(Feb. 25, 2016) Star Charities presented a check for $6,600 to help finance the annual spring pilgrimage of injured soldiers to Ocean City during its meeting on Thursday, Feb. 18.
Now in its 11th year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Maryland Wounded Warriors program will bring military members and their families to the beach on June 7 for three days and two nights of relaxation to coincide with the VFW Department of Maryland’s 96th annual convention.
Tom Kimball and Jack Lewis, from VFW #194 in Salisbury, accepted the donation and shared some background on the program and their rationale for the altruistic pursuit.
Starting in 2006, the program has brought a multitude of soldiers from nearby military medical and treatment centers for a tranquil visit to the shore.
“It gives them a couple of days away from therapy and they understand that people appreciate what they’ve done,” Lewis said.
All of the money raised goes to the program with no administration costs, Kimball explained.
“Some of these kids have never put their feet in the ocean,” he said. “They flew over the sea, but never had a chance to put a toe in the water.”
Kimball, who has served as chairman of the VFW program since its inception, shared his experience when returning from the Vietnam War. He was stunned to return to the U.S. in the midst of riots following the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., when National Guard troops were dispatched to quell the violence in Washington, D.C. As with many who fought in Vietnam, he returned home to a country sharply divided over U.S. foreign policy.
“I could not believe I came back during that period,” he said. “I could not say I was a Vietnam vet for 25 years. It didn’t seem like it mattered to anybody.”
Feeding off Kimball’s comments, Lewis said the only thing people have in life are memories.
“Some are negative, some are positive and some you’re not sure about,” he said. “I choose not to remember the bad.”
The VFW program touched the lives of 91 wounded warriors and their families in 2015.
“We had close to 300 people we took care of last year,” Lewis said. “They can bring their families and even pets along.”
Anna Foultz and her cohorts in Star Charities have donated to the VFW program for the last two years, but the group has worked to raise money for veteran’s causes since its inception.
“Once Anna and her group heard about it they got involved,” Lewis said.
Star Charities was the brainchild of Foultz and her late husband, Carl, who formed the all-volunteer group in 2006. The couple also started the Wounded Soldiers of Maryland in 1998 to assist veterans returning home with injuries or disabilities. Since that time, Foultz, who at 90 years of age is the oldest active Girl Scout in the U.S., has received numerous honors for her philanthropic efforts.
Deflecting attention from herself, Foultz praised her fellow volunteers in Star Charities.
“I couldn’t do it alone,” she said.
Like many who wonder what percentage of charitable donations support the stated cause, Foultz said the group was formed with the ideal that all money raised would be channeled into the proper hands.
“This is from my heart,” she said. “When I do a fundraiser I want to donate too.”
Another supporter of the VFW program is the Delmarva Shorebirds. The single-A baseball team, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, compete in the South Atlantic League. One again this year the team will auction off game jerseys to help finance wounded soldiers visiting Ocean City.
Steve Uhlmann, Shorebirds communications and marketing manager, said last year’s team raised more than $6,500 from auctioning jerseys. This year the club will sell off jerseys from the July 4 home game against the Lakewood BlueClaws.
“It’s been a great partnership,” Uhlmann said. “It’s a great night for the community to have fun watching baseball and supporting a great cause.”
Not surprisingly, since it is Independence Day, Uhlmann said fans would also be treated to the biggest fireworks show of the season. Lewis said his group would pass out about 4,000 American flags during the game, as a stadium full of people waving the stars and stripes provide quite an emotional backdrop.
“It’s a win-win all the way around,” he said. “We’re helping those who helped us.”
The program has also been aided by Salisbury-based Holloway Tours, which Lewis said provides buses at a discounted rate. He also said the soldiers, who likely enjoy some time away from military medical facilities, are not wholly removed from treatment.
“We bring down medical people and nurses from Walter Reed [National Military Medical Center],” he said.
The hope is that injured military members can simply enjoy themselves and be reminded how much their sacrifice means to the American public. Lewis had one piece of advice for those unsure how to honor those wounded in battle.
