Posts Tagged ‘soldiers’

“Mail Call for Our Heroes 2013”

Monday, October 14th, 2013

“Mail Call for Our Heroes 2013”

The Marines of 3^rd Marine Aircraft Wing G-1 … recipients of “Mail Call for Our Heroes” 2013

(notice behind the smiles the amazing wallpaper of cards and letters sent to them for the holidays along with the Christmas decorations! 🙂 )

Since 2002 I have been ‘adopting’ troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation New Dawn all over the globe. Our service members have explained to me over and over again, the importance of receiving mail to help them cope with the time away from their loved ones back home. In an effort to uplift spirits and boost morale over the holidays, “The Sky Angel” is doing my sixth annual “Mail Call for Our Heroes”.

My goal: To raise $5,000 for holiday care packages (including Christmas trees with all the decorations, calling cards for the troops to use while the transition from country to country and don’t have access to the internet, and so much more!) for service the various units I am currently supporting in Afghanistan, Kuwait, & Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The money raised will also include the cost of postage to get the items to our deployed troops and care packages throughout the year if there is any extra. 🙂

The second aspect of this project, is to collect 4,000 individual cards, letters, or notes so each service member in each unit I am supporting will have a piece of mail to open over the holidays. It would be wonderful for you to express your thoughts to any of the service members in these units, so they feel a little less lonely as they serve our country far away from their loved ones. Please get your children’s schools, girl/boy scouts, senior citizens homes, churches, social clubs, and families involved!

To be a part of this special project for our heroes away from home, please send donations (checks should be payable to Robin Schmidt) to the address below. If you would like to use a credit card or make a donation online, you can do so via PayPal to the email address of supportourheroes@live.com (or clicking on the donate button at the top of http://www.alwayssupportourheroes.com/what-to-send.html ) .

Every year our troops have been ecstatic with how much I was able to send because of the generosity of everyone who got involved. It was absolutely AMAZING to see how many people came together from the far reaches of earth, to take care of our Marines of 3^rd Aircraft Wing G-1 last year. In August 2013 we threw a “Welcome Home” party for this unit, and each Marine shared with us how much those random acts of kindness meant to them and all those they shared with “down range”. This was my first “welcome home” party for a unit my friends and I adopted, and one of the most magnificent experiences of my life. Thank you so much for your continued participation and donations to make a difference for our deployed troops.

This year my AMAZING friends and I are supporting the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany (which includes the staff as well as our Wounded), an Army unit at Camp Eggers, a Marine unit also in Afghanistan, and the “Crusaders” of the United States Army unit from Ft. Carson, Colorado who recently deployed to Kuwait. If you write cards for a specific place, please somehow indicate that on your package to me.

The office of our deployed Marines during the holidays …

This year the project got a late start, as I have been busy since receiving my medical release that returned me to work in September. Now I am asking each of you for your help in making it all come to fruition ~ quickly. All of this has to be balanced between commuting to New York City from Seattle for work and devoting off time in the next month to this project for the holidays. J The deadline for me to receive any items you want to donate for the care packages themselves; including cards to the troops, contents for packages, or cash donations need to be delivered to me in person or arrive in my mailbox no later than Veterans Day (11 November 2013).

My goal is for none of our troops ever feel alone on the battlefield, or when they return home. Thanks SO much for helping to make sure that never happens by making a difference for our valiant heroes through being a part of my project “Mail Call for Our Heroes 2013”!!

Always,

Robin

“The Sky Angel”

Robin Schmidt ~ PO Box 449 ~ Mercer Island, WA 98040

Tags:Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Community Event, donations, hero, heroes, Mail Call for Our Heroes, Marines, Navy, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, troops, Wounded Warrior
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | No Comments »

Sending cards to Wounded Warriors – repost from 2010, still in effect

Monday, October 14th, 2013

THIS BLOG POST IS FROM 2010, however, I have made changes to it based on the changes that have occurred in my life since it was originally written. Any cards sent to me will either be forwarded via mail to my contacts to distribute at the the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, Walter Reed, Bethesda, or Brooke Army Medical Centers . YOU MUST UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THAT IF YOU SEND A LETTER TO “ANY SOLDIER” OR “A WOUNDED WARRIOR”, without an actual name, or contact, it will be thrown in the trash. Please read below for details. My current mailing address is as the bottom of this updated blog. Thank you.

Thanks so much for ALL your support through the years with my efforts to support our valiant heroes both on the battlefield, or here at “home”. The opportunities I have had to visit some of our Wounded Warriors over the years has changed my life forever. When I have had a medical treatment I have felt scared or didn’t want to do (many of them in that 28 month time period of being on disability); I just remembered what was said to me in those hospital beds. Those brave men are not broken individuals, they are heroes in every sense of the word … and my memories of time spent with them will always be inspirational. While at the hospitals visiting our troops, I specifically asked what happens to cards where the envelope arrives without a specific person on it.

