People all over America have asked. "How can I support our military?" This page is dedicated to those brave men and women who are fighting for our freedom, and list many ways to for the average person to help. These include being pen pals to making donations of every type. Donations include airline miles so service members can take leave (vacation time) and see family members, cell phones and airtime, blood, financial support, and many many more ways. The following information is from each organizations site.
Cards and letters can no longer be sent to "Any Service Member". This change was made after 9/11/01 due to security concerns.
According to the Department of Defense website the support and generosity of the American people has touched the lives of the more than 300,000 service members deployed overseas. Let's see how many more we can reach.
Stargate fans come from all around the world. So if you are not American, but still want to support your service members, I would suggest contacting your equivalent to the Department of Defense. They will be able to help you in ways to support your troops.
Jack's Favorite Links
Helping Military Families - The Fisher House Organization does many wonderful things to help wounded and ill service members and their families. You can send email to a wounded military member through this site.
Operation Military Pride - is a volunteer organization with a wide range of activities – all of which are to boost the morale of our troops deployed overseas. They not only send cards, letters, and care packages themselves, but also distribute troop names and addresses to patriots wanting to send cards, letters, and care packages directly to troops. They are one of the very few groups that allow direct contact with a service member.
The Special Operations Warrior Foundation - was founded in 1980 to serve members of the Special Operations community. SOWF is dedicated to providing college scholarships and educational counseling to the children surviving Special Operations personnel who are killed in a training accident or operational mission. This link is also from the DOD website.
Stars and Stripes - Provides links to over 2 dozen sites. These sites range from email organizations to donating blood for troops.
Military Pets Foster Project - is a nation wide network of individual foster homes that will house, nurture and care for the dogs, cats, birds, and other pets for Military personnel.
Operation Noble Foster - is dedicated to helping our military have their Cat to come home to. This organization specifically places military personnal cats in foster homes while they serve us.
Adopt A Troop for Prayer - A place to adopt a troop for prayer. You can choose a military branch or have one randomly choosen for you.
Other Select Suggested Sites from the Department of Defense
Operation Hero Miles - In September 2003, the Pentagon started giving soldiers stationed in Iraq two-week leave periods in the largest R & R program since the Vietnam War; the soldiers can fly to Germany or Baltimore Washington International Airport for free, but they are responsible for the cost of flights to their final destination. Returning soldiers often have to purchase high-priced, last-minute airline tickets so they can spend time with their family. You can help American troops travel home to spend quality time with their loved ones.
Gifts From The Home Front - Send a "Gifts from the HomeFront" gift certificate to an individual military family member, friend, or loved one. They can use it at any military exchange retail store around the world. These can be sent via several organizations.
USO Cares - The USO is sending care packages that include requested items such as pre-paid worldwide phone cards, sunscreen, travel size toiletries, and messages from Americans who want to thank them for their service. As days turn into weeks and weeks into months, reminders from home are welcomed by the troops.
Operation Uplink - a unique program that keeps military personnel and hospitalized veterans in touch with their families and loved ones by providing them with a free phone card. Using contributions from supporters like you, Operation Uplink purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemen and women who are separated from those they care about.
Defend America Web - Department of Defense site where you can sign a virtual thank you card to send to our troops.
True Heroes
What is a true hero?
Is it an actor on the stage?
Or a person on a screen?
Or could it be a real human being?
True heroes are the ones
that many don't ever see
the ones that are serving
and fighting for liberty.
They are often forgot about
while we go about our day
While they defend our country
and get shot at every day.
They live in little tents
and sometimes on the ground
while we complain that it's too hot
with a/c in our house.
They go and go many hours straight
with rarely taking a break
When some of us get really mad
when we have to work an hour late.
These heroes are the ones
that really deserve our praise.
So if someone asks what a hero is
I hope you'll proudly say
A hero is our military
who protect the USA.
Kerri P
Copy Right 2004
Pen Pal and Email Links
Adopt A platoon - The AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort™ founded in 1998 is a organization managed nationwide by volunteer mothers to ensure that deployed United States Service members in all branches of the military are not forgotten by providing needed mail support and to promote patriotism in our schools and communities. To provide a better deployment quality of life, lift morale, and assist military families, the AAP created projects that meet the need of military requests, established special projects for holidays, and assigns individual morale lifting mail support to service members of all branches of the U.S. military serving their Nation around the world.
Operation Dear Abby - Send a special message to our men and women in the military defending American freedom worldwide.
Wounded Heroes Tribute Page - Send a supportive email to a wounded service member.
Email Our Military - A place to provide encouragement, motivation, and moral support to our Military Service Members directly and primarily through email.
Please never forget our fallen soldiers and their families!
Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any organization listed here. Any donations or contacts made to any of the organization are strictly between you and the organization. Artwork, logos, and listing of the organizations are with expressed or implied permission. The military logos were located on the Internet.