As long as our young men and women are called upon to rid our world of the terrorists that threaten us and so many others, it is our duty as Americans to stand up, and live up to being the greatest nation in the world. Julie Curtis-Win
I probably say the above quote almost everyday. Working along side with our young men and women in the military has taught me many great lessons. They continue to surprise me with their strength and endurance. This has become such a life journey, I really wish I was able to better share with our many readers. For stories and thoughts or you might like to say a diary, NobleDuty.org has been put up and donated for me to journal. So when I am able, I will put my thoughts on how these soldiers continue to surprise me on that site. You just might find it interesting enough to come and visit us sometime if you are in the neighborhood.
It has been a very long two weeks around Fort Hood since the shooting tragedy. Not only are our soldiers having to watch every move overseas but I am noticing that they watch everything at home now. It is such a shame to put that much more stress on our young men and women in the service of their country.
We have been so honored to be visiting our wounded soldiers in the local hospitals. These soldiers just don't quit. I am so overwhelmed with their spirit and determination to make something positive out of something so senseless. Just yesterday one was showing me how he could move some of his fingers. Goosebumps! They make me so proud, I just wish you all could share just a moment of time. Of course, there are so many volunteers out there doing so much good. But there is much to do for our service men and women. This time of year brings its own stresses to our families at home with the holidays. Imagine if we could just put it all aside and just do something for someone else.
I was able to visit with the Reserve Units that lost 5 and had many, many wounded. When then returned to their barracks after the ceremony they were greeted by the Patriot Guard lining the streets with 60+ honor guard flags, escorts by two beautiful horses brought down by a great American Family, Bill Johnson from Waco, Texas and then delivered by he Traveling Liberty Bell, oh just to give it a quick ring, brought from Dallas by Dave Hall. Once the soldiers entered into the Chapel, they were greeted by about 30 Patriots from the Waco area that Bill Johnson bused down and Jeri Orr from the AT &T Pioneers (Austin) to provide support to these grieving hearts. A meal, a DJ, prayers, words of encouragement and lots of hugs were shared into the night.
One young man told me he was really ready to just go home. He had been bused enough the last four days, he said. Tired, angry and then he saw those flags down the road. He straightened up and said, "I never felt more proud to be an American Soldier than when I saw all of you waiting for us through those flags". I cried and I think I hugged him for about 5 minutes when he reached under his collar and showed me his superman patch his wife had gotten him when she returned home from Iraq. He said he learned of his deployment only 5 days after she returned home. He couldn't have been more than 24 years old. Selfless sacrifice for their country, putting off raising a family until this dangerous job is done. Wow! So powerful, so dedicated, to take up arms for you and me.
There is really so much all of us can do. They all pray. They pray for the job ahead of them, the families they are leaving behind and they pray for us, that we might be there to help those families they leave behind. Please pray for our soldiers today and remember them everyday. You don't have to agree with their job, most will say they want to finish the job that was started and to do it the right way. Pray that our leaders will give them the strength and numbers they need to do a job well done.
It continues to disturb me when I receive calls about soldiers not receiving the care that they need, whether they be active duty or retired.
Today, I received a very disturbing call about one of our veterans. This young man is a 62 year old retired from the military with diabetes. In the last six months he has had both of his lower legs amputated. The first in December and the second in late March.
Yesterday, he received a letter at the nursing home that stated he had been in the nursing home for 100 days and he would now be responsible to pay for his care out of pocket. He is still recuperating from his second amputation and was sent to the hospital yesterday for new stitches in his second stump because it split open.
This young man has not even begun the long recovery that will be necessary to put him back into the community and talks daily about getting out and getting back to helping soldiers.
When health care issues are such a debate everyday, it still manages to lose site on these such stories everyday. I know myself, with my ongoing recuperation from the four surgeries I have undergone on my ankle that long-term care will be an issue for me somewhere in the future. Soldiers that have served our country have paid their dues and their insurance premiums as far as I'm concerned. How in the hell can a nursing home kick them to the curb? I usually don't vent my concerns on this website, but the public really needs to look at our Veteran's and help with these issues.
