These are the words used by the USO, one of the organizations we have chosen to donate a percentage of our gross sales to. The USO does much more than the image most people have in their minds. They provide pre-paid phone cards so overseas troops can call home. They set up USO Canteens with internet access to surf the web or email family and friends and they even have mobile canteens using special ATVs. Their Operation Enduring Care supplies clothing and toiletries to injured soldiers and sponsors USO Day Rooms in military hospitals. They hand out hard-to-get personal items, toiletries, snacks, books and cds with their Operation Care Package. And, of course, there are the USO Entertainment Tours so great for morale.
USO Community Centers on overseas bases offer libraries, reading rooms and get-togethers for GIs and their families to help them cope with the difficulties of moving to, and living in, a strange land. When a GI is wounded they arrange for childcare services to make it easier for their spouse to travel overseas to be with them. The USO brings famous people overseas to visit with children of military families in D.O.D. schools. It’s a great organization.
Another of our charities is Disabled American Veterans. Through their National Service Program and its 86 offices in the United States and Puerto Rico. They help disabled veterans cut through the bureaucracy and red tape of government benefit claims. Last year their they helped nearly a quarter of a million veterans and family members to $3 billion in new and retroactive benefits. Their Employment Program ensures disabled veterans get a fair and well-earned break in the job market and their Transportation Network Program strives to make sure no disabled veteran is deprived of medical care because he or she can’t find transportation to a VA medical facility. They also provide disaster relief and have a public awareness outreach program.
Service Memories has chosen these two charities to represent the military side of our customers. We use the Better Business Bureau’s Charity Watch site www.give.org to check out the charities under consideration. There is a national fallen firefighter’s organization we hope to include as soon as it make’s the BBB’s list. And we are on the lookout for a law enforcement one the fits our profile also. Although we are not in the “black” yet, we feel it’s important to “give back” to those who support us.
Our new arrivals from the show include two new album types: Camo albums from Collected Memories in green and desert camo as well as the Life Jacket Albums from Memories in Uniform. They have cloth covers that unsnap so you can embroider on them, sew on patches and attach insignia. MIU also has new hero journal sets and modern and heritage emblem sets.
