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The opposition is not interested in curing global warming, universal national health care insurance, or any other massive program except in how they help their underlying agenda. Whatever you want to call it, the net effect is statism or centralizing power to a government. Any government. If not the United States Congress or the Supreme Court or the presidency then to the United Nations. Someone who will take all personal responsibility off of the individual. Someone to blame for everything. This is why the conservative arguments are not making headway. This is why the conservative agenda is not capable of getting traction in our society.
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Project Valour-IT
In memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss
It was the first time I felt whole since I’d woken up wounded in Landstuhl.
–Major Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, on using a voice-controlled laptop
You can make a donation to Valour-IT through Paypal here.
Soldiers' Angels has been designated a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity by the IRS. Donations are tax-deductible and may be eligible for matching funds from donors' employers (ask your employer).Please include your name, address, phone number and email address with donations by mail. Send your donation by mail to: Soldiers' Angels
Project Valour-IT Fund, 1792 E. Washington Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91104. Donors may choose to sponsor a wounded soldier currently on the laptop waiting list. All funds received go directly to our wounded troops; 100% of your donation to Project Valour-IT will be used to purchase laptops and other technology that will support recovery and provide independence and freedom to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines.
Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, helps provide voice-controlled/adaptive laptop computers and other technology to support Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand wounds and other severe injuries. Technology supplied includes:
- Voice-controlled Laptops - Operated by speaking into a microphone or using other adaptive technologies, they allow the wounded to maintain connections with the rest of the world during recovery.
- Wii Video Game Systems - Whole-body game systems increase motivation and speed recovery when used under the guidance of physical therapists in therapy sessions (donated only to medical facilities).
- Personal GPS - Handheld GPS devices build self-confidence and independence by compensating for short-term memory loss and organizational challenges related to severe TBI and severe PTSD.
The experience of Major Chuck Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered serious hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important these laptops and other technologies can be to a wounded service member's recovery.
Blackfive is once again leading the ARMY team in a friendly competition among the military branches/milbloggers to raise funds for Project Valour IT -http://www.blackfive.net/main/2009/10/valourit-fundraiser-on-the-way.html#comments
I have joined the Army team...
Team Leaders
Air Force - Mudville GazetteArmy - Blackfive
Marines - Villainous Company
Navy - USNI Blog
"...It is comforting to know there are people who care so much. After a year of surgeries, treatment and therapy, it can be discouraging. Although I am a trained attorney, due to TBI, it is unclear what my future will be. The computer will help with my therapy and my transition back to civilian work." – Captain V, U.S. Army Reserves
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I work at the Men's and Women's Trauma Recovery Program at The Menlo Park VA. Our program's mission is to serve military men and women who are suffering from the symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. On behalf of our entire program, I want to personally thank you for donating the WII Fit. The Wii gaming system offers opportunities for our patients to actively interact with one another, which is different from other gaming systems. For example four people can actually play tennis or baseball, which helps them engage with one another, and reduce isolation. The Wii fit will allow our patients to actively exercise with others and gives them another avenue to engage in healthy habits. With your donation, you are working with us to help support each person's recovery and building the foundation for a better quality of life for our veterans and active duty service members. - Melissa Puckett, Recreation Therapist/Supervisor, January 2009
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January 18th, 2006
Dear Mrs. Smith,
It was brought to my attention that your organization, Soldier's Angels, did something very special for the Marines of our Injured Support Battalion. I want to take this time and thank you so much for your contribution to make special memories for those who sacrifice so much.
Your contribution of laptops is quite above and beyond. I am grateful that you have taken time to honor our injured heroes.

[Partial funding for this project was provided by the Texas Resources for Iraq-Afghanistan Deployment (TRIAD) fund of the San Antonio Area Foundation. For more than 40 years, the San Antonio Area Foundation, a publicly supported philanthropic institution, has been administering donors’ funds and granting gifts from those funds to worthy charitable causes that significantly enhance the quality of life in the communities they serve.]
Project Valour-IT began when Captain Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss was wounded by an IED while serving as commander of a tank company in Iraq in June 2005.
During his deployment he kept a blog (an online personal diary, opinion forum, or news analysis site-called a milblog or military weblog when written by a servicemember or about military subjects). Captivating writing, insightful stories of his experiences, and his self-deprecating humor won him many loyal readers. After he was wounded, his wife continued his blog, keeping his readers informed of his condition.
As he began to recover, CPT Ziegenfuss wanted to return to writing his blog, but serious hand injuries hampered his typing. When a loyal and generous reader gave him a copy of the Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred software, other readers began to realize how important such software could be to CPT Ziegenfuss' fellow wounded soldiers and started cast about for a way to get it to them.
A fellow blogger (blog author) who writes under the pseudonym FbL contacted Captain Ziegenfuss and the two realized they shared a vision of providing laptops with voice-controlled software to wounded soldiers whose injuries prevented them from operating a standard computer. FbL contacted Soldiers Angels, who offered to help develop the project, and Project Valour-IT was born.
