It's all about your Care Package
When either of us undertake a mission, we see it through to conclusion. Well, this is one we can't do alone. We need your help. Our vow was to make sure that we always had the back of those we sent to war. We decided that our kids [well, testvet's kid who is now in Korea] got better treatment than we did during and after Viet Nam. Up till now, we [meaning Daily Kos readers] have made good on that promise.
We came to DailyKos. We shared our stories. You patiently read about the abuse
testvet endured while in the service. When VA finally began to pay him for it, we all got together for a happy dance. We showed you how to help a vet and you did. You freakin' amazed both of us - and we had to reign you in.
Along the way the team of writers at IGTNT (I Got the News Today), TexDem's Mojo Friday mob, Michael and Bill in Portland Maine along with the kiddie pool at Cheers and Jeers made NetRoots for the Troops far more successful than either of us believed possible. But, clearly we are at a crossroads and so are the troops.
It's all about your Care Package
From The Twilight’s Last Gleaming written by a soldier finishing his tour of duty in Afghanistan:
Basically, I just don’t see how any politicians are still getting away with this conflict. I fought with the bravest Soldiers in the world for mostly the wrong reasons. I posted something about 911 long ago. Read it if you like. I stick to that. But this is not about 911 anymore. Anyone who thinks that is way off. We have lost more Soldiers in this conflict than we did on that day. So you tell me, why are we still allowing our leaders to do this?
He's home. He brought with him a Silver Star. He earned it for bravery shown here: [skip to Section VI: The Casualties] When he got home he gave the Silver Star to his mother. I hope she shows up to tell you about it.
It's all about your Care Package
Stars & Stripes, Sunday, May 22, 2011
The report says soldiers and Marines reported more intense fighting than during the surge in Iraq in 2006-07, with 75 percent to 80 percent of those in Afghanistan involved in firefights, according to USA Today.
Mental health staffing has doubled in Afghanistan since 2009 and troops report better access to this care, though many are so busy fighting "outside the wire" to seek help, the study says.
NFTT's primary function is the purchasing and assembling of Care Packages at Netroots Nation to be mailed to American Military serving in war zones. However, the needs of our military families and veterans at home are also a NFTT priority. As llbear et al. have shown, far too often veterans and their families end up caught between a need and red tape. As we raise funds this year remember that your donation will be helping on multiple levels. Our deployed sons and daughter will know they have not been forgotten. Military families will know that they are not alone. Veterans at home will receive needed help.
We realize that you would like to donate something tangible to go inside the packages that will be mailed to the troops. Unfortunately, accepting in-kind donations from individuals is not practical in terms of storage and handling of the items. We will only be accepting corporate donations or cash from YOU to purchase items for the care packages this year.
We are accepting cash from individuals and -beg- ask that you DONATE HERE to contribute to this worthy cause. Your donation will enable us to purchase the things that we are unable to obtain through corporate donations, and will help to pay the costs of shipping them to our troops.
Write letters to be included in the packages! If you need some ideas, rbutters wrote an excellent diary with tips on how to write letters to troops and why it’s so important to them.