The response at all locations has always been the same. “Since 9/11 and the threat of anthrax, any letters/cards/packages sent to a Military facility without a specific name, are destroyed”. On the internet many people email and say “send a card to “any soldier” or “any wounded hero”. Please know these fall into the above category. If you or anyone you know wants to (and please, I encourage you to do so!!!) write a Wounded service member, please feel free to send them to me, (or any legitimate organization who says they will deliver them for you, there are plenty of them on the internet). Our troops need and deserve our support and a card is such an easy way to uplift someone’s spirits. Just write on the envelope “service member” or “wounded warrior” or something like that, and I will know NOT to open it. CARDS for CHRISTMAS must be received no later than 10December for Christmas delivery. Anything received after this date will still be sent, it will just get there a little late. (I accept cards all year round to support our Wounded Warriors and deployed service members). May there one day soon be Peace On Earth. Thanks so much for helping me spread this information across the airwaves, and a huge shout out to my personal heroes reading this message.

Also, as a side note, there are many wonderful organizations who do so much for our troops throughout the year. If you sync up with Soldiers Angels or the Wounded Warrior Project (just to name two), I am sure they can also help you to get your cards delivered to our Wounded Warriors for the holidays.

Happy preparing for the Holidays …. !!!

Always, Robin

“The Sky Angel”

http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 449

Mercer Island, WA 98040

Robin Schmidt chosen as: ABC World News “Person of the Week” 23 October 2009

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/journal-messages-lift-soldiers-spirits-8904322

Tags:3/5 Darkhorse, Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, hero, heroes, Mail Call for Our Heroes, Marines, Navy, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, Travel, troops, Wounded Warrior
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | No Comments »

Gratitude …

Thursday, July 11th, 2013

Loving the flowers in bloom, Spring 2013

Many of you may or may not know that on 10 May 2011, I woke up in the middle of the night with what I thought was a horrible migraine. Looking back, that is such a HUGE understatement of what I have endured the past 26 months. Without going into what all has happened in that amount of time, I simply want to give you an update and share my enormous gratitude for each person who has encouraged, supported, and helped me; emotionally, financially, physically, and spiritually along the way.

When I went out on disability from work and was not able to stay by myself, I had amazing people bring me into their homes to help take care of me. As I look back on those times; I get teary eyed remembering how scared I was from not knowing what was causing the tremendous pain that made me think my brain was literally going to explode inside my skull. The weight of an elephant on my head (came to be known as “Throb”) consumed me.

Spring Tulips in the beautiful Pacific Northwest …

If you know anything about me, you know that I will not ask for help unless I absolutely need it. When I did, many of you sent money to help me move from Kentucky to Washington, so I could be closer to my family and amazing friends in the Pacific Northwest. You have also randomly sent me money or gift certificates to help pay for expenses that I couldn’t afford. Thank you so very, very much. The meals that people have paid for, the dinners in your homes, all of it just means the world to me. Upon returning to the area where I grew up, I was immediately surrounded by the love of my family and friends. Finding a church that I love, provided me access to a free counselor who has guided and directed me to finding who I am in Gods eyes. She also encouraged me to do volunteer work, because I needed a sense of purpose; feeling so very lost and being extremely upset from not being able to do my job as a flight attendant. Along the path of trying to find answers and delving into the root cause, I pushed hard to find medical professionals who shared the same confidence I did that I would some day be well; and were willing to work with me to find answers. Having those doctors, my counselor, family, and friends who believe in me has made a tremendous impact in helping me learn the lessons Throb was meant to teach me.

My doctors put me on an “elimination diet” (only eating fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, quinoa, and eggs) a year ago, to try to see if anything I was consuming was exacerbating the migraines. In the beginning, I saw no change from eating differently. After a few months, I started noticing that I was losing weight (such a bonus, since I had gained weight from some of the medications other doctors had me on at times). Now, I can say (40 lbs lighter) that I fully buy into the concept “we are what we eat”, and it makes a difference in my mental well being as well as the way I feel about myself. (and yes, I have found that I have food intolerances that do make my pain worse … who knew eggs and wheat could cause such huge issues??) I have worked extremely hard at doing everything any physician asked me to do; but learned very quickly to have my Primary Care Physician be the one overseeing my healthcare. She is nothing short of amazing; as she continually told me to hold on to my faith and belief that I would one day find answers and be well.