Congress needs to walk a mile in their shoes, get out of the IVORY TOWERS and come down and visit with all these folks, I expect it, I pray for it, and for the sake of our soldiers I hope you DO! My name is Julie Curtis-Win and I can be contacted at 254-285-5975 should anyone wish to help. I have been blessed to be down here with these soldiers, maybe you would find that as well.
We pray for those soldiers that have volunteered for us in the past such as the 62nd Engineer that are now deployed. Those that volunteer with us are 2nd Chemical Battalion, 1st Division, 13th SCE and the 1st CAV. Their assistance has led to the provision of barracks bags to most of the returning soldiers, BBQ functions at North Fort Hood, Roc Support at North Fort Hood and continued service at the TMFF Bldg. It is amazing how much can be done with these soldier volunteers. We provided over 7,000 barracks bags for the incoming home single soldiers. Soldiers have provided over thousands of hours of volunteer time to help support their battle buddies.
We would like to make a special note here of very special volunteers: Mrs.Jeri Orr of Austin, Tx. Jeri has been providing support at Fort Hood since September, 2004. The hundreds if not thousands of hours she has volunteered. She is a special lady and loves her country.
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Baker of Glenrose, Tx. Bill is a Korean War Veteran POW/MIA with the 2nd Division, 38th Field Support when he was captured. After hearing some of his stories, I came to learn that he is alive today because he was the keeper of the list of those that passed before him and that list was coming home. His wife Janet is now recuperating from a broken wrist. We wish her a speedy recovery.
Mrs. Baker's sister, Wanda from Houston, TX. Wanda and the AT&T Pioneers in Houston have collected and shipped thousands of pounds of toiletry items for the soldiers as well as continue to make lap quilts for the hospital.
Patriot Guard Riders are awesome! 12 hours notice for a first time call brought out 62 bikers. One all the way frrom Maryland to come and lend a hand. It really was a beautiful site to see all those flags lining the street and those buses coming through. It was even more awesome that 3 of the wounded reserves, walked the street to shake each hand carrying a flag. Imagine this, one wounded in the hind side limping, one on crutches and one in a wheelchair.
Bill Johnson. What can I say. He loves to plan his events for weeks in advance to have everything just right. Well I think it was perfect for 48 hours notice to you. Thank you so much for helping. And I'm really glad he finally understands what it is like to be mobilized to North Fort Hood.
Thank you so much to all of you that have been helping us by volunteering your time.
"A leader is someone who helps improve the lives of other people or improve the system they live under".Sam Houston We have been blessed in the United States to have great leaders, let us not forget what we had to fight not so many years ago to have what we have today. The only difference between then and now, we haven't had to give up living the lives we are accustomed to. We can still drive to the store, go to the movies, enroll in the school of our choice and live where we want to live. We really haven't given up much for this war. We are not on rations, selling war bonds or going to the Red Cross Dance on Saturday night. With that said, soldiers continue to flight the Global War on Terrorism each day. Whether mobilized here at home around the United States or one of the many countries around the world, they continue to need your support. There are many programs that you can participate in. Yes, you could help TMFF but if not, go online and find something that suits you. Adopt-A-Soldier letter campaign if that is what you want, go to the USO at the airport or look in your own communities. There are husbands and wives deployed. The point is, do something - don't just do nothing. Thats not good enough anymore. We have to be better and not forget what started all of this.
Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This, then, is the test we must set for ourselves; not to march alone but to march in such a way that others will wish to join us. Hubert H. Humphrey
Channel 8 News recently visited TMFF. Reporter Jim Douglas heard about our organization through soldiers that had spent some time in our "home". Please see the above reference video clip taken at TMFF which aired on Friday, September 8th on WFAA in Dallas.
Friday, September 29th trip to Kennedale, Tx news report:
We have had many new visitors to our website! Some are just curious and take a look, others want to know more about what the TMFF is all about, what we do for the soldiers. They continue to show amazement that we are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. We never turn a soldier away, whatever the need. We figure it out and we take care of the need. Sometimes it is just the human need of a hug….
I have heard the TMFF described by soldiers as being an oasis, a haven, a home away from home, mama’s house. It may have many names, but provides the same to each. Comfort. Whether it is for mobilizing soldiers that want to email home while in training or use one of our many cell phones to call home for free or for those that do their training on our computers.
