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November 16, 2008
Valour-IT - The Few ~ The Loud ~ The Marines!
Okay, I'm a little late this time, but from today thru November 27th I'm raising my voice with the Marine Corps Fundraising Team, for Project Valour-IT.
What is Project Valour IT? Well, first you get the background... the story behind Valour-IT:
Project Valour-IT began when Captain Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss was wounded by an IED while serving as commander of a tank company in Iraq in June 2005.
During his deployment he kept a blog. Captivating writing, insightful stories of his experiences, and his self-deprecating humor won him many loyal readers. After he was wounded, his wife continued his blog, keeping his readers informed of his condition.
As he began to recover, CPT Ziegenfuss wanted to return to writing his blog, but serious hand injuries hampered his typing. When a loyal and generous reader gave him a copy of the Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred software, other readers began to realize how important such software could be to CPT Ziegenfuss' fellow wounded soldiers and started cast about for a way to get it to them.
A fellow who writes under the pseudonym FbL contacted Captain Ziegenfuss and the two realized they shared a vision of creating libraries of laptops with voice-controlled software that could be brought to the bedsides of wounded soldiers whose injuries prevented them from operating a standard computer. FbL contacted Soldiers' Angels, who offered to help develop the project, and Project Valour-IT was born.
When I made this post in July of 2005, my goal was to cheer up Chuck as he recovered from wounds he received while defending our freedom in Iraq. Yes, it's the same Chuck, and many of you sent cards and letters to him during his stay at Walter Reed. I thank you for that. But, our work is not done yet. Now I'm asking you to help Valour-IT.
Project Valour-IT accepts donations of any amount to supply the "libraries" of laptops at major medical centers and gifts to individuals, but has also added the option of an individual or organization directly sponsoring a wounded soldier by completely funding the cost of a laptop and continuing to provide him or her with personal support and encouragement throughout recovery. Thanks to the efforts of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Valour-IT is also able to reach patients in VA hospitals who would benefit from a Valour-IT laptop.
Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of voice-activated laptops for wounded servicemembers.
Project Valour-IT is a simple idea with profound impact. It's grateful Americans, providing laptops with voice-activated software for severely wounded troops. Project Valour-IT offers a way for us to tell them we have not forgotten their sacrifices, and that is truly priceless. In many, many ways what we are trying to do is reconnect them to the world; remind them that they are not alone. That they still have something to contribute, that they are still a vital part of this nation, and that even though they may have lost parts of themselves that they can never recover, though they may temporarily be feeling hopeless, helpless, even alone, they aren't.
Someone remembers. Someone still cares. And when they get out of the hospital, America will find a way for them to rejoin the community and be useful again. For a wounded vet facing traumatic and painful injuries, that knowledge alone is beyond price.
Please dig deep. You cannot know the value of the hope your small contributions can bring to those who have already given so much on our behalf.
If you wish to donate, you can use the button below or this link, or send a check (with MARINES in all caps on it!) to:
Soldiers' Angels
Project Valour-IT Fund
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91104
If you're a blogger, join a team, any team will do. Tell your friends, family and neighbors about Valour-IT, challenge your co-workers or employer to match donations, consider involving clubs, churches, or charitable organizations. If you have any contacts in the media, local or national newspapers, radio, TV, whatever, whoever, however, spread the word!
I know I can count on your support for this, just hit the button so the Marine Corps Team gets credit! and... Thank you! (If the button looks screwy - and says "click here for demands - don't click it - read the paragraph below and use the link there).
{Note: At the moment, it seems the Coast Guard Team thought it would be fun to hijack everyone's donate button to get their team more donations (not funny), sadly though, first everyone's buttons went completely blank and no one could donate at all and now the end result is that all they've really done is make it harder for people to donate to a really worthy cause.
So. If the button looks screwy, click here to: Donate to the Marine Corps Team.
Yes, there's a good bit of good-natured interservice rivalry fun in the interests of raising some money for a good cause, but at the end of the day what really matters is not which team you support, but that you find it in your hearts to support a worthwhile cause. Because our wounded vets have given more in the service of our country than most of us will ever be able to repay.
If you were wondering why I choose the Marine Corps Fundraising Team every year, well, I love tanks, and I love fighter jets, and I love those great big ships and subs, but in the end, I joined the Marines Fundraising Team because of the Marine you see right there, down on one knee...
He served in Korea, as Infantry, in the Military Police and he was a proud member of the Marines' Drum and Bugle Corps.
And he just happens to be my Dad! Handsome, isn't he? Of course he is, that's why they let him be a Marine! and I bet you thought it was a coincidence that Marines are always so darn good looking!
I'm proud of my Dad, and I'm proud of each of every one of our troops serving in the United States Military, whether it's the Army, Navy, Air Force or the Marines. These brave men and women deserve our support, and Project Valour-IT is a great way to say Thank You!
Posted by LindaSoG at November 16, 2008 07:23 AM
Comments
I like the cause but, sorry, Linda, I've got to go with my Navy and Army background (yes, I split my donation).
Posted by: Kevin K. at November 16, 2008 10:13 AM
That's okay by me Kevin, the cause is what matters. Thank you for the donation!
Posted by: LindaSoG at November 16, 2008 10:31 AM
Thank you both for your generosity.
Chuck
Posted by: Chuck at November 23, 2008 12:28 AM