Now that I have almost been out of work 2 1/2 years and living off of Social Security Disability (half of what I used to make); I have nothing but extreme gratitude in my heart. The light at the end of the tunnel may have been dim at times, but it is getting brighter every single day. In March, I started doing a treatment called GunnIMS (http://www.istop.org/) and in April I literally felt as though someone had flipped a switch and I slowly began to have more range of motion and was spending less days in bed, because of the debilitating pain. It is rather ironic to me that I once used to have a fear of needles, and the sight of them would nearly make me pass out ~ and now I look forward to my next “needle treatment” with tremendous excitement.

Volunteering at the Bread of Life Mission since November 2011 has kept me humble and talking with men in the program has reminded me daily how thankful I am to have a roof over my head and the many blessings God bestows on me every single day. There literally are times when I have no idea where I will get money for food or gas; let alone my out of pocket medical expenses. (GunnIMS is $69.18 each visit and that fee cannot be waived.) But having blind faith means that I know in my heart that God will ALWAYS provide. Being around homeless people, can really give one a serious dose of perspective! And I love being a part of the Bread of Life volunteer family and I am grateful they welcome me with open arms.

All smiles at the USO SeaTac!

In February of this year, I started also volunteering at the USO here locally and it has been a tremendous blessing for me. As you all know, I have been supporting our troops through sending care packages and writing letters for over a decade now. Having visited our Wounded Warriors over the years at Bethesda, Walter Reed Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, and Landstuhl (in Germany) left me with images and memories of conversations of tenacity, strength, and courage that have helped me to get through every difficult test or treatment. Tigger often accompanies with me on these appointments, as a reminder of our troops who have suffered tremendously; but been able to overcome all odds. Being at the USO, is second nature to me. I call it “my home away from home”. Serving our troops and their families shows me what my limitations are, but also brings out my strengths. It gives me the sense of purpose that I am making a difference ~ and that really is what motivates me as a person. Always has, and always will. I am eternally God chose me to be a voice for our Military, and I know that is just one of the many ways HE uses my body to share His Light and Love.

With tremendous gratitude for all Throb has taught me in being humble, ridding my body (and mind) of toxic behaviors and people, taking time for myself, finding balance, learning to say “no” or “that is not healthy for me”; I am thankful to tell you that he has lost weight too! lol Yesterday during my GunnIMS treatment, my doctor said “did you hear what you just said?” And I replied “what did I say?” haha … She responded “you said you feel like your head is too heavy for your neck and shoulders, rather than the elephant is sitting on the top of your head”. We made an agreement that when he is finally gone, we will be dancing in the hallway together.

“Throb” is losing weight … 🙂

Gratitude comes from knowing the deepest depths of pain; not knowing if one is going to live or die; or what is wrong. I was officially FINALLY diagnosed with having a traumatic brain injury from falling and hitting the back of my head in the spring of 2010. Who knew that the symptoms of a concussion or traumatic brain injury could not begin to occur for 4 months to 5 years afterward? If anyone would have told me that a migraine could last longer than three days (before Throb came along), I probably would not have believed them. But it has been a journey of self discovery, lessons learned, and faith that supersedes all understanding that has given me the endurance to keep fighting.

Now I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt, I am on the right path. That I am working towards my goal to get back in the skies (sooner rather than later) and make them a bit more friendly, and I could not be more grateful to each and every person who has helped me in this journey. One day I could probably write a book about being out on disability, having pain hidden wounds, or what it takes to overcome all odds. Then again, some of you probably already feel in reading this, you have just read one of the chapters. 🙂

Before I close, I do want to take time to sincerely thank each of you who have also donated towards my care packages to the troops over the years. Years ago I used to make hats and scarves and sell them, so I would have the funds to fill care packages and pay for postage. Pretty much I sold anything I could of value, to make a difference for our valiant warriors. But when I was incapable of doing anything else, I learned to ask for help in this area of my life. And many of you have given in ways that have helped me to touch thousands of lives. For this, I am eternally grateful. Because with each card, letter, or care package sent ~ it is a message of hope, and means the world to the recipients. It has shown me the importance of allowing others to help in a great cause, and I am so thankful to have learned that lesson. Additionally, because of my financial status; I simply cannot send anything without donations. That being said, feel free to make a donation any time via PayPal to: suppportourheroes@live.com or send a check or money order to me: PO Box 449, Mercer Island, WA 98040. Not only is this something I appreciate, but I know the smiles it puts on the faces of those in war zones or Wounded Warrior hospitals ~ and for this, I truly am grateful. You can also check out my website anytime: http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/ to look at photos, blog posts (I know, I need to be better at writing more often and uploading pictures … but now you know the reasons why there have been long spurts between posts) …

This photo says it all …

Thank you for standing by me, cheering me along, and for believing in all that I can do, through God who strengthens me. With Him, all things are possible … and with Him; I will continue to change the world, one person at a time. And my closing comment is to ask you to please pray that all my needs be met, and that I never lose sight of what is most important to me.

