By Scott W. Winchell
GCC/Staff
Mar. 2, 2010

Recently, the Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund Blog has posted several articles concerning our soldiers in harms’ way and the plight of their families at home.

One article addresses the fact that we have now lost our 1,000th person in Afghanistan. Another talks about the yeoman individual efforts of people like Bennett Compagna and his Deli in Monterey, California who caters to his military clientele but goes way beyond by offering what little he can to help individuals in need in the armed forces.

Still another talks about the plight of the soldier losing things they have depended on for years to budget cutting, a believed disregard for armed services members, and the belief that the current administration shows little concern for our men and women in uniform.

Please take the time to visit the site at and read about these folks and others as daily we update you with our efforts and the stories of the soldiers.

What is not included, and is perhaps the greatest problem facing our warrior is the toll multiple deployments have on families and marriages. Many a soldier has received that now classic “Dear John” letter while sitting in a tent in a war torn nation.

Or imagine coming home to an empty house, or to receive no welcome home because his or her family could not take it anymore and left for good. Imagine coming home and not seeing your wife, kids, and loved ones at the tarmac as your flight lands.

Recently, I spoke to one of these folks, who after 18 years of dedicated service and 8 separate deployments came home to no one.

The toll is unimaginable, lives torn apart, loved ones moving on, and a gaping hole where your heart once resided.

Then there are the soldiers who come home and cannot cope after witnessing horrendous things, losing fellow soldiers, seeing IED’s dismember others.

The scars may not be readily visible, but they are truly deep and everlasting within the soul. It is these people that the Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund is tasked to help.

Volunteers work long hard hours to do what little they can to ease the pain, help soldiers cope, and rally around their families, especially after learning of the death of a loved one in action.

To this end, MG Paul E. Vallely (US Army Retired) and his lovely wife Muffin created the Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund in remembrance of their son Scott who died while in training with the Special Forces.

Their pain was turned into a lifelong desire to help, to be there when needed by others who suffered as they did. Their daughter Dana is also a big part of the effort and we hope you will too.

T o this end, the volunteers are announcing their bi-annual capital campaign to raise funds for these folks and those who wish to enter the military through cash awards to aid them in their efforts to be our future leaders.

In past years, your volunteers, and donors have generosity helped a great many soldiers in the field, their families at home, supplied Christmas packages, and provided for scholarships to students wishing to make a career in the United States Military.

The efforts of so many volunteers has put smiles on the faces of many soldiers placed in harm’s way, and helped them to know they are not alone. Their families also make great sacrifices for our nation, and we do as much as we can with the limited funds available.

This year, we are kicking off our capital campaign to reach $50,000 by the end of spring in June 2010.

This will help us gear up for the summer and fall so we can send our Christmas packages, aid families in need and to award scholarships to the future leaders of our military.

In these uncertain times, we need to start planning well in advance to ensure we are ready for any contingency. In years past, we have seen surges employed in both Iraq and Afghanistan, making the job of helping our soldiers more difficult.

With so many more forces in the field, many serving multiple deployments, and extended deployments, and the inability to predict what will come next with saber rattling in so many areas, the Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund needs your help more than ever.

Every little bit helps. Whether it is a jar full of pennies from the child whose relative is in the Marine Corps, a five dollar bill from the weekly grocery account, or $100 from a former soldier, it all helps and it is all 100% tax deductible. Please consider giving today.

Our web site is being updated to help you see where your dollars are going but we still have our donations page active throughout the update cycle.

Please go to the following site to donate:

Scott Vallely Soldiers Memorial Fund
Or go to our store to purchase our one-of-a-kind set of flag dog tags, or a book.

The proceeds go solely to the Fund to help in our efforts to help the troops.
Additionally, we ask that you sign up for our newsletter or comment in any way and join our Facebook group for daily, weekly, and monthly updates.

We will share stories of our soldiers, their families, students, and other efforts we support, especially those who sacrifice daily on an individual basis.

We will also tell you what needs to be done, changed, or added to in terms of legislation to aid our troops.

Please sign up and thank you for considering making a donation today. We will generate periodic updates about the success of the campaign and we encourage you to tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, and acquaintances about this effort.

 

Source: Stand Up America  

  

Editor’s Note: We would like to know what you think. dan@goldcoastchronicle.com