Deadline November 6, 2014 For "Notes 4 Bethesda* For America's Wounded Warriors

*Deadline* for  next collection of *Notes 4 Bethesda*is Wednesday, November 6, 2013.

Notes will be given to them at the monthly luncheon on November 10, 2013 ~~ the 238th Birthday of the United States MARINE CORPS, and the day before VETERANS DAY ~~ hosted by Marine Moms-Bethesda

Let's show the them we care!

JROTC at Sequoyah High School in Soddy-Daisy, Tenn., Wins Marine Moms-Bethesda Annual Quilt Raffle

CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of Marine Moms-Bethesda's annual quilt raffle, the JROTC at Sequoyah High School, Soddy-Daisy, Tennessee! An anonymous "Elf" bought tickets on their behalf.

Soddy-Daisy, a bedroom community of nearby Chattanooga, in Hamilton County, with a population in 2000 census of 11,530 is part of the Chattanooga, Tennessee-Georgia Metropolitan statistical area. The Sequoyah Nuclear Generating Station is located there.

The quilt, "Tranquility", was donated by Bayside Quilters of the Eastern Shore, in Easton, MD. Chris, Kris and Jo from Bayside Quilters held two raffles locally, other tickets were sold individually, and "Elfs" from across the U.S.A. participated through an online campaign.

The raffle brought in $883.00 and 100% of the proceeds will benefit wounded, injured and ill Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen and their families through Marine Moms- Bethesda monthly luncheons at Walter Reed Hospital.

Marine Moms-Bethesda said, "Tremendous THANKS to everyone who participated and helped to make this year's quilt raffle a success! The Marines, Soldiers and Sailors we served at Mercy Hall on August 15th were very touched that so many people from across the country help support the luncheons. And they loved the food! With Grateful Thanks for Your Support," Marine Moms-Bethesda

Updated Raffle Page 
Luncheon Page 
 

Help Top $1,000 to Support Wounded Warriors Quilt Raffle ~ August 3, 2013 Final Date

Hi There!

Didja ever get one of them days? Didja ever get one of them days when looking at your meal on a white plate sitting on a cafeteria tray just didn't do anything for your appetite?

Marine Moms-Bethesda  brings “comfort food” to the wounded, injured, and ill Warriors and their families through once a month luncheons on the combat surgical ward and every other month to the residents of Mercy Hall, a small out-patient transition barracks, at Walter Reed. When we're on the combat ward, ICU families and patients and families from the Traumatic Brain Injury Ward are also invited to enjoy a great lunch with us!

Our QUILT raffle supports these luncheons. 100 pennies, just 10 thin dimes will buy a raffle ticket to win this year's beautiful quilt!
Picture is here. Jo was helping out at the quilt table we had at Farmers Market.

Didja know there is no middle man? 100% of the funds raised from this raffle directly supports the Warriors and their families through the luncheons. You know exactly where your money is going – into the MM-B account. Reimbursement is made to hands-on luncheon volunteers for the amount on the store receipts for the items bought for a luncheon. Volunteers are not reimbursed for mileage, gas, phone calls, printing, postage, printers ink or any other administrative cost and none of us receive a salary.

Buying a raffle ticket is a way to support troops who have dedicated their lives to something larger than themselves -- our freedom. They don't ask for anything in return. Their gratefulness for the "real food" after living on institutional food or fast food or a feeding tube for weeks, or sometimes months, is beyond anything we can describe.

If you buy a raffle ticket you'll be cheering someone up. On what could be a really bad day. Didja ever get one of them days? 
Elvis Presley from "GI Blues, Dija Ever".


Their day might be a little worse than "one of them days when there's no towel on the rack".

Tickets are: 1 ticket for $1.00 or 6 tickets for $5.00.
Checks or money orders (NO Cash Please!) can be mailed to:
Marine Moms Bethesda
P.O. Box 22
Cordova, MD 21625

Please note "quilt raffle" on your check and include your name, phone number, and if you want confirmation of receipt please include your email address. No worries! We won't share or sell your information.

