Memorial Day is upon us. While it is more fun to think of this holiday as the beginning of summer, I wanted to take a few minutes to highlight an organization that is in keeping of the real reason we have the holiday.
In a previous life, I was the wife of an Army officer that was sent to Operation Desert Storm/Freedom. In general the company was very fortunate in that they suffered no casualties-- however, there were two people who had serious and significantly debiltating injuries. But that experience taught me much about what the deployment experience does service men and women, as well as their families. Long story made short, everyone worries. The service person, the spouse, the children, the parents, the grandparents, the neighbors, the siblings... no one is immune. Oftentimes, the worry goes unspoken but interestingly everyone is thinking "What will we do if he/she is killed?"
I distinctly remember participating in family support events and meetings quietly thinking to myself, "What would we as a group do to take care of the family of one of ours who had been killed?" Would we be able to help? How could we help a large number of families if something horrible would happen? It was never openly discussed, but boy I wish I knew then what I know now about those who are willing to help.
Children of the Fallen Soldier Relief Fund is one such organization I wish I had existed back then. They provide support to surviving U.S. Military children and spouses that have lost a loved one in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars or whose service member has sustained a serious disability.
Their objectives are to help U.S. Military children and spouses with college grants as well as provide financial assistance to those families in need of help with housing, utilities, food and clothing. Often, when a loss occurs in these families what was a two person income becomes one. The financial hardships placed on these families are very difficult to deal with. Their lives are devastated and forever changed.
Since starting in 2003, CFSRF has distributed over $84 thousand dollars to families of fallen soldiers. And they do all this work with a small staff of volunteers.
Send Your Dollar
Via Network for Good: Click Here
Via JustGive: Click Here
Via their Website: Click Here
If you would like to contribute by mail we ask that you please make your checks payable to:
Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund and mail your check to:
CFSRF
P.O. Box 3968
GAITHERSBURG, MD 20885-3968
You are making a stunning contribution to the world. How can we "duplicate" you???
Posted by: Lisa Gates | June 07, 2007 at 11:37 AM