The Ride for Semper Fi

I received this press release today and thought I would share. I am impressed by the cyclists dedication to raise money for injured Marines. I know many families who have been greatly helped by the Semper Fi Fund.

Cycling Enthusiasts Raise Money for Injured Marines
The Ride for Semper Fi is well on its way to raise $177,500
PHOENIX—When 50 cycling enthusiasts pedal from Phoenix to San Diego this October,
they’ll not only test their endurance, they’ll be on a mission to make a difference. The third
annual Ride for Semper Fi, which begins Oct. 13, is a 430-mile, three-day cycling adventure
to raise money for injured Marines. The goal is to raise $177,500 for the Injured Marine
Semper Fi Fund by the time the cyclists end the ride at Sea World on Oct. 16. To date, they
have raised nearly $120,000.
“We are not professional athletes or career fundraisers, but we are people who want to give
back to those Marines who have sacrificed so much of themselves in order to fight for our
country,” John Greenway, founder and chairman of The Ride for Semper Fi, said.
Between now and the Ride’s kick-off in October, the 50 riders who participate—including
some injured Marines who have benefited from the fund in the past—devote nearly five
months to a rigorous training regime. They complete training rides of up to 100 miles while
also continuing their individual fundraising efforts.
In 2009, the Ride raised more than $150,000 to help defray expenses, assist in recovery and
support family members of Armed Forces service people injured in combat. This year, the
fundraising goal is $177,500, which will help pay for medical expenses, physical therapy and
other necessary equipment, such as wheelchairs and prostheses.
“The Marine Corps was founded in 1775,” Greenway said. “So, we knew that raising
$177,500 would really mean something to those Marines who are so important to us and our
cause. It’s not only about raising the money. It’s about showing them that we respect their
history, and recognize their significant contribution to our country’s history, too.”
Greenway first envisioned The Ride for Semper Fi when he attended his nephew’s
graduation from Marine Corps boot camp. Knowing his nephew would likely be deployed to
Iraq or Afghanistan, Greenway became determined to make a significant contribution for his
nephew and all other Marines fighting overseas.
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The Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund is a non-profit charity that has given more than $38
million in grants to more than 15,000 injured Marines and their families. The Fund provides
immediate financial assistance to defray hospital bills and recovery expenses.
For more information about The Ride for Semper Fi, its next rider-fundraiser, or to make a
donation, visit www.therideforsemperfi.com.
About The Ride for Semper Fi
The third annual Ride for Semper Fi is a philanthropic bicycle ride that begins in Scottsdale,
Ariz., and ends three days and 430 miles later at SeaWorld in San Diego. Fifty cycling
enthusiasts, including some former Marines, will complete the journey. The ride begins on
Oct. 13, but the fundraising journey begins now with a goal to raise more than $177,500 to
benefit the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund. To donate to the Ride for Semper Fi, or to learn
more about us, visit: www.therideforsemperfi.com.
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Operation Homefront Celebration in Colorado Springs

HOMEFRONT CELEBRATION COMES TO COLORADO SPRINGS
Spa Event to Benefit Military Spouses

Colorado Springs, CO -- Operation Homefront will host a special event for military spouses, a Homefront Celebration, on September 18, 2010 at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort.

All military spouses in the Colorado Springs area are invited to participate in a meal and enjoy relaxation, inspiration and laughter. Each attendee will also receive a gift bag filled with spa items to pamper themselves at home. This event is generously sponsored by TriWest Healthcare Alliance and is open to all military spouses.

“TriWest understands that the families of our military service members make tremendous sacrifices when their loved ones choose to defend our country,” said David J. McIntyre, Jr., president and CEO of TriWest Healthcare Alliance. “Military spouses often do double-duty as parents, while also worrying about someone in harm’s way overseas. By partnering with Operation Homefront, TriWest is continuing our commitment to serve and support the men and women in uniform and their families.”

The Colorado Springs event is one of six Homefront Celebrations being held for military spouses across the nation. Each event will host up to 150 military spouses and will begin with a reception, followed by an elegant four-course dinner.

The evening will feature Marshele Carter Waddell, Author of “Hope for the Home Front”, Co-Author of “When War Comes Home” and Founder of One Hope, a non-profit organization which brings hope, healing and solutions to military families.

