PROJECT VALOUR-IT

Image Cox and Forkum

OK, It's GRUNTS v. JARHEADS V. SQUIDS v. ZOOMIES! Let's get to it! There's a friendly inter-service challenge going on from November 2 through Veterans Day, November 11 to raise money for this most worthwhile and noble project:

Project Valour-IT (Voice-Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops)

Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse. The experience of CPT Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important this voice-controlled software can be to a wounded servicemember's recovery.

You're sitting there reading this... and you got here by typing... LOOK AT YOUR HANDS...

As Capt. Z said himself, "At that time I had no use of either hand. I know how humbling it is, how humiliating it feels. And I know how much better I felt, how amazingly more functional I felt, after Soldiers' Angels provided me with a laptop and a loyal reader provided me with the software. I can't wait to do the same, to give that feeling to another soldier at Walter Reed."

So go read all the details at Blackfive... AND THEN DONATE:

To credit your donation to the Army, march on over to BLACKFIVE

To credit your donation to the Marines, steal your way over at Holly Aho's

To credit your donation to the Air Force, fly on over to The Mudville Gazette

To credit your donation to the Navy, swim on over to Mrs. Smash

Donors may also send in donations to:
Soldiers Angels

Valour-IT Fund

1792 East Washington Blvd.

Pasadena, CA 91104

Donations sent in the mail should be sent early on as they must be received by Nov 11 to count towards the contest. Include your team name (ARMY, NAVY, etc.) with the donation so that your team receives credit for it.

If you have read this site, you know the heartache and worry that military families endure while their service members are deployed... and you know how imperative communication between the soldier and his/her family is... So I ask you to whole-heartedly and completely endorse this incredible project that assists our wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines ... Help them reconnect with the world using technology. Give a donation in your name, your grandfather's name, your Dad's, your brother's, sister's, friend's... or just because you are glad that there are others out there willing to serve to protect you and yours!

Note: The money raised during this little contest will be used to acquire this technology for wounded service members regardless of their branch of service -- the competition is just to see which branch can raise the most money!

It's a tax-deductible donation and eligible for matching funds from companies who do that sort of thing (see: http://soldiersangels.org/valour/irsinfo.html for proof for the cautious).

And finally, every donor during this time will receive a Soldiers' Angels Coin.

Attn. Bloggers: Join Us! You don't have to be a milblogger, either -- just spread the word -- copy and paste from here or Blackfive's site... Anything to spread the word!!!

As I said -- OK, It's GRUNTS v. JARHEADS V. SQUIDS v. ZOOMIES! Let's get to it!