For the wounded/injured it presents a place half way home. Complete with kitchen, a refrigerator that the door is opened and opened and opened. Imagine your college child home. The first thing they do is open the refrigerator door, just to see what is inside. It is the same. Hopefully, our efforts here will make the transition home a little easier. These soldiers talk about their healthcare. While I am not a healthcare provider, I can tell them how to spell it and they look it up which helps each of them understand the medical treatment they are or are not receiving. It is stressful. Sometimes it is so stressful that I have to get out my bubble gun and bubble everyone to bring them back to the “house” and not fighting whatever demons they have. It works! Laughter is contagious.
Since its inception the TMFF has grown to the needs of the soldier. For soldiers whether they are mobilizing, training, deploying, or returning home. Taking care of and filling in the gaps of the army. Why, because we can, we have and will continue to do so. Its part of a team effort. Making soldiers transition to and from a better experience, is the desired result by all. We must also remember that so many of our fighting soldiers are our citizen soldiers and they have a completely different set of issues.
These soldiers not only have to leave their jobs and families but are placed with brigades that don’t know them. They fill in and take care of positions that are needed wherever overseas. They can do that because they do train once a month, two weeks in the summer. This fighting force that we all call weekend warriors have made the successes that we have in Iraq possible.
What most people don’t realize though at what cost these weekend warriors have fought. Spouses are not used to having their husbands deploy like active army. Many just don’t get it and leave their spouses behind while they are gone. Soldiers have come home to find no home or the bills unpaid. Recently, I had a soldier come up to me and say, “I’m going home today only to return later that evening and say, my wife told me not to come back.” He was devastated.
TMFF is a place where soldiers can talk about these issues openly with us or other soldiers. I personally have found that I can listen to the stories of Iraq and Afghanistan or wherever the Global War on Terrorism has our soldiers and the sadness of the soldiers lost much easier than I can listen to the stories about what some of our family members have done to these brave men and women while they were gone. While duty, honor and country are the makeup and backbone of a soldier, what drives some of the families over the edge?
Our communities need to stretch an open hand, to make sure that these families are not left to their own devices. They must hold them in the same regard as the soldier fighting for our freedom. These families across our country are paying a price and ultimately, it will be a price we all pay for we fail them miserably. Seek them out in your community. Invite them to dinner, a backyard bbq, to church. Give them some time off from the kids; make sure their appliances and the car are in working order. Or just simply say hi, I am here if you need me and mean it. It will make a difference. That will make a difference to that family and a difference to that soldier that is fighting for someone to have a better life.
Like our garden, “plant a seed”.
Last week we started harvesting our garden. We brought in the radishes, lettuce and a couple of tomatoes. The watermelon, cantaloupe and squash are not quite ready yet. But…..the soldiers watch them everyday. I wonder who will get to pick them first.
Planting seeds…..I must tell you, I haven’t met the likes of Bill Crawford from San Antonio but he recently wrote in his blog after a phone interview the following article…
All Things Conservative: Please Help TMFF The head of the group is named Julie Curtis-Win. I spoke to her today, and it was an incredible experience I won't ever forget. Sometimes in life we meet people who change us, ..... ..allthingsconservative.typepad.com/all_things_conse... [Found on MSN Search]
This article brought us to two other great people. Haystack and Tim Saler and Bill aka AlamoCity Commando. These three gentlemen have “blogged” us. At first I didn’t really know what that meant, but I am beginning to get the hang of it. They have started an Operation Noble Duty that I am sure will take on a life of its own. Please check out these two new websites:
Operation: Noble Duty Julie Curtis-Win, Executive Director, has dedicated her life to this cause, and she needs your help. ?The Texas Military Family is an organization with a ... www.nobleduty.org/?feed=rss2 [Found on Google, MSN Search, Ask.com]
Now we need your help, to continue to help those that we serve. As funding for our services continues to dewindle with the public opionion people “tend to forget” that these things are still needed, we have had to get creative in fund raising. Fund raising in itself is a full time job which is why we are appealing to you online and through the websites. Please take a moment to visit our PayPal option, or just drop us a line.
