Americans Help U.S. Troops in Need Through "Soldiers' Angels"

An Aug. 12 press release tells the story of Soldiers' Angels, a non-profit military charity that sponsors several programs that help U.S. soldiers and their families during and after a soldier's deployment.

For example, the Soldiers' Angels Air Miles Donation Program help soldiers and family members who need assistance with travel expenses that are either not covered by the military or are beyond the financial means of the soldier or relative.

Soldiers' Angels was founded in 2003 by Patti Patton-Bader. Her son was in Iraq at the time and told her about some of his comrades who received neither mail nor support from home. His stories inspired Patton-Bader, family and friends to begin writing letters to soldiers in Iraq. From there, her plan grew to include tens of thousands of "angels" writing letter after letter and supporting American soldiers overseas. Soldiers' Angels has grown and expanded to include several programs that support American soldiers and their families.

Soldiers' Angels programs include: letters, care packages, and support to troops overseas; first responder packs; laptop computers to wounded soldiers hospitalized or receiving treatment at military hospitals; armored blankets for military ambulances; items shipped to overseas soldiers to give to children in war zones; memorial trees for the families of soldiers who have been killed while serving; and emergency airfare for soldiers and their families who would otherwise not qualify or cannot afford the cost of a flight.

With regard to the Soldiers' Angels Air Miles Donation Program, when emergencies arise, air miles donated by frequent flyers are used to help get U.S. troops and their families get to their destinations as quickly as possible. The donor maintains control of the air miles, but is contacted by a Soldiers' Angel when there's a need. Soldiers' Angels then works out the flight schedule with the donor. Even though the requests always seem to outnumber the available air miles, the aid and comfort brought by the donation of a few air miles is immeasurable.

The press release tells of three different instances where the Soldiers' Angels Air Miles Donation Program brought help and comfort beyond words. In one case, a wounded soldier was hospitalized in Lundstahl, Germany. In critical condition and thousands of miles from home, the military flew his parents to Germany. The soldier's grandmother also wanted to be there for her grandson, but military regulations prohibited the Army from paying for anyone but the soldier's parents. The family could not afford the grandmother's ticket, but Soldiers Angels was able to purchase a ticket for her through the use of donated miles.

In another instance, a soldier injured in an IED attack was hospitalized at Walter Reed Army Hospital. Fighting depression and a long road to recovery, she had the opportunity to spend a weekend at a spa in California. Soldiers' Angels was able to provide the airfare so she could take advantage of an otherwise cost-free opportunity that turned out to be beneficial to both her physical and mental recovery.

The third story involved a soldier who had returned to the U.S. from a tour in Afghanistan. While stationed on the west coast, his mother in Ohio became critically ill. The soldier couldn't afford a last minute plane ticket, and a bus trip would get him home too late. Soldiers' Angels was able to help with a plane ticket home because of donated air miles.

According to Solders' Angels website, their mission is to provide aid and comfort to the military and its families by providing an immediate response to hardship situations and making sure no soldier feels unloved. At this time, the charity supports tens of thousands of military men and women stationed "wherever we raise our nation's flag," says the website.

Sources:

Press release, On a Wing and a Prayer Soldiers' Angels Helps Support Our Troops and their Families With Emergency Airplane Flights; http://www.prweb.com/releases/Soldiers/Angels/prweb546199.htm

Soldiers' Angels; http://www.soldiersangels.org/