Homefront Online will host an Internet cafe to visit the online networking magazine and to chat with other military spouses around the world.

Military spouses many times have to simultaneously be the mother, father, peacemaker, referee and keep the homefront together while every member of the family sacrifices through service. This community event allows Operation Homefront and TriWest Healthcare Alliance the opportunity to show gratitude for all they do.

Military spouses interested in participating may register for the events online at: www.HomefrontOnline.com or www.OperationHomefront.net .

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About TriWest
TriWest Healthcare Alliance partners with the Department of Defense to do "Whatever It Takes" to support the healthcare needs of 2.7 million members of America's military family. A Phoenix-based corporation, TriWest provides access to cost-effective, high-quality health care in the 21-state TRICARE West Region. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook, or visit www.triwest.com for more information.


About Operation Homefront
Operation Homefront provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and wounded warriors. A national nonprofit, Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers across 23 chapters and has met more than 267,000 needs since 2002. A four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, $.95 of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes to programs. For more information about Operation Homefront, please visit some of our useful links below:

 OH Main Website
 OH ONLINE Community
 OH Volunteer
 OH Donate:
 OH Facebook
 OH Twitter: @Op_Homefront
 Del.cious

6 A.M. Call

This morning Bryan's phone started ringing at 6 A.M. it was a 423 area code that called him twice yesterday. I asked him to please answer the phone. It was the doctor about his orthodics. I called again a couple of weeks ago to check on this since the order was lost last time. The Doctor informed him this morning that they sent his orthodics to the wrong person. Here is the tally:
1 month wait for the appointment to get orthotics made
3 trips to the VA to get them made
7 months of waiting for them to be delivered
2 phone calls to his case manager to find out the order was lost
1 more phone call from said case manager to put in a note to the doctor
1 call from the doctor to say someone else has his orthodics

What should have taken 1 trip to the VA and a 6 weeks wait for them delivered turned in to this. I am questioning why we didn't just get a referral through Tricare to get them made here in town. We would have had them a lot sooner, with less time wasted, and less frustration.

"Restrepo"

I went to see the film “Restrepo “with a friend last weekend. Bryan was out of town, and I thought he probably shouldn’t go anyway due to the content of the film. The film shows a tight-knit group of soldiers in a combat team from Battle Company of the 173d Airborne Brigade fighting in the Korengal Valley. It is one of the most deadliest and dangerous places in Afghanistan.

This was not Hollywood-glam of version of war, this was the real thing. The sound of bullets were cracks -- not booms -- this is exactly how my husband described it when bullets whizzed by his Kevlar. In the opening scene there were soldiers talking about drinking before going to war; their personalities were shining through. In the next scene, an IED exploded; I was definitely startled by the magnitude of the blast.

These men had a bond that is undeniable, they were brothers in war. I started to love these soldiers as I watched each interview. I began to notice how young they are, and how tough this 15- month deployment has been. I was definitely more invested in this movie because of all the information I’ve seen in the last couple of months and the fact that my husband deployed three times.

A couple of things really stood out to me while watching. The first was the title of the movie. It was named after a Juan “Doc” Restrepo that was shown in the beginning of the film. He later died while fighting. The soldiers ended up naming their outpost after him.

Second was the comment that one soldier made while reflecting on his time at war. He said that fighting it such an adrenaline high, nothing is going to compare to it. When asked what he was going to do when he got home, how he was going to get that same high, I could tell he was worried. His response: “I don’t know.”

I know my husband is the same way. He is always trying to find things that “are fast enough to be stupid on.”

The third standout point of the film was when another soldier was killed and others wounded in a fierce fire fight. One of the soldiers knew something happened, that someone died. He broke into a panicky wail; his heart was shattered. That’s when my tears started to flow. His emotional reaction to a fellow soldier being killed was almost too much for me to bear.

In the end, I think this was an accurate portrayal of war without a political agenda. I was comforted by how swiftly they care for the wounded and evac them to the nearest medical facility. It warmed my heart to see the camaraderie of the soldiers with one another. I have seen it outside of war with my husband and his men, but to see it while fighting just proves that war isn’t all bad. They can still have fun, joke around and show how much they care for one another.