“Come down there and say a couple of magic words, ‘Thank you,’” he said.
Now in its 11th year, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of Maryland Wounded Warriors program will bring military members and their families to the beach on June 7 for three days and two nights of relaxation to coincide with the VFW Department of Maryland’s 96th annual convention.
Tom Kimball and Jack Lewis, from VFW #194 in Salisbury, accepted the donation and shared some background on the program and their rationale for the altruistic pursuit.
Starting in 2006, the program has brought a multitude of soldiers from nearby military medical and treatment centers for a tranquil visit to the shore.
“It gives them a couple of days away from therapy and they understand that people appreciate what they’ve done,” Lewis said.
All of the money raised goes to the program with no administration costs, Kimball explained.
“Some of these kids have never put their feet in the ocean,” he said. “They flew over the sea, but never had a chance to put a toe in the water.”
Kimball, who has served as chairman of the VFW program since its inception, shared his experience when returning from the Vietnam War. He was stunned to return to the U.S. in the midst of riots following the 1968 assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., when National Guard troops were dispatched to quell the violence in Washington, D.C. As with many who fought in Vietnam, he returned home to a country sharply divided over U.S. foreign policy.
“I could not believe I came back during that period,” he said. “I could not say I was a Vietnam vet for 25 years. It didn’t seem like it mattered to anybody.”
Feeding off Kimball’s comments, Lewis said the only thing people have in life are memories.
“Some are negative, some are positive and some you’re not sure about,” he said. “I choose not to remember the bad.”
The VFW program touched the lives of 91 wounded warriors and their families in 2015.
“We had close to 300 people we took care of last year,” Lewis said. “They can bring their families and even pets along.”
Anna Foultz and her cohorts in Star Charities have donated to the VFW program for the last two years, but the group has worked to raise money for veteran’s causes since its inception.
“Once Anna and her group heard about it they got involved,” Lewis said.
Star Charities was the brainchild of Foultz and her late husband, Carl, who formed the all-volunteer group in 2006. The couple also started the Wounded Soldiers of Maryland in 1998 to assist veterans returning home with injuries or disabilities. Since that time, Foultz, who at 90 years of age is the oldest active Girl Scout in the U.S., has received numerous honors for her philanthropic efforts.
Deflecting attention from herself, Foultz praised her fellow volunteers in Star Charities.
“I couldn’t do it alone,” she said.
Like many who wonder what percentage of charitable donations support the stated cause, Foultz said the group was formed with the ideal that all money raised would be channeled into the proper hands.
“This is from my heart,” she said. “When I do a fundraiser I want to donate too.”
Another supporter of the VFW program is the Delmarva Shorebirds. The single-A baseball team, an affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles, compete in the South Atlantic League. One again this year the team will auction off game jerseys to help finance wounded soldiers visiting Ocean City.
Steve Uhlmann, Shorebirds communications and marketing manager, said last year’s team raised more than $6,500 from auctioning jerseys. This year the club will sell off jerseys from the July 4 home game against the Lakewood BlueClaws.
“It’s been a great partnership,” Uhlmann said. “It’s a great night for the community to have fun watching baseball and supporting a great cause.”
Not surprisingly, since it is Independence Day, Uhlmann said fans would also be treated to the biggest fireworks show of the season. Lewis said his group would pass out about 4,000 American flags during the game, as a stadium full of people waving the stars and stripes provide quite an emotional backdrop.
“It’s a win-win all the way around,” he said. “We’re helping those who helped us.”
The program has also been aided by Salisbury-based Holloway Tours, which Lewis said provides buses at a discounted rate. He also said the soldiers, who likely enjoy some time away from military medical facilities, are not wholly removed from treatment.
“We bring down medical people and nurses from Walter Reed [National Military Medical Center],” he said.
The hope is that injured military members can simply enjoy themselves and be reminded how much their sacrifice means to the American public. Lewis had one piece of advice for those unsure how to honor those wounded in battle.
“Come down there and say a couple of magic words, ‘Thank you,’” he said.