weston Supports the Second Brigade” day by First Selectman Woody Bliss
- Adoption of over 25 platoons by individuals and groups in Weston
- Assembly of packets by Weston Girl Scouts for distribution to Iraqi kids by Dagger MEDCAP patrols
- Donations of dental care products by a Weston family for distribution in Baghdad
- Get-well cards made by the First Communion Class at St. Francis of Assisi Church for Dagger Soldiers arriving at Landstuhl
- Assembly of packets of treats and phone cards for Dagger Soldiers going through Landstuhl
- Collection of over 150 soccer balls by the Weston Soccer Club for distribution to kids in Baghdad by Dagger platoons
- Donations of personal healthcare items by Westonites for distribution to wounded Soldiers at WRAMC.
- Adoption of a platoon by the Weston Middle School, with fund raising through the Middle School Talent Show
- Adoption of a medical platoon by members of the Weston EMS
- Kiwanis Club sponsorship of the ceremony for the return of Weston’s flag by a Dagger Brigade Captain. The flag flew over Dagger Headquarters for the month of March. The Kiwanis Club also donated funds to purchase Ipods and downloaded books for use by Soldiers at Walter Reed who have lost their eyesight.
- Volunteering to assist wounded Soldiers and veterans in Connecticut
Other Support Organizations
Should you desire to make donations to one or more organizations instead of pursuing one of the above initiatives, go to the America Supports You website where you will find a number of very capable groups.
The Wounded Warrior Project has been particularly effective in raising funds and sponsoring initiatives for improved treatment of Soldiers. I attended a fund raiser in New York for them in May.
Fisher Houses provide housing for the families of Soldiers who are hospitalized and have been constructed across the United States and overseas. The effort was sponsored by the Fisher Brothers, a family involved in real estate development in New York. We visited the Fisher House at Landstuhl and were very impressed with the services they provide.
Other Grass Roots Initiatives
Cell Phones for Soldiers - This organization was started in April of 2004 by 13-year-old Brittany Bergquist and her 12-year-old brother Robbie of Norwell, Massachusetts. After hearing a news report about a local soldier who ran up a massive phone bill calling home from Iraq, they set out to help soldiers serving overseas with calls home with prepaid calling cards. Their ultimate goal is to provide banks of satellite phones, video phones and VOIP communications. Through donations and the recycling of used cell phones from drop-off sites across the country, they have already distributed thousands of calling cards to soldiers in Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan and elsewhere.
The Cookie Lady - Jeanette Cram in Hilton Head South Carolina has baked and sent over half a million cookies to deployed troops. Together with her colleagues, known as “Crumbs”, she has gained international recognition and inspired many Americans to follow similar path with her famous cookie recipes.
One for the Troops - Grace Crowley, a colleague from Lehman Brothers, read a story about four Marines that were unable to rent a car last Christmas to drive home from San Francisco to Denver when their flight was cancelled because of their ages. A good Samaritan overheard their plight and rented a van to drive them all home in time for Christmas. Grace believed that the Avis policy of not renting to members of the military who are under 25 was wrong and teamed up with the mother of one of the Soldiers to begin a letter writing campaign to Avis to change their policy. Avis recognized the issue, made the necessary changes and has become a constructive partner in initiatives to improve support of the Troops.
Soldiers’ Angels - This is a terrific organization started by General George Patton’s great niece, Patti Patton Bader, whose son deployed in Iraq for a year. It provides worldwide support for deployed Soldiers, wounded Soldiers and their families. Weston senior citizens employed the cool scarf design, which the Soldiers’ Angels organization developed, to make scarves for Dagger Soldiers.
If you know of other grass roots efforts to support Soldiers, please contact us and we will provide appropriate recognition.
Why Help
On the fifth anniversary of 9/11, I wrote an essay for our town paper, The Weston Forum, describing my own personal experiences on that day and my reaction to the selfless commitment and sacrifice of the rescue workers. I expressed my belief that each of us should recognize efforts by civilian support organizations and by the military on our behalf and make our own contributions in return.
A number of essayists in the media have written that the American people have not been asked to sacrifice on behalf of the all volunteer military during the Iraqi and Afghanistan Wars. Tom Friedman addresses this point in his March 7 essay in the New York Times entitled “Don't Ask, Don't Know, Don't Help.” Bob Herbert makes the same point in the Times in a May 8th essay entitled “An Invisible War” and an April 2nd column, “Our National Debt."
The Weston Supports website, along with others referenced below, provide readers with direct opportunities to participate, as well as ideas for their own initiatives.
Our own involvement with the Brigade began in the fall of 2006, after the Brigade deployed to Iraq. We sponsored holiday parties for the families in Schweinfurt and some gifts for the Brigade downrange. In March, we sponsored a Winterfest party in Schweinfurt, which my son Whit and I attended. The effort then broadened quickly to involve individuals and groups from Weston.
We structured The “Weston Supports 2BCT” initiative for Westonites and other friends of the Dagger Brigade to become personally involved in support of the Brigade and of its Wounded Soldiers, rather than merely as a fund raising effort. The Soldiers and Families of the Brigade have appreciated that a community and individual citizens and families have demonstrated, through word and deed, that we understand and appreciate the dedication, the commitment and the sacrifices made by these Soldiers and the Families that stand in support of them.
The Iraq War has exacted a very painful toll on the Dagger Brigade and its Families. I attended the burial of Specialist Ross McGinnis at Arlington National Cemetery in April and have made a number of visits to Walter Reed Army Medical Center (“WRAMC”) in Washington, DC, to meet with Wounded Dagger Brigade Soldiers.
Despite the adversity which these Soldiers face, they exhibit a spirit and determination that are truly awe-inspiring. Personal attention to these Soldiers is an important part of our effort and is truly appreciated.
There is one final reason why citizens should get involved in some manner in supporting our active and wounded Soldiers and their families……it feels really good
Gil Sanborn
Weston, CT