Operation Gratitude Extends its Outreach to Our Wounded Warriors

Encino, CA--February 3, 2011: Having already shipped more than 600,000 care packages to service men and women deployed in combat zones, Operation Gratitude is pleased to announce a new program tailored to those wounded in service to their country.

Operation Gratitude will begin providing special Wounded Warrior Care Packages to service members recovering in Military Hospitals and Wounded Warrior Transition units located on military bases throughout the United States.

Prior Wounded Warrior helps others heal at Brooke Army Medical Center WWTU

Further, in recognition that the Wounded Warrior often expresses deep concern for their buddies remaining on the front line, Operation Gratitude will send care packages on behalf of the Wounded Warrior to the rest of his or her unit still deployed downrange.

"We hope that sending those packages to their deployed comrades will help the wounded feel they are still contributing to the mission and supporting their buddies" according to Operation Gratitude founder, Carolyn Blashek.

Wounded Warrior Transition Units ("WWTU") provide critical support to the wounded and their families, focusing on those requiring six months or more of rehabilitative care and complex medical management.

Operation Gratitude Wounded Warrior Care Package deliveries will begin in February.  Patients at Bethesda National Naval Medical Center and soldiers in the WWTU at Ft. Polk, Louisiana will be among the first to receive the shipments.

"Here at the Soldier and Family Assistance Center (SFAC), we provide the non-medical support to the Wounded Warrior and their families assigned/attached to the  Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Polk," explained an SFAC Specialist.  "Your care packages will go a long way in letting the Wounded Warriors here at Fort Polk know that people care."

Operation Gratitude's annual goal is to provide 10,000 of the Wounded Warrior Care Packages filled with specially selected items donated through the generosity of corporate sponsors and supportive citizens, and assembled by the organization's dedicated volunteers.  More packages will be assembled and shipped if requested.

According to representatives at Wounded Warrior facilities, the most needed items are: Healthy Snacks, Entertainment items, Hygiene products, iPods and Gift Cards from chain stores such as supermarkets, drugstores, Target and Walmart.

As with its Care Packages to deployed troops, Operation Gratitude will provide every American a way to express their appreciation and encouragement to our heroes wounded in combat by donating items, contributing funds, crafting hand-made items and writing letters.

Operation Gratitude is particularly requesting personal letters of support and encouragement in order to include several in each package.  For information on writing letters: Letter Writing Flyer

For those wishing to thank a Wounded Warrior, letters and items can be sent to:

Operation Gratitude

17330 Victory Boulevard

Van Nuys, CA 91406

Attn: Wounded Warrior Program

For more information on how to support Wounded Warriors and troops deployed in harm's way, visit: 
How You Can Help

Financial donations can be made online here: Donate to Wounded Warriors or by check made payable and addressed to:

Operation Gratitude

16444 Refugio Road

Encino, CA 91436

SPRINGFIELD, IL (01/31/2011)(readMedia)-- Approximately 20 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers will be recognized Feb. 5 by the National Guard Bureau Freedom Salute Campaign for their sacrifice and service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The ceremony will be at the Illinois Military Academy at Camp Lincoln in Springfield at 11 a.m.

Soldiers of BEST (Bilateral Embedded Staff Team) A5 returned in October after being mobilized in January 2010 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. They joined the Polish Land Forces before arriving in Afghanistan and worked as a joint unit during the course of the mobilization. The Soldiers are from various parts of Illinois and were selected for the mission based on their training and skills.

The Soldiers were embedded with Task Force White Eagle, which saw more combat action than any other Polish unit since World War II. Task Force White Eagle completed 32 operations, including five air assaults and multiple dismounted infiltration missions. Most missions were completed with the help of the Afghan National Security Forces from the Afghan Uniform Police, National Directorate of Security and the Afghan National Army.

The Soldiers assisted the Afghan government to extend its authority across the country, performed security operations and helped stabilize the war-torn nation. The Soldiers also mentored and supported the Afghan National Army and supported Afghan government programs to disarm illegally armed groups.

The Freedom Salute Campaign program is a small way to show these patriotic citizen-Soldiers, their families and employers how much their sacrifice is appreciated. On behalf of the National Guard Bureau, the Illinois Army National Guard will present each eligible Soldier with an encased American Flag, as well as a sequentially-numbered

commemorative coin, certificate of appreciation and lapel pin. Families will also receive items recognizing their support and sacrifice.

The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. It is designed to publicly acknowledge Army National Guard Soldiers and those who supported them while deployed.

News media attending the event should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony and are required to notify the Public Affairs Office by 3 p.m. Feb. 4 or they will not be granted access onto Camp Lincoln. For more information call the Public Affairs Office at 217-761-3569.

-30-

WASHINGTON - Senators Chuck Grassley and Tom Harkin, along with the rest of the Iowa Congressional delegation, held a ceremony presenting Hiawatha native Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta with a Concurrent Resolution honoring his incredible valor and courage on the battlefield.

Giunta, a native of Hiawatha, was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, by President Barack Obama on November 16, 2010 for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in Afghanistan on October 25, 2007.  Giunta is the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.  Giunta was also a guest in First Lady Michelle Obama's box for President Obama's State of the Union address last night.

"Staff Sgt. Giunta is a selfless and courageous hero that all Iowans can be proud to call one of their own," Grassley said. "He is truly deserving of the highest honor given to an American service member. May God continue to bless him and all those in the armed services protecting our nation."

"In recent years, Americans have woken up to the truth that our real heroes are not on our movie screens or in our sports arenas," Harkin said. "Our real heroes are serving our nation in uniform with enormous professionalism, sacrifice, and courage.  I have listened very closely to Sergeant Giunta's previous remarks about his actions on that fateful day in the Korengal Valley of Afghanistan.  He is uncomfortable about being singled out.  He said:  "If I am a hero, every man that stands around me, every woman in the military, everyone who goes into the unknown is a hero."

"I can't disagree with Sergeant Giunta.  And I respect his Iowa brand of modesty, which is totally genuine.  And I see in him other qualities that we prize in Iowa, including his powerful sense of purpose and duty.  But Sergeant Giunta's actions on that day stand out as truly extraordinary and exemplary.  The state of Iowa has a right to be very, very proud."

Click here to view video of the event on YouTube.

from Rep. Braley's office:

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Bruce Braley (IA-01) and members of the Iowa delegation honored Iowa native and Medal of Honor recipient Staff Sergeant Salvatore Giunta in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol.  Senator Daniel Inouye, also a Medal of Honor recipient, joined the full Iowa delegation to present the joint resolution honoring SSGT. Giunta.

Following the ceremony, Rep. Braley released the following statement

"Staff Sergeant Giunta makes us all proud to be Iowans. His heroic service is a credit to his family, his unit and the state of Iowa. Today, we recognize him for his remarkable heroism - but as he quickly pointed out himself - we must also recognize the everyday heroism of all the men and women in uniform, our veterans, and the military families that take on the proud burden of fighting for our country and defending our freedom.

"It's an honor to recognize Staff Sergeant Giunta and I'm pleased we could welcome him to the Capitol."

SSGT. Giunta is the first living Medal of Honor Recipient since the Vietnam War. He was born in Clinton, IA and his family currently resides in Hiawatha, IA. Giunta was awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military honor, by President Barack Obama on November 16, 2010, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty in Afghanistan on October 25, 2007.

# # #