Michelle Malkin » Support our troops: Project Valour-IT fund-raising kickoff

Support our troops: Project Valour-IT fund-raising kickoff

By Michelle Malkin • October 26, 2009 10:13 PM

Two helicopter crashes in Afghanistan took 14 American lives earlier today.

In Colorado Springs today, Staff Sgt. Glen Hale Stivison Jr. was laid to rest. He was killed on Oct. 15 when a roadside bomb exploded, killing him and three other soldiers:

Six-year-old Andrew Stivison stood tall to receive the folded flag, returned the general’s salute, and then hugged the flag to his chest, a reminder of a fallen father who was known for his bear hugs.

Staff Sgt. Glen Hale Stivison Jr. loved the Pittsburgh Steelers, John Wayne, karaoke, Johnny Cash, and Oreo cookies. But most of all the gentle giant loved his wife, Eryn, and sons William Blaze, 8, and Andrew, friends recalled at his funeral and burial on Monday.

Staff Sgt. Glen Hale Stivison Jr. loved the Pittsburgh Steelers, John Wayne, karaoke, Johnny Cash, and Oreo cookies. But most of all the gentle giant loved his wife, Eryn, and sons William Blaze, 8, and Andrew, friends recalled at his funeral and burial on Monday.

…Stivison’s uncle, Cody Leaver, said that instead of saying “hello,” Stivison’s standard greeting was “What can I do for you?”

And he meant it.

Remember the Combat Outpost Keating Relief Fund that so many of you contributed to earlier this month? The American Legion raised a total of $50,000 from generous donors like you — which was matched by Target:

A national veterans group has stepped in to help dozens of Fort Carson GIs who lost all of their personal gear in heavy fighting during an attack earlier this month in Afghanistan that left eight dead.

The American Legion had raised $50,000 to assist the more than 70 soldiers who lost items from iPods to socks when they were forced to call in bombs and artillery on their own positions during the Oct. 3 attack that targeted soldiers from the 4th Brigade Combat Team at Combat Outpost Keating.

That money was backed up by a $50,000 matching grant from retailer Target Corp.

All that generosity, pouring in from several states, was driven by the hopelessness one soldier described in an e-mail, said Mark Seavey. The soldier wrote to Seavey, who writes a blog for the Legion, that he believed Americans don’t know about the war in Afghanistan and don’t care about the soldiers sent to fight there.

Seavey said the generosity sends a message to American servicemen and women: “We all care and we want to do the best for them.”

And there’s always more to do.

For several years, I’ve participated in the blogosphere fundraiser spearheaded by Soldiers Angels called “Project Valour-IT.”

Project Valour-IT helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. Items supplied include:

*Voice-controlled Laptops – Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.
*Wii Video Game Systems – Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).
*Personal GPS – Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.

It’s time again for the charity drive and I’m asking for your help in supporting Team Marines. Donate here.

Remember: We are the land of the free because of the brave. Support the men and women who support America.

Posted in: Worthy Causes

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#830425

On October 26th, 2009 at 11:10 pm, Mark Harvey said:

Got it covered in the side bar!
#830426

On October 26th, 2009 at 11:11 pm, Mark Harvey said:

Oh. And, well, I am USArmy.
#830427

On October 26th, 2009 at 11:12 pm, Mark Harvey said:

http://www.littleurl.net/4309d2
#830428

On October 26th, 2009 at 11:16 pm, zorro said:

I’m in.

Target will get more of my business in the future.

May God the Father Almighty Bless all of our fighting men and women.
#830429

On October 26th, 2009 at 11:18 pm, Lindsay said:

Thanks, Michelle. May God bless all of you who can contribute to this fund.

My prayers are with the Stivison family and the Americans who died this day in the helicopter crashes—and always for our troops in harms way in Iraq and Afghanistan, and throughout the world.
#830432

On October 26th, 2009 at 11:40 pm, Lindsay said:

I encourage you to Google:
“SFC William V. Ziegenfuss” who served our country and it is his memory in this year’s Project Valor IT– his children have served this country as well (his son, Major Charles Ziegenfuss).

These brave men are who allow us to sleep safely at night. Thank you.

Soldier’s Angels is a wonderful group who keep our brave troops in mind every day. They are also trying to raise money for the holidays for each soldier, Marine and sailor who serve. Please help if you can.
#830456

On October 27th, 2009 at 1:31 am, elpresidente said:

Thanks for the reminder Michelle–PPC is on board for Team Marines.

Semper Fi and thank you to all who have served.
#830467

On October 27th, 2009 at 6:10 am, ssnark said:

Soldier’s Angels and Fisher House get my support every month. I encourage others to please give to these worthy causes.
#830520

On October 27th, 2009 at 9:18 am, stevevvs said:

Why are we still in Afghanistan and Iraq?

I think Andrew McCarthy and Diana West are the Conservatives asking the best questions at this time. The rest cant seem to grasp the Islam Factor….

http://article.nationalreview.com/print/?q=MmZjNTlhYTU4ODExNzc4YTJkMzFhZjczNTE3ZmJjZmI=

http://www.dianawest.net/BlogArchive/tabid/56/Default.aspx
#830545

On October 27th, 2009 at 9:52 am, glockomatic said:

I’m in. God bless all our troops!
#830653

On October 27th, 2009 at 11:25 am, SSG David Medzyk said:

I’m always in, have been since the first Project Valour-IT.

Even on my crappy pay, I pumped in $100.

What have you done for your country lately?
#831032

On October 27th, 2009 at 8:23 pm, Miss Ladybug said:

I’m on the Marine Team, too. I’m supporting the effort through my tiny blog, and also through a number of items I’m donating to be auctioned off with proceeds going to support Project Valour-IT. If money is tight, but you have something of value (original artwork, autographed items, whatever), contact Soldiers’ Angels to offer it for sale. There is still time to do that: the fundraiser runs through Veterans’ Day.