Always,

Robin

“The Sky Angel”

Tags:Army, Coast Guard, donations, hero, heroes, humanitarian, Marines, Navy, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, volunteering, Wounded Warrior
Posted in SkyAngel Update | 2 Comments »

Armed Forces Day care packages 2013

Tuesday, April 30th, 2013

With so much transition and troop movement overseas, I have waited for some of the troops I had been supporting to come home and get updated addresses for those who I recently adopted through their deployments. It only seems appropriate for my next round of care packages to be for Armed Forces Day, to honor all of our service members and fulfill any special requests. That being said, I really need your help to bring smiles like the ones in the above photo.

Currently we have some troops that have had their food rations cut (meaning they are getting two hot meals a day and one cold meal); and I am being asked to send foods they can add hot water to, so they can have another “hot meal”. For this specific request, I am going to be sending things like Cup o’ Noodles or other spicy noodle meals and oatmeal … along with some homemade cookies and other food items to warm their hearts and tummies from the inside out. (If you have spare boxes of Girl Scout cookies, please send them to me to include in the care packages, too!!!)

One of the units I have adopted recently deployed to Afghanistan for a year. When a new unit deploys, it is always a nice touch to send them sheets and pillows; which are considered luxuries, because these are not standard items provided by the military. So I am asking for donations of twin sheet sets with pillow cases, and pillows. What I would like to do is find ones that will make the troops laugh out loud. Designs that are of super heroes or cartoon characters. It seems there is always a little bantering over who gets the “coolest ones”. There is also a need for Band-Aids, toiletries, and toilet paper that “doesn’t feel like sand paper”.

Speaking of COOL, it is also very hot over in Afghanistan now, so I am planning on sending items to help break the heat for our valiant service members … along with my special touch of “laughter” which helps with any type of weather. Frisbees, board games, mosquito spray, Deet, hand held fans, water pistols, little kids sand toys (sounds silly, but they really do have fun with them), bubbles, and of course … fly swatters. Anything else you would like to include for your personal touch is also welcomed. Also, I have had a special request for audio books (on disc), paperback books or magazines that (no matter how old they are, the Combat Surgical Hospital needs them for our Wounded Warriors, along with any movies, and items to bring smiles to those recovering from battle wounds and the staff who are helping to take care of them).

If you can make any donation towards the purchase of items for the contents of these very special care packages in honor of Armed Forces day, please Pay Pal to : supportourheroes@live.com or send the the mailing address below. My deadline for receiving any items you would like to purchase and send to me to include in these parcels is Armed Forces Day, which is May 18th. Please be sure to include any cards or letters you would like me to forward to the troops showing your appreciation for their service. If you have children, please ask them and their friends or classmates to write cards to include in the packages, as our valiant heroes truly LOVE the sentiment from the next generation. Of course, if you can contribute any red, white, and blue items (like cups, napkins, paper or plastic plates or cups, tapered candles (the candles are used for their promotion ceremonies), they would be greatly appreciated as well as flag stickers or items they can hang in their “rooms” or on their vehicles, that would be FANTASTIC.

Please send donations to:

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 449

Mercer Island, WA 98040

These care packages would not be possible without your contributions or donations for purchasing items or to cover postage and packing tape. Thank you so much for helping me to make such a huge difference for our troops who sacrifice so very much on a daily basis to serve, honor, protect, and defend our Nation and bring hope to regions of the world that may not otherwise ever know the meaning of the word.

Always,

Robin

“The Sky Angel”

Bubbles and Tigger bring smiles to Iraq ...

Bubbles and Tigger bring smiles to our troops … Sky Angel style 🙂

Tags:Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, donations, hero, heroes, Marines, Navy, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, troops, volunteering, Wounded Warrior
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | No Comments »

“Birthday in a Box 2013”

Wednesday, January 9th, 2013

National Guard unit enjoying “Birthday in a Box” from 2012

It’s my birthday month … and time for “birthday in a box” for our deployed troops. If you would like to send any party items (like balloons, cups, beads, silly hats, party favors, plates, feather boas, board or card games, etc) that I can include (or postage $$), it would be greatly appreciated.

This is something I have enjoyed doing over the years and the troops really love getting cake mixes, candles, and frosting and everything to help them celebrate my birthday with them. 🙂 (they also are still needing scarves, hats, and items to stay warm … it is very cold in Afghanistan right now!!)