Final postmark date is August 3, 2013.

To date $726.00 has been raised toward the luncheons. Can we top $1,000.00?

Grateful thanks to the following supporters who have their names in the pillowcase for the drawing on August 15 during our luncheon at Mercy Hall!

Joann, Julie, Darleen, Sue, Janice, J. Schmuckatelli, Martha, Judi, Nancy, Cheryl,Torina, Dina, and Barb.

Special thanks to the Bayside Quilters Trio Chris, Kris and Jo for setting up and manning 2 local raffles on behalf of Marine Mom-Bethesda - more names in the pillowcase!

Pillow case? Yes! The quilt comes with a matching pillow case!

10 thin dimes. I have that in the bottom of my purse...

Thank you for your consideration, and please feel free to share! Also Visit us on Facebook. 

Love and Hugs,

-Jane
Jane@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org

"Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul." ~Michel de Montaigne/

Forward a Message to Someone.
 

2013 "Hiring Our Heroes" Fairs, Plus Pretzel Turtles

Lots of "Hiring Our Heroes" Fairs are coming up. A list for 2013 is here: http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes/events

As of September 2012, Veterans and military spouses through this Chamber of Commerce Foundation Program, have filled over 14,000 jobs! They take place ALL over the country - check it out!

Marine Moms-Bethesda January notes
Please join Marine Moms-Bethesda in supporting our combat wounded, injured and ill Warriors by sending a note of support and encouragement for us to give them while we are there. Emailed notes can be sent to Notes4Bethesda@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org

 

This is an ongoing project and notes are welcome anytime. Deadlines are provided only for the cutoff date for an upcoming luncheon, arranged monthly. More information about our Notes4Bethesda campaign is here. 

 

*HELP!* I would like to put together a team of 3 or 4 wounded Warriors, and wounded warrior parents and spouses to help us when we have questions for:

 

• Planning our events at Walter Reed on the 4th floor combat wing, Mercy Hall, and Richmond VAMC. 
• Information to include in our newsletters.
• To help with making our website more "wounded Warrior and their families Friendly."

YOU have "walked the walk" on this journey and we would love to have your ideas and input helping us to make our luncheons, newsletter, and website focus more directly on your needs, both while on the hospital ward, at Mercy Hall or at Richmond, or after you have moved on after being medically discharged.

What kind of information would you like to see? What has worked for you that we can share with others? How can we help?

This is still in the thought stage. If you have a little time and would be willing to share ideas, thoughts, suggestions with us, or can spare a little time to answer our random questions, we would love to hear from you! Most of our communication would be through email, therefore geography is not a concern. You can contact Jane by emailing, Jane@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org.  Thanks! 

Did you know we are on Facebook?

http://www.facebook.com/MarineMomsBethesda. I know some of you have "liked" the page. Hoping more of you will if you're a Facebook kind of person.

Surfing tidbits
Need to talk? Veterans Crisis Line, 1-800-273-8255. Press 1 OR Text to 838255. OR they have an online chat available, http://www.veteranscrisisline.net/ForVeterans.aspx

That’s all for now… see… told you short and sweet! OH! I forgot the SWEET!!! Okay - Tried and True by Katie at one of our Mercy Hall luncheons last year, and by Suzan at a Holiday Cheer luncheon a few years back: MARINE TESTED! NO leftovers and the Marines at Mercy Hall are NOT much on sweets!

 

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pretzel-turtles/

Pretzel Turtles

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees
• 20 small mini pretzels
• 20 chocolate caramel candies (can be regular ones)
• 20 pecan halves
• Arrange pretzels in a single layer on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
• Place one caramel on each pretzel.
• Bake for 4 minutes. While the candy is warm, press a pecan half onto each candy covered pretzel.
• Cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

Now how easy is that? Betcha can’t eat just one!

 

Continued prayers for our military and their families.

