Old Glory

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Exciting activities taking place!

I could not be more excited about this foundation.  Things are moving along so well.  We have had a company called TekTrendz donate the web design and hosting for our website!  I've been working with Rob on this project and he has been amazing to work with.  He has done an amazing job and as soon as it is a live website I will get it out to you.  We've also gotten our bank account set up at Arvest bank so we can officially take donations.  Right now they can send donations to me in the name of "Wings for Our Troops" and I will get it all to the bank.  Once our website it live donations can be there by clicking our "donate" button.  We now have at least 3 (potentially a 4th) businesses wanting to donate proceeds from products they sell to our foundation.  The latest one is Cody Bradley's Christian Rock band "Take it Back".  They have a t-shirt they will donate proceeds from to us as well as additional band financial support.  They travel all over the country doing concerts so the opportunities are limitless.  He has a band member that is a Vet so this appears to be very close to their hearts for that reason, but also, Cody went to school and played baseball with Chad and during this time in their lives they were best friends.  Thank you Cody and the band for this amazing support.  My heart is just overflowing with appreciation and just overwhelmed with the outpouring of support we are receiving.  You can find Cody's band on Face Book and Myspace right now so I would encourage you to search for their band and check it out!  The 2/1 Unit has returned from Afghanistan safe and sound.  The last of them arrived this past Saturday and I couldn't be more thrilled to know they are all finally back home and safe.  Now all I need is my hug from them and that will come next week!  Thank you again for all of you that have prayed, encouraged, written, and sent care packages to my bonus boys and the 2/1 Marines!  I know they appreciate it more than their words will ever be able to express.  They still have much to do to re acclimate back to the wonderful U.S.A. so please continue to lift them up as their hearts and minds heal from the loss of their brother in arms and their close friend and as they reconnect with their families.  They are an amazing group of young men and I love them every one.  Thank you boys for your service, sacrifice, and for loving my son and my family like you do!  This is honor of each of you along side the memory of Chad!

Thursday, May 12, 2011

Gene Simmons Military Tribute

This is awesome! If this doesn't get you fired up to get involved in some capacity with supporting our troops then I'm not sure anything can get your fired up! Thank you Greggy, this is amazing! Turn your speakers up and enjoy!!!! Gene Simmons really does ROCK!


http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=5MtdIO23MKM

Monday, May 9, 2011

Wings for Our Troops - in loving Memory of CPL Chad S Wade

This foundation is being created in loving Memory of CPL Chad S Wade USMC (my son) KIA in Afghanistan on December 1, 2010.  This idea for this foundation actually started just as he was preparing to deploy to Iraq in 2009 when I learned for the first time that our Marines had to pay their own way home before and after deployments.  It bothered me so much that I knew then I had to do something, but I didn't really know what.  When we knew one of his buddies was struggling to get home due to finances we offered to pay his way and he absolutely would not accept.  He felt it would be a handout and he wasn't having it.  He, as most if not all of them are, was too proud to accept.  Our Chad was fortunate to have parents blessed enough to be able to help him get home.  When he came home for pre-deployment leave before Afghanistan I took off 9 days for vacation so I could be available to spend every moment with him that he was here.  It was absolutely the most amazing time and he spent more time at home with us than with his friends which was amazing all in itself (as most parents understand).  I never dreamed that would be the last time I would see my only child alive, but it was.  It was at that moment that my husband and I began to think about this foundation again and I told him that I felt that his band of brothers (while they really helped each other in the field) were really going to need their visits back home more than ever now.  They just experienced the worse situation while in combat a Marine can experience.  They need to get home to their families and start truly healing.  This is our mission and our goal with this foundation.  If you think about all the companies that have frequent flyer miles that they may not possibly be able to use and the countless people with miles or points that they may not be able to use, but could donate towards a Marine to get them home. Our hope is that while we are focused on the Marine Corps right now (just to get things kicked off) we want all branches of our military to benefit from this foundation.  We have our advisory committee in place and ready to get our account started and we already have some amazing support.  You can check out Daisy and Elm for Friday's Jewelry and check our her blog and jewelry.  She will be donating money for military jewelry sold directly to our foundation. She is an amazing person and has a huge heart.  Her husband is currently deployed to Iraq and she is doing more than her part to support our troops.  We have several other folks who have already started reaching out to help support this foundation.  We will have a website at some point set up so we can take donations online.  Thank you all in advance for your support and I look forward to posting updates on who we've been able to help through your support!
CPL Chad S Wade USMC