Marine Moms-Bethesda, a group of volunteers who are deeply involved with supporting troops, host luncheons once a month at Walter Reed Hospital,4 East. Their protocol for serving luncheons is: Active Duty wounded, injured, and ill combat patients, all service branches, and their families from 4 East, ICU and the 7th Floor are served first. After they have been served, Liaison staff and the immediate caregivers of the patients are welcome.
In the latest newsletter, Marine-mom Jane wrote, The website states: "Our mission is to provide a monthly luncheon, gift bags, and pantry items to the wounded, injured, and ill combat Veterans, all service branches, and their families, at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland."
"2012 luncheon schedule is on the books and we are off to an exciting year! Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval Hospital combined in September, 2011, so "Bethesda" and "Walter Reed" are one in the same now."
Bethesda Marine Moms collect "Notes4Bethesda" to hand out to combat patients. The notes are welcome anytime. If you would like to send an upbeat note of support, encouragement, and THANKS to the combat patients at Walter Reed, to be given out at the January 29, 2012 luncheon, please email it no later than the evening of Thursday, January 26, 2012, to Notes4Bethesda@MarineMoms-Bethesda.org.
Your ONE note will go to ALL of the wounded, injured and ill combat patients that they find while attending the January luncheon. Marine-mom, Terri (in Florida) helps with the "Notes4Bethesda." She will format the notes received, and send the word document back up north, where the notes are printed, packaged and distributed.
If you are from out of state, would like to volunteer some of your time to Marine Moms-Bethesda, are a little bit techie and like to write, and are familiar with the "Marine way" of doing things, Jane is looking for help writing the newsletter. Contact her, jane@marinemoms-bethesda.org.
Jane said,
"If you know someone there and would like us to say a special hello to them for you, please let us know and we will do our best to do so. If you can, please give them a heads up that we will be on 4 East Sunday, January 29th, hoping to begin serving between 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
"It always amazes me that such a seemingly small act of thoughtfulness can make such a huge impact on our Warriors and their families. Be sure to include your state – never know who is there from your state and your note will be like a “touch of home” to them! I know we will be looking for some Tennessee Marines, a Marine from Alaska, and a Marine from Ohio.
"The luncheon will feature a Football Theme with chili, wings, sandwiches, and all the sides! Many thanks to Mike’s friends in Pennsylvania, Valerie in Ohio, Guy and Mary T. in Maryland, Ed in Tennessee, Carole and the Castaways in Michigan, and Washington State Operation Thank You for your support of January's 4 East luncheon! Happiness is a printer with full ink cartridges and card stock… handwritten thank you's coming soon!" Jane said.