 

Jane,

www.MarineMoms-Bethesda.org

To subscribe or to unsubscribe visit,

http://marinemoms-bethesda.org/mail/?p=preferences&uid=5515b6f65884691534d8beb5e392062e

 

Forward a Message to Someone:

http://marinemoms-bethesda.org/mail/?p=forward&uid=5515b6f65884691534d8beb5e392062e&mid=136

 

 

The Purple Heart and Its Hall of Fame

230 years ago August 7th, in 1782, General Washington ordered the establishment of the Badge of Military Merit, the inspiration for today's Purple Heart.

The Purple Heart is one medal no one wants… it is earned with blood and the price paid for it can be catastrophic.

If you are interested, here are two sites that honor and support our Nation’s Purple Heart Recipients.

National Purple Heart Hall of Fame: http://www.thepurpleheart.com/ 

Located in Windsor, NY,  here you can enroll in their Roll of Honor database and tell your story, or you can search their database.

 http://www.mikecorrado.com/, “Still In the Fight”–Funds raised from the sale of this song benefit the Fisher Houses. Or watch it on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of7dGa91uO8.

It doesn’t matter if their recovery is short or their road to recovery is long,  “I still got this fire in my heart” is something we see every time we visit the combat patients at Walter Reed or Richmond VAMC.

“The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it. –Thucydides”

Thank you for serving our country.

-Jane

www.MarineMoms-Bethesda.org.

NOTES 4 BETHESDA: Making a Difference to Warriors

Do you want to make a significant difference in the day of a special American Warrior -- or two, or three, or as many as you wish?

If so, take a few moments to send an upbeat note(s). Email to Notes4Bethesda@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org. Wounded Warriors have such along road of recovery ahead of them. Marine Moms-Bethesda is a group of volunteers deeply involved with supporting troops. They host luncheons once a month at two hospital were wounded servicemen and women are recovering from war-inflicted injuries.

 As always, Marine Moms-Bethesda is collecting NOTES 4 BETHESDA -- notes of encouragement to take along with the July luncheons. RICHMOND, JULY 8 – serving time: 11:00 AM; location to be determined. Serving the COMBAT patients, family members and their guests from the Polytrauma, Spinal Cord, and PTRP unit.

"The notes DO make a difference in a Warrior’s day! As the Fourth of July – Independence Day – approaches, please consider sending a message to those who have protected your FREEDOMS!


"We do not use the same notes twice because we see the same faces month after month, along with new faces that will be there the next time we visit. Sometimes we see them at Walter Reed, then at Richmond, and then back at Walter Reed again!


“I don’t know what to say!” Okay, well here are some samples from past notes. Maybe they will inspire you! (I hope the people who sent them don’t mind me sharing them.)


Dear Wounded Warrior,
My husband and I want to send you a quick note with our heartfelt gratitude and hopes that every day you feel stronger, and you will soon be able to go home and enjoy your time with your family. You have certainly earned it! Please know that you are always in our prayers and in our thoughts and that we, as well as many other grateful Americans, are here to serve you, although we could never repay you for what you have done for us. We will never forget you and promise we will honor you forever.

Lots of love and good wishes,
====================
Hey y’all,
Thanks so much for your service for our country; I appreciate each and every one of you. I’m praying for y’all to continue to get better and better every day. You are all such an inspiration and you make me so proud. I’ll be so happy for each of you as you get well enough to get out of the hospital and be able to get out and have some fun….like go to a baseball game (I’m rather partial to baseball, GO RAYS!!) …I just had to throw that in there. Prayers and hugs being sent your way, ====== THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope you’re feeling better soon. We are so Proud of YOU!
====================

So as you can see, some are short, some are even longer than this, and some come with clip art or pictures. If you include pictures and clip art, word documnts are preferred. The notes DO make a difference!

JUNE 10 – 4 East and JUNE 21 – Mercy Hall are fascinating examples what happens at the luncheons put on for these gallant warriors by Marine Moms-Bethesda. The BBQ , June 10, 2012, turned out GREAT!

Congratulations Marine Moms-Bethesda!

CONGRATULATIONS!

Marine Moms-Bethesda’s website has been online FIVE YEARS!