Sending fun toys like Nerf balls, etc is part of the plan (if I can raise funds). Please send anything you want me to include to: PO Box 449, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

Can’t wait to see what you all come up with to help make this a success … deadline to ship to me would be 31 January 2013 (want to give everyone time to be a part of the fun!!! ).

If you want to PayPal money for this, you can do so to: suppourtourheroes@live.com

(if you need a street address to ship items that you are ordering from a website, please let me know …)

Thanks so much for being a part of something fun to continue in my efforts of never allowing any of our valiant heroes to feel alone on the battlefield, and a reminder that people care back “home”.

Always,
Robin

PS. <3 If anyone wants to make Valentine’s cards for our service members, I will happily include them with the birthday boxes …. the timing will be perfect. Which ALSO means …. anyone who wants to make homemade fudge …. please send it for me to include, too!!! <3

Tags:Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, donations, hero, heroes, Marines, Navy, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, troops, volunteering
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | 2 Comments »

Christmas Miracles for our troops, a HUGE thank you!

Monday, December 10th, 2012

As the Christmas Care packages have been arriving to military bases in Afghanistan and Germany, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank each of you (from literally all over the world!!!) for your involvement with “Mail Call for Our Heroes 2012”.

Notice the smiles of this Marine unit at Camp Leatherneck, in front of their tree … and their wall paper of cards. Just brings tears of joy to my eyes, knowing how much of an impact the care packages mean to each of them.

It really is difficult to imagine what it is like to be serving in the Armed Forces, or be faced with the challenges of being in a war zone any time of the year. Yet, from the reports I have been receiving from our troops overseas; the boxes filled with surprises (I can’t ruin all the fun! lol), toiletries, junk food, books, Christmas trees, decorations, homemade treats, and all the items for their bomb sniffing dogs; has made a tremendous impact on their hearts and souls. There are friends of mine who have baked from all over the country and sent cookies, and I know those boxes are still arriving (thank you!!!).

A group of my friends locally helped to bake 75 dozen cookies, make 15 lbs of fudge … and we filled up 48 tins of “homemade goodies”. 🙂

A very special request came in this year, from a National Guard unit; where they have children who have died in local orphanages in previous years, because they were unable to find warmth. The request was simple. “Can you please send hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves to help keep the kids warm”. No one hesitated at the thought of helping the locals and fulfilled this wish within days.

My project has so many elements of it … making sure each unit has items to decorate with, goodies to make it feel, smell, and taste like “home”. I also strive to ensure that each member of each unit I support, at least has a card to open on Christmas day. This year through all of my networking, I was able to collect and send 4,857 cards ~ that have been forwarded on to service members in places I never could have fathomed. Locally, I need to send a huge shout out has to go to Mercer Island Elementary School; who did a Veteran’s Day “Parade” and collected probably thousands of dollars worth of items to be sent in care packages. (next year I need to learn how to ask for donations for postage and packing tape better! … valuable lesson. lol). Also, I have to thank Islander Middle School for their students and the way they were so involved with writing cards and letters. It truly was a blessing for me personally, to interact with them as they wrote words of praise and encouragement to our troops. ( Click here to view the article from the Mercer Island Reporter Newspaper )

Every step of the way, God provided. The very last day packages could be sent parcel post (which most of mine were, because of their size), a miraculous donation came in to cover what was needed for the remaining postage costs ~ and enabled me to purchase 50 calling cards for our 101st Airborne Unit; so each of them would have a way to call home for the holidays, and while they are in transit (many of them are not near bases because of their missions).

All in all, 58 care packages were sent; including three 6-8 ft artificial Christmas trees that were generously donated ~ and 11 different service members get to play Santa for their units this holiday season. It would not have been possible without the help of each person who graciously gave of your time, donations, or energy. The Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, are deeply appreciative that their staff and Wounded Warriors have been remembered as well.

Yours truly, buried in boxes at the post office … the clerk was SO happy to help us to send “holiday cheer” to our brave heroes!!

Thank you, from the bottom of my heart …. for helping to make Christmas miracles come true … and for touching the lives of the brave men & women who sacrifice so very much for each of us, on a daily basis. There are so many beautiful stories I could share with you, but sometimes I have to keep them to myself, in order to protect the units I have adopted … but I just want you to know, we are all making a huge impact; and thousands of heroes lives are touched by love, compassion, and caring.

May your Christmas be blessed, and your New Year bring you joyous memories to last a lifetime.

