For our heroes—our brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters,
granddaughters, grandsons, friends, and fellow Americans . . .

Let's show them, and make sure they know, how much we care.

How can we support and encourage our military members and veterans?
Of course, the best thing we can do is pray.
And pray hard. Specifically. And immediately.
As we watch the news and hear the reports, instead of allowing the politics, whys, and wherefores
of the war's big picture to cloud our minds, let's pray. As a specific name is spoken, or a specific
and almost always tragic situation is reported, immediately pray for that servicemember, for that
unit involved in that situation. Pray for the families affected. And remember the wounded. For
every report of an American life lost in this war, hundreds of lives are being shattered. For every
report of a servicemember being killed, hundreds more are wounded. Most with disabling injuries.
All forever scarred by the horrors of violence and war.

We must pray. Continually. Specifically. And immediately.

For a long list of specific servicemembers who need our prayers, check out this page at Karen
Kingsbury's Website. For a long list of fallen servicemembers whose families need our prayers,
check out this page on her site as well.

We must support, encourage, and remember the families back home.
The wives without husbands. Children without fathers and/or mothers. Husbands without wives.
All need our prayers. And our help.

Don't ask a military wife how you can help. Put yourself in her position, figure out how you'd want
to be helped in her situation, and help her. Just do it. Babysit her children for a few hours so she
can take a break. Clean her house top to bottom while she and her children are away for the day.
Make sure her cupboards are full, the oil in her car is changed, and her needs are met. She won't
take advantage of your generosity. She'll savor it. And return it first chance she gets.

The best way we can encourage our servicemembers around the world is to take care of the
families they have left behind. When they call, and their loved ones say, "We are fine. We have
everything we need. Except you, of course. Our friends and neighbors are making sure we have
everything we need," they cannot help but be encouraged. And comforted. They will focus more
clearly on their job at hand, and will be able to more fully comfort their own loved ones as they
themselves are comforted.

It's true.
How else can we support and encourage them?

Here are a few Websites to help us get started.
Remember, when sending packages, we need to be sure to follow all guidelines carefully.
Let's donate generously. Pray continuously. Write a ton of e-mails.
Let's write and tell them we're praying for them. Let's write and tell them all how much we care.
How grateful we are. And how badly we just want to see them come home.


America Supports You
www.americasupportsyou.mil
An official U.S. Department of Defense Website. It's the type of Website you have to experience
and explore for yourself. So many ways to show your support.


USO Cares
www.usocares.org
The USO does so much for our military. At this site, donate and sponsor care packages and
include a personal message of support and encouragement as you do.


The U.S. Army's FAQ Page
www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html
Answers to the Army's most frequently asked questions about how to
support soldiers in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Great links are provided,
along with reminders for properly sending mail.


The U.S. Army's Cycle of Prayer
www.chapnet.army.mil/cop
Through Cycle of Prayer, individuals and congregations can effectively
focus their prayers to support the Army. Soldiers are praying for
their fellow soldiers, and they encourage us to join them!


Landstuhl Hospital Care Project
www.landstuhlhospitalcareproject.org
This is a non-profit organization that "provides comfort and relief items
for military members who become sick, injured, or wounded from service in Iraq, Kuwait, and
Afghanistan. Donated items are distributed to patients at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in
Germany, the largest American military hospital outside the U.S.; to field hospitals in Afghanistan
and Iraq; and to VA facilities throughout the United States. Donations are done through the
Wounded Warrior Ministry Center.This allows all in-patients, out-patients, LRMC liaisons,
LRMC nurses, and medical escorts access to supplies. The purpose of the program is to enhance
the morale and welfare for troops and veterans by contributing quality of life items. Each
shipment that LHCP sends is sent in honor of a military member who has made the ultimate
sacrifice and lost his or her life in service to our country." (quoted from their Website.)
How to help info page: www.landstuhlhospitalcareproject.org/HowToHelp.htm


Spirit 105.3 FM in Seattle, Washington
www.spirit1053.com/oes
What they are doing is awesome! Be sure and read through their list of great information on the
requirements for sending packages into the Iraqi Theater of Operations.


Veterans History Project
www.loc.gov/vets
One way to encourage our soldiers and vets is to encourage them to tell their stories for all of us
to hear. And here is the place to send them. As they tell their stories, we can read, see, and hear
them. This site includes many ways for all of us to participate: our military members, veterans,
and those who have never served but would like to hear about what it was like.


Operation Gratitude
www.operationgratitude.com
Operation Gratitude's mission is to put a smile on a service member's face, lift morale, and
express the appreciation of the American people for the sacrifices of the men and women
defending our freedom. In the past four years they have sent over 153,000 care packages overseas.
All products for the care packages are donated by individuals, organizations, schools, community
groups, businesses, and corporate sponsors. Overall expenses of around $10-$15 per package are
covered by tax deductible financial donations from citizens across the country.
Operation Gratitude obtains names of troops from their loved ones or from comrades who
previously received a package. The vast majority of names are provided by commanders and
leaders in the field who have seen first-hand the positive impact of the program on the morale of
their soldiers, Marines, airmen and sailors.


The American Legion
www.legion.org/support
From the many links at this Website, make a contribution to the American Legion’s Legacy
Scholarship Fund for children of service personnel killed in action. Donate blood. Purchase a flag
or yard sign to display proudly in front of your home. Post a message thanking those in uniform for
their courage. Organize a prayer vigil at your church for our president and military. Volunteer at a
VA hospital. Lots of ways to show your appreciation for our troops can be found here.


Any Soldier Inc.
www.anysoldier.com
This site must be seen to be believed. Be sure to start by clicking on the Tango Mike movie at the
bottom of the home page. This will give you a good idea of what the site is doing for troops all
around the world. Also, they have contacts for any airman, Marine, Coast Guardsman, and sailor.
An awesome site doing an awesome work.


Fallen Heroes Memorial
www.fallenheroesmemorial.com
This site is an online memorial for all of the fallen servicemembers of Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom, including photos and visitor-submitted messages. A heart-
breaking, eye-opening taste of the agony suffered by those who have lost loved-ones. A great
place to pray specifically for those who are hurting, who have been most severely affected by this
war. And leave a message of encouragement and support while you're there.
Please help me add Website links, information, and ideas to this page.
Send me an e-mail at donna at donnafleisher dot com.

And don't forget . . . it's my delight to provide free autographed copies of my first
book, Wounded Healer, to all servicemembers or veterans who write and ask for one.
Go to this page for more information.
what we can do for them
Psalm 18:1-3

I will love You, O
LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock
and my fortress and my
deliverer; my God, my
strength, in whom I will
trust; my shield and the
horn of my salvation,
my stronghold. I will
call upon the LORD,
who is worthy to be
praised.
Psalm 18:30

As for God, His way
is perfect; the word of
the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all
who trust in Him.