MARINE MOMS BETHESDA not only keeps vistors abreast of upcoming events to benefit the men and women who served our country, it has links to a wide variety of websites aimed at supporting veterans, in a multitude of ways. The website is one of the most important ones for America's heros.

Jane, who describes herself as a Military Brat, and is a guiding hand at Marine Moms-Bethesday wrote:

Thank you to Amber, our web designer, and to the Elf who donates the website's server space! You both have been very kind to a techie DUH person (me) who really, has no business messing with a website. Your patience has been, and is, appreciated!

We began going to Bethesda Naval Hospital in October 2005, and became more organized in January 2007. Our website went online in June of 2007, and we have seen so many changes in the military medical system and wounded warrior care (once upon a time there was no Wounded Warrior Regiment!), served so many wounded Warriors and their families, and we are so grateful to have had the opportunity to give back just a little to our service members and their families for their sacrifices to the greatest country in the world, the United States of America!

To all of our supporters, volunteers, and dedicated Notes4Bethesda writers past and present, please know we are very grateful to you and are deeply grateful for all you have done, through your donations of money, food, and time, to make Marine Moms-Bethesda what it is. You have helped us achieve our Mission of serving wounded, injured, and ill combat patients and their families, ALL service branches, bringing them “touches of home while they are away from home” during a very stressful, life-changing time of their lives. THANK YOU!

To the patients and families we have served - Our Mission is to serve YOU while keeping your security and privacy top most in our minds. We know the hospital is a very busy place and personal privacy for you is precious. Hopefully we leave you with smiles on your faces after a luncheon, and looking forward to seeing us come back again. We honor you, are grateful for your service, and wish you all the best as you move through your recovery and your “new normal”. THANK YOU!

To the helicopter pilots, airplane pilots, military Doctors and Nurses, Corpsmen and Medics, and everyone in between on the battlefields and at the hospitals, you are Angels. THANK YOU for doing all you can, the best you can, to bring our sons and daughters home alive and for the excellent care you provide to them.

Special thanks to Gunny Ski, who opened the doors at Bethesda for us in 2007, and to the Marine Liaison Office and the Command for allowing us to continue our luncheons at Walter Reed. At Richmond, thank you, Paulette at the VA and the Marine Liaison Office Staff for allowing us to expand and serve our Warriors and their families there as well.

Marine Moms-Bethesda is in this for the long run. The war could end tomorrow but the needs will still be there. One day years from now our young Veterans will be our World War II Veterans of today. I would like to see us still around. Perhaps the mission would change, but… I hope we are still around.

With Grateful Thanks to All from Marine Moms-Bethesda,

Love and HUGE Hugs,

Jane

Marine Mom's-4 Updates

 

We are gearing up for a luncheon on 4 East this Sunday. If you know a combat patient or their family there, please let them know. We should be ready to serve between 11:00 and 11:30.

Notes 4 Bethesda-

On this Veterans Day perhaps you could take a few minutes to send a Thank You to let the Veterans at Walter Reed know they are being remembered.

The deadline for the emailed notes of support and encouragement for our wounded Warriors is Saturday, November 14th, noon, EST. They may be sent to Notes4Bethesda@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org

<mailto:Notes4Bethesda@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org>

. We will format them into a word document, print them out and distribute them at our luncheon on Sunday on 4 East.

Janet has been our “Notes Elf” for the past two years and has done a beautifully wonderful job with formatting them into the documents we hand out at our luncheons. them. Thank you for your dedication, Janet!

Smooth sailing to you in your new endeavor! (No, she is not leaving us… more about her endeavors as soon as she gives me the head’s

up!)

Holiday Cheer:

Cards are coming in for our Holiday Cheer events! Final postmark date is this coming Tuesday, November 15th. You can find more information about Holiday Cheer here:

http://www.marinemoms-bethesda.org/marinemoms-bethesdaholidaycheer2011/index.html

We will be hosting two events this year. Our Walter Reed “Holiday Cheer” event will be on the hospital ward! Yes, we are excited! This will be our first weekday luncheon on the ward. We will also be at Richmond VA Medical Center the following week bringing “Holiday Cheer”, another first! What a wonderful way to end our busy, busy year - bringing cheer to the troops and their families!