Always,

Robin

“The Sky Angel”

The Sky Angel ~ PO Box 449 ~ Mercer Island, WA 98040

Tags:Army, Coast Guard, Community Event, donations, hero, heroes, Mail Call for Our Heroes, Marines, Navy, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, troops, volunteering, Wounded Warrior
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | 4 Comments »

Sending cards to Wounded Warriors – repost from 2010, still in effect

Wednesday, November 28th, 2012

THIS BLOG POST IS FROM 2010, however, I have been out on disability since May 2011. So, any cards sent to me will either be forwarded via mail to the Wounded Warrior Hospitals, or given to my contacts to deliver. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND COMPLETELY THAT IF YOU SEND A LETTER TO “ANY SOLDIER” OR “A WOUNDED WARRIOR”, without an actual name, it will be thrown in the trash. Please read below for details. Also, I have moved, and my current mailing address is as the bottom of this updated blog. Thank you.

Thanks so much for ALL your support this past year with my efforts to support our valiant heroes, both on the battlefield, or here at “home”. Earlier today on my layover, I had the blessed opportunity to visit some of our Wounded Warriors at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center and participate in a Christmas party thrown by Operation Homefront at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in WA DC. While at both hospitals, I specifically asked what happens to cards where the envelope arrives without a specific person on it.

The response at both locations was the same. Since 9/11 and the threat of anthrax, any letters/cards/packages sent to a Military facility without a specific name, are destroyed. On the internet many people email and say “send a card to “any soldier” or “any wounded hero”. Please know these fall into the above category. If you or anyone you know wants to (and please, I encourage you to do so!!!) write a Wounded service member, please feel free to send them to me, (or any legitimate organization who says they will deliver them for you, there are plenty of them on the internet) and I will be happy to either hand deliver them to Walter Reed, Bethesda, Brooke Army Medical Center or forward them on to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany or the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan. Our troops need and deserve our support and a card is such an easy way to uplift someone’s spirits. Just write on the envelope “service member” or “wounded warrior” or something like that, and I will know NOT to open it. CARDS for CHRISTMAS must be received no later than 10December for Christmas delivery. Anything received after this date will still be sent, it will just get there a little late. (I accept cards all year round to support our Wounded Warriors). Just this week I know there are 7 service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our Nation, from the units I am personally supporting in Iraq and Afghanistan. My thoughts and prayers are with each of those families and all of those who are suffering from the effects of terrorism. May there one day soon be Peace On Earth. Thanks so much for helping me spread this information across the airwaves, and a huge shout out to my personal heroes reading this message.

Happy Holidays …. and remember, if you are a service member who needs support, or you are someone who would like to adopt a hero, please go to : http://adoptahero.us/ and sign up!!!

Always, Robin

http://alwayssupportourheroes.com/

Robin Schmidt

PO Box 449

Mercer Island, WA 98040

Robin Schmidt chosen as: ABC World News “Person of the Week” 23 October 2009

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/journal-messages-lift-soldiers-spirits-8904322

Tags:Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, hero, heroes, Marines, Navy, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, Travel, troops, volunteering, Wounded Warrior
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | No Comments »

“Mail Call for Our Heroes 2012”

Saturday, October 6th, 2012

The 1/6 Hard Marines ~ recipients of Mail Call for Our Heroes 2011

My goal: To raise $5,000 for holiday care packages (including Christmas trees with all the decorations, calling cards for the troops to use while the transition from country to country and don’t have access to the internet, and so much more!) for Marine & Army units I am currently supporting in Afghanistan, & Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The money raised will also include the cost of postage to get the items to our deployed troops and care packages throughout the year if there is any extra. 🙂

Every year our troops have been ecstatic with how much I have been able to send because of the generosity of everyone who got involved. It was absolutely AMAZING to see how many people came together from the far reaches of earth, to take care of our 1/6 “Hard” Marines last year. One of the Marines from that unit continues to call me regularly to tell me how much those random acts of kindness meant to him and his battle buddies. Thank you so much for your continued participation and donations to make a difference for our deployed troops.

Since I am already receiving emails asking where the cards will be going this year, I can tell you that I am supporting the Combat Surgical Hospital in Afghanistan, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany (which includes the staff as well as our Wounded), a Marine unit at Camp Leatherneck, and a 101^st Airborne unit in Afghanistan. If you write cards for a specific place, please somehow indicate that on your package to me. The 50 AT&T calling cards will be going to the 101^st Airborne Unit.

the office of our deployed troops over the holidays …

The deadline for me to receive any items you want to donate for the care packages themselves; including cards to the troops, contents for packages (including AT&T calling cards), or cash donations need to be arrived in my mailbox no later than Veterans Day (11 November 2012).

My goal is for none of our troops ever feel alone on the battlefield, or when they return home. Thanks so much for helping to make sure that never happens by making a difference for our valiant heroes through being a part of my project “Mail Call for Our Heroes 2012”!!

