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Support
Our Troops! |
Supporting Our Troops and Our Veterans
Thousands of U.S. troops have been deployed around the world in the fight against terrorism. They serve in dangerous conditions, away from the comforts of home that we often take for granted. More than 4,000 U.S. troops have been killed in action in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more than 30,000 have been wounded, more than half of whom are so severely injured that their lives have been changed forever. Lack of proper medical care and employment opportunities cause many to struggle after they are discharged. Every year more than one million veterans are homeless. We owe each of these courageous men and women a lifetime of gratitude.
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Unfortunately, heightened security prevents individuals from sending letters of appreciation and care packages to “Any Service Member” on their own, and the circumstances of underserved and homeless veterans makes them difficult to reach.
With this in mind, the APWU Human Relations Department has gained access to active members of the military, wounded troops and veterans to show the union's support. In addition to participating in existing programs, we have also developed several APWU programs for members to demonstrate their gratitude. However, these APWU programs are only possible through the continuing generosity and ongoing good will of our members.
Appreciation for our nation's veterans can be expressed by participating in one of the many APWU Support Our Troops and veterans programs throughout the year. Our collective participation in these programs will serve as a reminder that the sacrifices of these brave men and women have not been forgotten.
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Care packages provide warm messages and familiarities from home. Packages are sent to servicemen and women serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recipients include members of all the all military branches from everywhere in the US. We also forward care packages to APWU members or their loved ones who have been deployed overseas (when we have their military mailing address). Additionally we deliver your packages to severely injured service members who have returned stateside but require a long-term stay in a medical facility in order to undergo rehabilitation and physical therapy.
To comply with the law and security measures it is important to follow the “Wish List” procedures. Care packages will be opened and inspected before they are forwarded. Please mark your package clearly if it is intended to be gender specific. Packages are accepted year-round. [back to top]
You can download and print the APWU Supports Our Troops postcard [PDF] to accompany your care package. For security reasons, personal messages cannot be enclosed in an envelope or sealed in any way. Messages that contain negative remarks will not be forwarded.[back to top]
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It isn’t easy to get Santa to leave the North Pole, especially
during the holiday season, but he has graciously been joining APWU a
few days before Christmas to walk the halls at the Walter Reed Army Medical
Center and the National Naval Medical Center to spread holiday cheer.
We make room-to-room visits, delivering gifts to the wounded troops,
and taking “Santa and Me” photos.
Hospital staff members
have said, “It is amazing to see even the most severely wounded
light up when Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick enters the room.” Members'
gifts and monetary donations make it all possible. All donations and
gifts should be sent by December 1.
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Christmas in July (Coming Soon – July 2009)
Wounded troops deserve holiday cheer throughout the year. Christmas in July follows the same format as Operation Santa Claus: we provide gifts, spread cheer, and take a few minutes to share our appreciation with each recovering soldier. The only differences are that Santa will wear Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt while passing out gifts, and he will serve cool and refreshing Italian water ice amid the heat of his summer visit. Local and state organizations are asked to send one gift valued at approximately $25. The Christmas in July visits will occur in Late July, and all donations and gifts must be received no later than July 5. [back to top]
During our visits to medical facilities we have met many family members — mostly young wives, but also husbands, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and children who are there to stand vigil and to provide support while their loved one endures his or her struggles.
We have witnessed the toll that the waiting takes on the families.
Family members hope never to be in these circumstances, yet find they
are grateful for life. You can see the strain on their faces and hear
the pain in their voices. Their sacrifices are also great. When we say
we "support our troops" that means we support their families, too. The
APWU Human Relations Department makes every effort to include visiting
family members in our programs.
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Gratitude Dinners provide a much needed, much deserved night out for severely injured troops recovering at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, National Naval Medical Center, the Fisher House, and the Mologne House. The dinners provide these courageous men and women with an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company away from the confines of the hospital, where some will remain for over a year. The outings play a significant role in their recovery and rehabilitation. For the family members who are standing vigil, the dinners provide a chance to relax a bit, allowing them to recharge as care givers.
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The dinners are hosted on Friday night at various restaurants in Washington, DC through the Aleethia Foundation. Approximately 60 wounded soldiers usually attend.
The dinners include a cocktail hour, a full-course dinner, dessert, a reception and an open bar. To add to the festivities, APWU often presents token gift bags to each of the attending troops and provides some great give-away items to serve as door prizes for the troops.
The cost to host a dinner averages between $3600 and $4500. If you would like to show your appreciation, make your donation payable to APWU Gratitude Dinners. We generally accumulate donations throughout the year in order to host these dinners. However, APWU organizations are invited to host their own dinners. (Special thanks to APWU Vermont State and locals for hosting their own Gratitude Dinner.) [back to top]
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The APWU Troop Appreciation Barbeque has become an annual tradition at the Mologne House. APWU members staff a "moon bounce" and operate carnival games for children who are visiting family members at the rehabilitation facility. They serve refreshing water-ice, carve a 100-pound roasted pig, and pass out steak and chicken dinners grilled on-site by Outback Steakhouse to over 300 wounded troops and their families. Entertainment includes face painting and clowns, and our last event included a performance by the U.S. Army Field Band.