Two New Luncheon Pages Are Online:

October 9th was Busy, Busy, Busy! What a great luncheon! Cotton Candy anyone?

http://www.marinemoms-bethesda.org/2011/october-9-2011-4-east/

October 16th - another Road Trip! Richmond!

http://www.marinemoms-bethesda.org/2011/october-16-2011-richomnd-va-medical-center/

Tremendous THANKS to all of you who help make the luncheons possible for the Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen and their families. We couldn’t do it without you!

Surfing~

The Commandant of the Marine Corps 236th Birthday message:

http://www.marines.mil/usmc/Pages/2011MarineCorpsBirthdayBall.aspx

===========

A year ago this month, we hosted our largest luncheon ever.

http://www.marinemoms-bethesda.org/nov10.html

After the luncheon we estimated the number served to be over 220 with very few staff that day. Little did we know this deployment for 3/5 was going to be what it was. November, December, and January we met quite a few Darkhorse Warriors.

An Afghan Hell On Earth for “Darkhorse” Marines http://www.npr.org/2011/10/31/141724272/an-afghan-hell-on-earth-for-darkhorse-marines

=========

If you’re interested or know someone who is- for doctors, care givers and others in the medical field who work with Veterans. “The Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate offers 14 self-paced online courses that are based on real-life cases and provide applicable knowledge and skills for providers to help Veterans and their families build a framework of resiliency for mental health challenges or reintegration difficulties.”

http://www.thenationalcouncil.org/cs/curriculum_and_courses

=========

Veteran’s Day Free Meals and Discounts

http://themilitarywallet.com/veterans-day-free-meals-and-discounts/#axzz1dJjuYr57

=========

A Thank You to Our Veterans

Heroes and Angels by Barry Michael

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10SHTWeUYgU&feature=share

Until next time, continued prayers for our military and their families.

Love and Hugs,

Jane

www.MarineMoms-Bethesda.org

Marine Moms-Bethesda Appreciate Support and Offer Newsletter

The Marine Moms-Bethesda actively support our combat wounded, injured and ill troops and their families. They also publish a newsletter, however currently it is not online, just through email. Currently the latest page is their September luncheon .

The group welcomes your participation and support. Visit Marine Moms-Bethesda to learn more, and if you would like to receive their newsletters directly in your inbox you may sign up for them using the form on the right side.

Become a Marine Moms-Bethesda "Elf"

"The Holidays are right around the corner and the Marine Moms-Bethesda "Elfs" are making their lists and checking them twice!"

So reads the request for "Holiday Cheer" cards to be given to American Heroes in the hospital. The "Elfs" will also be bringing "Holiday Cheer" to the polytrauma and spinal cord units, and to PTRP at Richmond VA Medical Center at a date to be determined.

The cards sent for Marine Moms-Bethesda should have a note written inside; for both men and women. Remember, cards without GLITTER or decorations that might fall off and get into wounds.

"All cards are screened so please don't seal the envelopes, or they may be sent without the envelope. No need to stick the flap inside of the envelope - it will save us time if we don't have to pull it out. (Saves on paper cuts too! ;) )

"Rather than mailing cards individually, more than one card may be mailed in a larger envelope or a box.

"If you wish acknowledgement that your cards were received, please include an email address. Questions? Email Jane."

Jane @ MarineMoms-Bethesda.org (remove spaces around the @ sign.)

Mail cards to:
Marine Moms-Bethesda
P.O. Box 22
Cordova, MD 21625

Postmark deadline for "Card Elfs" is November 15, 2011Postmark deadline for "Stocking Elfs" is November 1, 2011.

"Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to send "Holiday Cheer" to the Marines , Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen who have given so much defending our freedoms!" Jane, www.MarineMoms-Bethesda.org.

Thanks also to everyone passing on the information!