Always,

Robin

“The Sky Angel”

Robin Schmidt ~ PO Box 449 ~ Mercer Island, WA 98040

Tags:Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Community Event, donations, hero, heroes, Marines, Navy, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, troops, volunteering, Wounded Warrior
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | No Comments »

What a small world … and how God connects us! :)

Friday, August 31st, 2012

: My friend, Fisher (the Interpreter) at the Sugar Shack … (obviously edited to protect his identity)

Last December I wrote a blog about a man named Sam Fisher titled “a case of mistaken identity”. Since that point in time, I have gotten to know Fisher or “Fish” as he used to be called by his (war buddies/Army friends/American friends…) much better through instant messaging and Facebook, and have felt compelled to re-share his story, and give you an update. You see, it was not until after the original post, that Fish and I realized how we even got to find out how we were originally connected. In 2007 I supported SPC Jonathan Pacheco in the 2/7 Army out of Ft. Hood, Texas, unit known as “Ghost Battalion”. My connection to Jonathan came about because of a random soldier in an airport, telling me his best friend never got mail and he asked me if I would “adopt” him. Honestly, it seems like I have known Jonathan my entire life now, and we became so close through his deployments and “in between” that he is like a son to me. (you can see a video about Jonathan here: watch?v=ULGFwHH4Rs0 )

