To encourage and fortify relationships between military service members, veterans, their families, their friends, and their Country; to nurture the path of communication for everyone, ensuring that no one is alone or left behind; and proving that we have not, are not, and will never forget the nobility of their sacrifices.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Operation Get Well Warriors

It is important to remember those who are currently fighting for our country, but what about when they come home? What if they are injured? What if they have months or years of rehabilitation? Does our support stop?
NO.
Our support should be unwavering throughout a Warriors life. There are hundreds of types of traumas a Warrior can come home with; PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury, I.E.D and bullet associated trauma to name a few. A Warrior should NEVER FEEL FORGOTTEN and neither should a Wounded Warrior. Words For Warriors has sent Get Well cards in the past, but we have finally gotten the address to Landstuhl Reginal Medical Center in Germany with a contact to send cards too. (For those of you who don't know I believe Landstuhl is the first place the injured get transferred before coming home.)
Now that I have this address Operation Get Well Warriors can commence.  I will be accepting letters, artwork, poems, pretty much any thing you can think of to send some support and a heartfelt Get well to an injured Warrior. Make sure they know we still care. They are not forgotten.
A main concern I have heard is, "I don't know what to write." I say write what's in your heart. It's not about how much you write. It's about giving support to someone who needs it.
Children really are great for get well cards. Last year, I asked classes at Janesville Union to make me get well cards for the friends, of friends who were injured by an I.E.D. I told them to draw pictures of what makes them feel better when they are sick or hurt, and maybe it would help make the soldier feel better. I received over 200 pieces of artwork ranging from kindergarden to 6th grade. Two classes made get well stars. You can read about that post here. Two other classes made get well shamrocks. You can read that post here.
Last June, on the last day of school I knew it had been a good experience for the children when a kindergartner walked up to me and said, "I know you. You taught me how to make someone feel better by making them a card."
If a 5 year old can understand the importance of a get well card, then so should you. Please get involved.
If email is your media of choice, then email me your written message of support to wordsforwarriors@gmail.com It will be printed out and mailed. Please Reference Operation Get Well Warriors in the subject line.
Please mail artwork and letters to P.O. Box 734, Janesville, Ca. 96114

This is a fantastic opportunity for Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H, schools, scrapbook clubs, and any other community supporting organization for adults and children. If you know of an organization you think would benefit from participating, please pass along their contact information. I will gratefully contact them.
 

2 comments:

Wife of a Wounded Soldier said...

This is great! Yes Landsthul is where they go first. The best card we got was from a kid and he drew a bomb. It said I hope the bomb didn't hurt too bad and get well soon. It was hilarious and sweet.

Unknown said...

In one batch of kids cards I sent, a kid drew an xbox with the note, "Hope your Mom will let you play xbox until you feel better. Xbox makes me feel better."
I think the mind of a child is one of the most wonderful heartfelt innocent places. We could all learn a lesson from a child concerning compassion.
Thanks for sharing your letter too, some people don't understand how meaningful something so small can be!