This Just In ...

Severely wounded troops face evictions and other financial disasters this Easter

Posted by Kevin Fischer on April 19, 2011

Dear Patriotic American,

Many troops severely wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq are in dire straits right now – and by Easter they may be out on the street. 

Since I'm aware of your support for patriotic causes, I thought you might want to help.

Please make a tax-deductible donation right now to the Emergency Easter Relief Project, sponsored by the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes.

This special project was formed to rescue disabled servicemen and women unable to feed their family or facing an eviction, utility cutoff or other financial disaster.

My name is Major General John K. Singlaub, U.S. Army (Ret.). I served our nation during three wars. And today I'm working with the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, a wonderful nonprofit that rushes emergency financial aid to our troops severely wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq. 

Our emergency Easter project is urgent, because requests for emergency financial aid jumped 21 percent during the first three months of this year compared to the same period last year. So for every five severely burned, blinded or paralyzed servicemen or women we were helping last year, we are now trying to help six. And I don't have the heart to turn even one wounded hero away. 

Here's why so many are in dire straits. 

Right now our seriously injured troops are waiting an average of six months to receive their first government disability check after being released from the hospital and separated from the service. As a result many are unable to pay everyday bills and take care of their families.

I don't want our severely wounded troops to have to choose between paying the light bill and feeding their children this Easter. And I know you don't either.

In addition, the spouses of many severely wounded troops – such as those who have been burned, blinded or paralyzed – have quit their jobs to care for them. So now these families have fallen into a desperate situation and have nowhere else to turn. 

Tax-deductible Easter gifts from generous and patriotic Americans like you will be helping people like Army Sgt. Joseph Perez (Ret.) of Falcon, North Carolina. Joseph suffered a brain injury while preparing for a mission in Iraq. 

This wounded hero says, "Without the help of the Coalition, my family and I would be homeless." 

And people like Sidney Hodges, who has two small children and suffered brain damage in Iraq. Sidney told us, "The Coalition gave us a gift card so we could fill our fridge and buy things we needed for our son and new baby girl. The Coalition was a blessing and an answer to so many prayers." 

By the way, the Coalition has set a goal of rushing emergency financial aid to wounded heroes like these within 10 days of receiving their urgent call. Frankly we took a "leap of faith" when we made that commitment. Because right now we don't know how many emergency requests we will receive between now and Easter. 

I also have faith in YOU to make a generous, tax-deductible Easter donation to the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes. 

I don't want any more military families to have to face the pain, humiliation and fear of homelessness or an eviction, and I know you don't either. 

The Easter Season is the perfect time to thank many of these disabled heroes for the painful sacrifices they've made. After all, these brave men and women will never be able to see, or hear, or use their arms or legs again after being hit by a roadside bomb. 

You and I can't heal their physical injuries or make them whole again. But by pitching in to help rescue them from a financial crisis Coalition friends like you can lift a heavy burden from their shoulders for awhile. 

I'd like to show you what a difference your kindness can make. Kristi P. is a young servicewoman who suffered a devastating injury in Iraq. After receiving financial assistance from Coalition supporters, Kristi wrote back to say, "Your gift brought tears of Thanksgiving to my eyes. . . . It felt like God was smiling upon me and reminding me what I gave really did matter."

You can make another young serviceman or woman feel like God is smiling upon them this Easter. 

So please make a generous, tax-deductible donation to the Coalition's Emergency Easter Relief Project. 

Thank you for what you have already done to help America's disabled – and desperate – wounded troops. And let me be the first to wish you and your family a Happy Easter.






Major General John K. Singlaub
U.S. Army (Ret)


P.S. As I mentioned, many troops severely wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq are facing financial disasters this Easter, including utility cutoffs, car repossessions, and even evictions. Don't forget that many of these seriously injured troops have been waiting an average of six months or more for their first government disabilitycheck, and they are becoming more and more desperate.

So please make the most generous gift you can to the Emergency Easter Relief Project.

Sending them an unexpected Easter gift is a great way to show your gratitude for the painful sacrifices they have made.

Thank you for your patriotism and generosity.