But the funniest thing is; this story isn’t meant to be about Jonathan. He is just beginning of this particular story. I mean, a stranger asked me to adopt him and I have done so since that day I met Desmond in the airport. But then I found out through a “case of mistaken identity” that not only the members of the Ghost Battalion were touched by my care packages. There was an Iraqi who was imbedded with the unit as an interpreter (known as a TERP). Fisher to this day, continues to tell me about the days at the ‘sugar shack” and how they would fight over the contents of my care packages. How they would wait with anticipation of what would come in the next box. Over the past year, Fish has brought me to tears more than once, by retelling a story of how I changed the lives of the people in that unit and his own family. In chatting with him online today, I was moved to re-share HIS STORY … and my original post. Please be patient enough to read the entire story … for me, for our troops, and for a man who had enough courage to leave his family, friends, and everything he knew … so he could help the US Army to bring freedom to his own country.

~~~ Original post December 2011 ~~~

As you all know, I have been “adopting” service members since September 11, 2001. This has included supporting them through their deployments, helping family members cope with the absence of their loved ones, and being a support system to each of them (if need be) when they return. In the past 10 years I have supported 100 troops, this past year being a bit more of a challenge because of my own circumstances. Last week I was communicating with a “soldier” in Iraq, asking him if he would be coming home soon. Early in the conversation, I was corrected with my mistake and was told an amazing story. My friend gave me permission to share it with you … because I believe this is a story the entire world should read & know. It will dispel any of the naysayers who believe we never should have invaded Iraq. And it makes me so very proud of my friend, Fisher and our troops. Please feel free comment on this post, I know he and many of our troops will be reading your thoughts … and remember, we each can make a difference … one person, one breath, one smile, and one life at a time.

Robin

“The Sky Angel”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ohh I`m sorry Robin! You must have confused me with some other friend of yours!!! But I don`t blame you my friend, because I have never had the chance to introduce myself to you properly!

I want to tell you my story instead of just telling you what my name is, and I`ll try to be as brief as possible… My name is Fisher … or that is the name I decided to be called, when I was asked to choose an American name by Staff Seargant Monley when I got a job with the U.S Army. I cannot tell you my real name because it would put me and my family in danger, so you can call me “Fish”, lol. Its funny because if I would not have met that soldier in 2003 there wouldn’t be a story to be told, and you would never know about me. They say every thing happens for a reason. Maybe the reason why I met that soldier, is to have a story and then tell it to you. And maybe the reason why I`m writing my story to you right now, is so you can tell it to others! I was 23 years old when I quit college and decided to make my country of Iraq a better place, After it was ruined by insurgents, when I decided to join the American Forces to help fight those who wished to destroy what has left of my home, and make harm to my people. Now I know you might be thinking … I could have just joined the Iraqi Army to do that! but then again… if I would have you definitely would not be reading this story you are reading right now! I am certain I would have been killed.

I grew up in a house where I was taught that there is no difference whatsoever between human beings, no matter what their sex or religion might be. After operation Iraq Freedom in 2003 had occurred, I was 17 years old when I met the first American soldier in a friendly football game between local Iraqi’s and young American soldiers. It was funny how me and that soldier could communicate with each other but none of us could speak each other`s language! That poorly interactive conversation between us gave me the urge to learn to speak English. Now as hard as I tried… I can`t remember his name. Isn’t it funny how people we remember the least (thinking of them but not knowing their names) make the greatest impression on us? So after that football game, I found myself reading Grammar books, and other books of self teaching English. I told myself “the next American Soldier I met again will tell me his stories and I`ll be able to understand!”

I kept studying and studying until without knowing I realized I was the best student in English subject in my school. Although that wasn’t my intention, but because of that, I got accepted in English department in my college later on. In 2007 insurgency was at its peak, and the insurgents killed every one who they suspected to work, or just spoke with the Americans. They were destroying my town, the place where I grew up in, my home … and they were killing a lot of people every day. Including old people, women and children, and also many Americans. I felt like I had to do something while I could. I felt that I wasn’t born to sit here and do nothing and watch Iraq tear itself apart, there was a war against terror going on and I wanted to be part of that war.

I knew English, and it was about choosing sides and I had already chosen mine… I wanted to be with the good guys and the good guys happened to be Americans. They happened to be the strongest also. So I thought of quitting college and joining the U.S troops, I wanted to help make Iraq a good place again, I wanted to make an ending to this nightmare! So I did leave my college, friends and family and went to work with the U.S Army, I was attached to the infantry. I spent two years working with them, two years with two different units, one year with each unit. when the first one left, I was recommended by them to work with the new one that had just arrived. At the beginning, my first days were full of awkwardness, I thought … me being the only Iraqi kid with a bunch of American soldiers in one tent, and being from a different background with much concern with the cultural differences … this might have been a bad decision! BUT the way they let me blend in and kept on hooking me up made me believe that I was no longer a stranger, but a part of one team! They shared care packages with me from people “back home”.

It was our lives on the line, but we didn’t care and we always made fun of it all the time. We used to say… “we could die together in one mortar round if the insurgents get lucky, and that round landed on our tent! or WE can get lucky and that round could land somewhere else so we can live another day and eat another MRE!!!” After two years of being away from my friends and family, and I made a lot of American friends. Iraq kept on getting better and better, and the insurgency faded away eventually as Iraq stood up on its feet. I was recommended by my Team Leader Cpt. Briten to move and live in the states if Iraq stayed a hostile environment for people like me. I have been working on my paper work to do that, but now that Iraq is fine (thanks to the U.S troops ) I can choose whether to stay here with my friends and family, or to finish college and travel to join my brothers in arms again, but this time it`ll be on the land of freedom, and not on a battlefield.

I quit right after my second team went back home, I went back to college. I learned a lot from my American friends and so did they from me. We shared some good and bad times that I will never forget as long as I live. I hope I didn’t bother you with this story of mine, but the only reason why I wrote it to you so that you can know about those who where influenced, and had their lives transformed by American soldiers, like myself. and tell a story of a TERP who you have never met face to face, but maybe one day will.

Your friend, Fisher.

Tags:Army, donations, hero, heroes, Robin Schmidt, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, troops
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | 1 Comment »

Stand up for Heroes …

Thursday, August 30th, 2012

Christmas at BAMC in 2010

Many people ask me regularly how you can support our Wounded Warriors or be involved in supporting our troops. Please watch this video http://vimeo.com/16627861 . It will touch you to the depths of your soul.

Today, God really put it on my heart to share http://remind.org/ with you. Get involved with them if your heart leads you to do so.

If you can attend “Stand up for Heroes”, I strongly recommend it. It is a night you will always remember. If you cannot attend, but can make a donation, FANTASTIC.

In 2009 I was blessed to be interviewed by Bob Woodruff and learn of his miraculous story when I was named the ABC World News Person of the Week (http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/journal-messages-lift-soldiers-spirits-8904322). That afternoon with him and the ABC staff changed my life forever. It motivated me to do even more for our troops than I already had been. Having visited our Wounded Warriors at Landstuhl, Bethesda, Balboa, Walter Reed, and Brook Army Medical Centers over the years … I have relied on the memories of those experiences with those brave individuals who have given me strenth, tenacity, courage, and determination through my own life experiences the past couple years.

This is an organization I believe in (and I don’t share information about those who don’t have integrity) … and you all know I would do anything to support our valiant warriors. May none of them ever feel alone on the battlefield, or when they return home. Stay tuned, more ideas will be popping up from me soon, but until then ….

May God bless our troops, and their families, for all they sacrifice daily in the name of freedom.

Always,

Robin

The Sky Angel

Tags:Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, donations, hero, heroes, humanitarian, Marines, Navy, soldiers, Supporting our Heroes, The Sky Angel, troops, volunteering, Wounded Warrior
Posted in Supporting our Heroes | No Comments »

The Sky Angel's Blog

Posts Tagged ‘soldiers’