Remember, these men and women that deploy each day continue to need our support here and abroad. A simple thank you for your service, a letter, a supply drive, or a tax-deductible donation will go a long way to help. Let us pray for the safety and safe return of those that are giving so much, planting those seeds in a country so far away. Julie
TMFF new vegetable garden
Our officials should re-focus their efforts on the care of these soldiers after their return home. Most will tell you they want to go back, to finish what they have started to give the children of these war-torn countries a life deserving of any young person. Political forces have in the past and continue to turn and not face the realities that our soldiers need assistance home recuperating from injuries sustained during the war on terrorism. Soldiers should not have to defend their injuries. What happened to American compassion and in some cases just common sense and decency to treat our heroes with respect and healthcare they deserve. Where is the assistance needed for the combat worn soldier that is out processed to the VA healthcare. There is too much time wasted between the time these soldiers are relieved from active duty to the time they are inprocessed and receive care from the VA. As appointed officials come forth with their reports on the healthcare systems of our military, let us not forget those that have already filtered through the system the last couple of years and seek them out to assure that they have received the appropriate care and if not fix it.
If we fail these soldiers now, we are failing ourselves as Americans.
To those that know the mission of the TMFF the realization that we also provide many other avenues of support to the soldiers that we serve clearly becomes evident the more they are around us at our daily functions. As the news provides more information about soldiers, their health care issues, the facilities that have been provided for the health care you must realize that this is not a brand new problem. These problems have clearly been issues taken to many senators and representatives since the beginning of OIF/OEF. One only needs to look at all the congressionals that have been filed since the beginning of the war on terrorism to see that it has been a problem. Soldiers that serve their country without reservation should not have to continue to fight for their care once they return home. It is an embarrassment for our nation.
That said, there are many, many soldiers out there that have just given up. We encourage you to stand up, don't give up. Expect the best health care, as we have expected the best from you. If you need assistance, contact your local DAV, VFW and American Legion. These organizations are out there to assist you in your journey.
I would like to thank the many volunteers that have been assisting with the flights, srp sites, and taking care of the TMFF facility. Since my accident in October, you stood up from all around to help out(Georgetown, Sun City, RoundRock, Copperas Cove, Austin, Elmo, Irving, and as far away as Houston and Dallas). Thank you. I am going into the hospital for more surgery and I know that we can count on you to keep everything running smoothly for the soldiers the we serve. Thank you will never be enough.
We would also like to that the following organizations that have been instrumental in financial assistance to help us carry out the mission of taking care of soldiers:
Art for Soldiers. org presented us this summer with a check for $10,000. Portions of this were to go to a "media room". The soldiers were certainly excited to see a flat screen attached to the wall and really excited when they realized they were able to manipulate it to play their "war games" on via their computers. Thank you Heather and Dr. McMann
The Dallas Foundation through their recently awarded Triad Fund awarded $25,000 to TMFF to help carry out the support of soldiers. These funds have helped us purchase some of the much needed items for the soldiers. Bottled water, lots of snacks and drinks for the many activities we provide as well as toiletry items for the single soldier barrack bags.
We look forward to working with these two great organizations on a continued basis.
AT&T Pioneers have provided much needed volunteers and financial assistance to us this year as well. This summer a check for $5,000 was presented for assistance with the many BBQ's that are held for soldiers the have completed their mobilization and training and go overseas.
The Texas Military Family Foundation is a non-profit 501 C(3) organization that serves the United States Military.
It is our mission to provide quality, personalized care to soldiers away from home.
TMFF provides assistance to soldiers while training, deploying, returning home as well as those that are here wounded and injured. Soldiers enjoy using our computers and phones in our comfortable atmosphere while picking up personal hygiene items that they may need.
One of The Thousands of Uniforms That Have Gotten a Smiley Face.
Smiley face stickers initially started as a small way to boost soldiers spirits at the deployment sites. Now EVERY soldier deploying out of Ft. Hood TX and many other sites receive a smiley face sticker on their uniform prior to loading a plane to continue onward towards their mission. Executive Director, Julie Win has said, "It's our way of showing we care and allows the soldier to take a small part of us with them."
Thank you for visiting our site. We would appreciate your comments at staff@tmff.us If you are interested in doing a supply drive for soldiers or sending a monetary donation please contact us at 254/285-5975. .
Visitors Since
October, 2004
"Serving our Soldiers....
It's the Right Thing to Do!"
Serving Those That Keep Us Safe and Our Nation Strong