Thanks to the generosity of our members we have been able to create-your-own care package stations where troops select items they need. We have also given away significant door prizes, donated toys and DVDs to the Mologne House. Many thanks to the U.S. Army Field Band Jazz Ambassadors for performing and for the selfless sacrifices they have made in serving our country. Thanks also to Outback Steakhouse for supplying their delicious food and wonderful staff free of charge. These barbecues generally occur on Memorial Day weekend. All donations and gifts must be received by April 30. [back to top]
Movie Nights (Coming Soon –June 2009)
Wounded troops and their families often miss out on summertime fun while recovering at the military hospitals, so plans are in the works by APWU to host a weekly “drive-in” theater on the hospital grounds. In addition to showing first-run movies and movie classics, we plan to provide popcorn, candy, cheese nachos, hot dogs, and soda. We anticipate each movie night will cost approximately $150. APWU organizations interested in hosting a movie night should contact the APWU Human Relations Department. Movie-nights will occur during the summer, and like the other appreciation gestures we provide, depend on your donations. [back to top]
Fast Food Favorites (Brand New)
Among hospitalized troops, $5 and $10 gift cards to McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, KFC, Popeye’s Chicken, Papa John's and Domino’s pizza are in great demand. Many have recently returned from Iraq and Afghanistan, where it’s impossible to indulge in most American fast-food favorites. For visiting families, enjoying a restaurant meal is both costly and time consuming. Gift cards for nearby fast-food chains offer the perfect solution to those looking for a quick fix away from the hospital cafeteria. Hospital staff are often willing to pick-up orders for recovering troops and their car-less visitors. We will also use the cards as gifts in Operation Santa Claus, Christmas in July, and as door prizes at our Appreciation Barbeques and Gratitude Dinners. Gift cards will be collected throughout the year. [back to top]
There is probably nothing harder for a small child than being separated from a parent or someone they care about, and there is nothing as comforting as a soft, cuddly teddy bear. Children of U.S. troops make a significant sacrifice that too often is not acknowledged. Let them know you understand and care by donating a new stuffed animal or toy.
Teddy Care donations will be distributed at military family centers before a deployment or when children visit their loved ones at a military medical facility. Each “teddy bear” will be presented with an APWU “Certificate of Appreciation" [PDF] for being brave and helpful while the person they love is serving in the line of duty.
Operation Teddy Care is a great way to show our appreciation throughout the year. Teddy Care has also been incorporated into our APWU Appreciation Barbeques, Operation Valentine, and Welcome Home Hero programs. [back to top]
Being confined to a hospital or residing at one of the military housing facilities without the ability to drive makes it difficult to shop for a sweetheart or child’s valentine. Armed with stuffed toys from Operation Teddy Care and Valentine Day cards, APWU visits the wounded troops and permits them to select valentines for their loved ones. We carefully label each selection before returning to our mailroom to send messages and gifts from Cupid. It seems the troops are even more thrilled to send gifts than they are to receive them, and they have embraced this program with much enthusiasm and appreciation. Operation Valentine takes place during the first week in February. Gifts and donations must be received no later than January 21. [back to top]
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This event, hosted by the Veterans’ Administration, introduces recently discharged troops to available VA benefits, health services and employment counseling. In addition to informational services, refreshments, and entertainment are provided for the new veterans and their families.
APWU participates in this event on two levels: We
solicit USPS support to provide informational handouts regarding its
employment opportunities for veterans, and we host a moon bounce and
a tent of carnival games with prizes for the children. Special thanks
to Champs Sports for donating more than 600 shoes for APWU to distribute
to the VA amputee clinic at the 2008 event. Welcome Home Hero events
generally occur in early June. Donations and gifts must be received
by May 15th.
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Winterhaven Stand Down (January 2009)
Each year more than 1 million of our nation’s veterans are homeless. This is hardly the thank-you they deserve and hardly the thank-you they have earned. So, this January, the APWU plans to give a hand up to homeless and under served veterans during the Veterans’ Administration’s Winterhaven Stand Down.
The annual event offers veterans in need a variety of social services, such as legal and medical aid, employment counseling and housing assistance. Hot meals, haircuts, showers, warm clothing and other necessities will also be available. The APWU will have its own station at the Stand Down, where we plan to distribute information regarding USPS employment opportunities and backpacks filled with items to help these veterans get through their long days and cold nights. We need to be able to distribute a minimum of 250 filled back packs. We hope you will help. Filled backpacks must be received by January 7, 2009. [back to top]
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Rolling
Thunder’s
Ride For Freedom Motorcycle Rally
For the past two years, APWU members have come together to participate
in Ride for Freedom, an annual rally in Washington, DC to raise awareness
about veteran and POW-MIA issues. Come ride with us or watch from the
sidelines as we join more than 300,000 riders on the Sunday during Memorial
Day weekend. (Check back for details about the 2009 rally.)
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These shirts pay tribute to our APWU-family members who have been killed in action. To our knowledge, 17 members of the APWU family have paid the ultimate price while fighting in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Our APWU “Freedom Isn’t Free” eagle marks the front of the T-shirt and the names of our fallen are listed on the back in “Final Formation.” T-shirts are American union-made, run true to size, and are 100 percent cotton. They are available in adult sizes, small — 5XL, and can be ordered [PDF] in short sleeve or sleeveless, for $20 each, which includes shipping. Limited quantities are currently available through the Human Relations Department. Net proceeds go entirely to our “Support” programs. [back to top]
Host Fundraiser Events and Involve The Membership
In addition to approved general treasury donations, many APWU organizations have also taken the initiative to host fundraising events to support APWU Support Our Troops programs. Such events have included auctions, picnics and barbeques, golf and bowling tournaments, collections, and baked good and t-shirt sales. All help to raise additional funds and all are a great way to involve members in union activities. Let us know about your events, and please share your digital photos with us. [back to top]