The Journey Home

I recorded “The Journey Home” that aired Saturday night on CNN. I decided to sit down today and watch the journey of wounded warriors from Afghanistan back to the States. There were some alarming statistics shown in between the segments, and I feel these numbers speak for themselves.

8.061 million veterans in the VA healthcare system
3.16 million veterans receiving VA disability compensation
2,510 wounded in action in 2010 through July
7,285 wounded in action in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

While this segment was showing troops who were wounded in Afghanistan and Bryan’s injuries occurred in Iraq, I wanted to see what the process was like. I asked Bryan last night if he remembered the flight in the C17. He said he didn’t because he was on life support and very heavily medicated. He said he does remember a small bit of the helicopter flight to Balad. They stated that those who can speak are handed a phone to call home on their flight to Germany or the States. I am so thankful that they get the opportunity to call.

They featured several wounded warriors. Spc. Gary Davis had on a neck brace and lost parts of both of his legs due to an IED. He said he was being sent to Walter Reed and his parents were supposed to meet him there. Pfc. James Darlington had arm injuries and at first thought he was going to lose it. The doctors reassured him that he was no longer in danger of amputation. With that being said, infection is a main concern with these types of injures, the flight crew said. A lot of the wounded warriors were talking about leaving their comrades while they were sent home to rehabilitate. They were concerned about them and wanted to continue to fight alongside them. I remember Bryan having the same concerns when he got to Walter Reed. He was always talking about his men and hoping that they were going to be OK.
During the segment they didn’t show those who were on life support and were too incapacitated to speak. They did say that they keep some warriors alive on a ventilator until they can get them home so the family can say their final goodbyes. My heart sank at the thought of these warriors’ not getting the opportunity to rehabilitate. Their journey was over.

Gen. Doug Robb, who oversees the 6500 AMC medical personnel at 11 treatment centers, spoke toward the end of the segment. I was glad to see that he commended the amazing medical crew that aids not only in the trauma centers in-country but also sits by the warriors’ sides through the long flight back to the States. He said that 88 percent of the air medical crew is reservist or National Guard. Without this amazing crew, the warriors would not be in peace during their flight. For those who are alert you could see the bond that the crew and the warriors made in their journey home.

I was glad that I watched this piece even though it stirred up some old emotions. It is amazing how skilled the trauma nurses and doctors are. Without their swift action, I doubt my soldier would be here with me today.

Spouse READI Program

I am participating in a similar program and have gained support and knowledge. If you are interested please email or call.

Spouse READI assistance

For Spouses of service members who have returned from Iraq or Afghanistan



A Department of Defense and Army funded research study administered by the

Memphis Veterans Affairs Medical Center



Spouses will receive (by random assignment) either:

Telephone support groups, one hour, two times a month for 6 months, or

Telephone/online education sessions, 45 minutes, two times a month for 6 months, or

Printed resources and a one-on-one workshop at the end of the study period



Spouses learn ways to manage stress and solve problems related to reintegration

Education about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, and other common problems



For Information or to Enroll please contact us at:



Spouse READI

Email: vhamemsbm@va.gov

Call: (901) 577-7485 or (800) 636-8262, ext. 7485

See the Website: www.memphis.va.gov/spousesupport

Operation Homefront Wounded Warrior Wives

I am going to be working with Operation Homefront's Wounded Warrior Wives Program. I have been a member of their forums for a long time now. It was the first place I found support after Bryan was injured and I am so thankful for this amazing opportunity. I have been hoping and praying for a way to work with wives of the wounded and now I am able to do this. I am thrilled!

For more information on Wounded Warrior Wives click here and it is a private group so that we can talk in a safe place. Also it is not just for wives; it can be mothers, sisters, girlfriends, fiances, grandmothers, etc. Any female caregiver of a wounded warrior. There will be an online application to join the group and also once you have joined click on the forum named "Interested in Receiving a Care Package Courtesy of WalMart and Operation Homefront?" about 3/4 of the way down. You will receive a care package of things you will definately enjoy.

In addition please "like" the facebook page for this group listed here.

I hope to see you all on the forums and facebook page very soon.

News....

I've got some great news. I am too tired to write all about it tonight but soon I will fill you all in. I am so excited!