A Soldiers Blog

Holidays For Heroes
This holiday season most of us will celebrate here at home with our loved ones. However, this will not be the case for tens of thousands of Americasâ?? bravest men and women who are protecting our freedom overseas. Soldiers' Angels will strive to make sure that every soldier deployed receives a Holiday gift.



Pasadena, CA (PRWEB) September 20, 2006 -- This holiday season most of us will celebrate here at home with our loved ones. However, this will not be the case for tens of thousands of Americasâ?? bravest men and women who are protecting our freedom overseas. Many of those who guard our freedom will be doing so from across the world and will not be able to share the holiday season with their families and friends. Fellow service members of many of these same deployed soldiers will be spending the holidays in hospital rooms recuperating from injuries earned in defense of our nation. While the warmth of the holiday season may remind many soldiers of the reasons they serve, it is also the time in which the absence from their families and friends is felt the most.



In an effort to let the soldiers know their sacrifices are appreciated and to lift them into the holiday spirit, many organizations support holiday projects aimed at giving gifts to the deployed and wounded soldiers. Soldiersâ?? Angels is at the very top of this list. Our mission is to provide aid and comfort to the thousands of American service members stationed wherever the United States raises its flag.



"No project could be better suited to our goal of letting our soldiers know that they are loved and appreciated," said Patti Patton-Bader, founder of Soldiersâ?? Angels. "Our â??Holidays for Heroesâ?? project strives to make sure that every soldier deployed in a combat area receives a gift of small but welcome items and a card with holiday greetings and encouragement." The gift, which contains items such a coffee mug bearing the Soldiersâ?? Angels logo, AT&T calling cards, hot chocolate and cider mix, candy, and even socks, are mailed to soldiers in combat areas and delivered personally by individual Soldiersâ?? Angels in our hospitals. While most soldiers receive tremendous support from home, Soldiersâ?? Angels strives to ensure that those who need the most attention receive it. To succeed in our mission, Soldiersâ?? Angels works closely with military clergy and non-commissioned officers who are in the best position to know the personal needs of each soldier.



"The goal is to get items to every soldier, but first, we want to take care of those who need it the most," says Debby Frerichs, the Central Region Director for Soldiersâ?? Angels. Frerichs says "Collecting donations to support â??Holidays for Heroesâ?? has been a wonderful project for churches, schools, businesses, and even families. The groups participating in the project know that they are doing something to help their fellow Americans." Frerichs explains that "Many soldiers have no family and are often forgotten during this time of year. In the past couple of years we have received many thanks from deployed soldiers who say that the simple gift and a friendly letter from home warmed their hearts and raised their morale. We know that support for â??Holidays for Heroesâ?? by the community is appreciated by the soldiers."



No project could be better suited to our goal of letting our soldiers know that they are loved and appreciated

Soldiersâ?? Angels continues the time honored tradition of civilian support of American soldiers, and, in addition to â??Holidays for Heroesâ??, sponsors programs which provide first response backpacks, support, and laptop computers to wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment at American military hospitals; care packages, letters, and support to deployed soldiers; armored blankets to military ambulances; and memorial trees for the families of soldiers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country.



If you would like more information about â??Holidays for Heroes, â??visit www.soldiersangels.org or contact Debby Frerichs or Gerri Riley at (615)676-0239. If you would like to schedule an interview with Patti Patton-Bader, founder of Soldiersâ?? Angels, please email Debby Frerichs.



Contact:

Debby Frerichs, Central Regional Director

Or Gerri Riley, Treasurer

c/o 1792 East Washington Blvd.

Pasadena, California 91104

Tel. (615)676-0239