In sharing their thoughts, CPT Ziegenfuss (now a Major) and FbL found that memories of their respective fathers were a motivating factor in their work with the project. Both continue their association with this project in memory of the great men in their lives whose fine examples taught them lasting lessons of courage and generosity.
In the years since its founding in 2005, the project has acted to meet emerging needs and its mission of supporting the the severely wounded has expanded. In addition to voice-controlled laptops, Valour-IT now helps provide active and whole-body video games such as Wii Sports, which is used to great effect in physical therapy, and personal GPS systems that help compensate for short-term memory loss and organizational/spacial challenges common in those with brain injuries.
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Hello, my name is LCpl. Andrew. I am a Marine that was wounded in Iraq and got medevaced to Brooke Army Medical Center in Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. I recently received a laptop. I was informed that it was you, the Soldier's Angels that donated it. I can't tell you how thankful I am to have support from organizations such as yourself. It really lets me know that there are people out there that still care about the troops and what they are sacrificing for this country. I appreciate what you have done for me and having this laptop is actually good therapy for my hand. Once again thank you and I am proud to serve this country knowing there are people like you that I am protecting.
Sincerely,
Andrew
Currently there is such a large need for the laptops Project Valour-IT provides that many wounded heroes requesting laptops are put on a waiting list. But for $800 you can sponsor someone on the waiting list and pay for his or her voice-activated laptop, which will make these heroes' wait much shorter.
If you are unable to sponsor a wounded soldier and fund the full cost of a laptop but would still like to help, we welcome you to donate what you can here. Or, consider coordinating a group of people such as co-workers or a community organization to raise the funds to sponsor one or two soldiers.
Thank you for your generosity and support for those to whom we all owe so much...
If you have any questions regarding our Valour-IT or Adopt a Wounded Soldier program, please email us. Thank you.
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God in Heaven protect our warriors from the Washington, DC arm chair generals as You alone are the Hope we can trust.
Members of Congress and civilian bureaucrats that can't balance a budget, spending America into eternal debt, participate in all sorts of immoral behavior, fully corrupt, can't drive themselves from point A to point B, speak at the level of 8 year olds, are only focused on a personal self serving agenda, totally devoid of courage, integrity, personal responsibility...in short are greedy cowards...with no credible experience in national security and less than zero military service, now want to second guess a seasoned military chain of command in devising strategy and tactics in the Afghanistan war.
The political apparatus in Washington, DC has abandoned our troops in harms way, indecision is allowing the enemy to refit their forces and costing American lives, has sent a message of American political weakness and surrender to the Islamic butchers, while giving scant attention that our warriors are giving their lives and blood while indecison reigns.
If Afghanistan is a "war of necessity" as the Commander In Chief says, how can any level of leadership allow our men and women to be without the resources to win??
Nothing is more despicable than sending men and women into war and then betraying them while in battle...it would be entirely appropriate for the military chain of command to withdraw all troops to safe areas, expect a victory position within 72 hours from the Commander in Chief with credible proof of resources to win, otherwise, the military chain of command resigns.
Not one more drop of American blood spilled while Washington D.C. leadership cowers in surrender.
Harry Riley, COL, USA, Ret
A new group dedicated to addressing the cultural wars is now on Vox. Deals with the debates of liberals and conservatives. Covering gay opponents and advocate disputes. Covering cultural disputes in morality issues (e.g. sexuality, abortion), education, war, literature, religion, media, child rearing, politics, and society. Please post and comment. Link: http://culturalwars.groups.vox.com/

Email
post (#2) by H. Hamilton – A report written by a concerned CA citizen
attending the Board of Inquiry for LtCol Jeffrey Chessani. 
Major
Jeffrey Dinsmore was LtCol Chessani’s intelligence officer. He has
served as an active-duty Marine for over 23 years. In yesterday’s
testimony, he informed Board members of the complexity of the daylong
engagement in Haditha on November 19, 2005. He also informed the Board
his intelligence assessment before November 19, 2005 indicated Marines
were going to be attacked in Hadtiha that day. Follow-on intelligence
after November 19, 2005 confirmed to Major Dinsmore and LtCol Chessani
that the attack on November 19, 2005 was one they were expecting from
foreign fighters—namely Syrians.
Next
to testify, was Major Luke McConnell, company commander of the Marines
originally charged in the case. He explained to Board members that he
spoke to his Marines, as their commanding officer, during and after the
engagement. He personally fought in the engagement. He confirmed his
company was in a daylong battle with insurgents. He also went to where
the Marines entered homes to clear out insurgents. Major McConnell was
briefed by Lieutenant Kallop, the units platoon leader, that he ordered
the Marines to clear the homes of insurgents and unfortunately there
were civilians killed as collateral damage.
Email post by H. Hamilton – The report from a concerned CA citizen attending the Board of Inquiry for LtCol Jeffrey Chessani.