Wounded Soldiers Ease Back Into Daily
Life With The Help Of Donated Laptops Soldiers’ Angels’
Project Valour IT Donates Laptop Computer to 500th Wounded Soldier
Soldiers’ Angels’ Project Valour IT donates laptop computer
to 500th wounded soldier
Pasadena, Calif. (PRWEB) June 23, 2006 -- During every war, in which
the United States has been involved, civilian groups have come into
existence which were composed of individuals dedicated to providing
for the human needs of American soldiers and their families. Programs
such as the Overseas YMCA Workers Program played a pivotal role
in helping American soldiers while they were deployed and when they
returned from the battlefield during World War I.
Today, during the War on Terror, many similar charitable organizations
have emerged to provide for the needs of the American soldiers and
their families. The memberships of such organizations are diverse
and include among their ranks veterans, milbloggers, family members
of soldiers and civilians. Some of the organizations exist to provide
a specific need to soldiers while others exist to provide a wide
array of help and comfort to those in the armed forces. A common
theme among the groups is the desire to provide aid and comfort
to the men and women who wear the military uniforms of the United
States of America.
Soldiers’ Angels is such an organization. In the summer of
2003 Patti Patton-Bader was inspired to found Soldiers’ Angels
when her son wrote home from Iraq expressing his concern that some
soldiers did not receive any mail or support from home. Within a
few short months Soldiers' Angels had grown from a mother writing
a few extra letters to an Internet Community with tens of thousands
of angels worldwide.
One of the many projects established by Soldiers’ Angels was
Project Valour IT (Voice Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops).
The project was established in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss,
a Vietnam era veteran . SFC Ziegenfuss’s son, CPT Charles
“Chuck” Ziegenfuss, was wounded in Iraq. While convalescing
from hand injuries he discovered the therapeutic benefits of being
able to stay connected to the world through the use of voice-controlled
software and a laptop computer. He was one of many soldiers who
were able to blog from their hospital beds. Out of his struggle
and in coordination with Soldiers’ Angels, Project Valor IT
was born.
The purpose of the project is to provide voice-controlled software
and laptop computers to wounded soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines
recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations. Operating
laptops by speaking into a microphone, wounded soldiers are able
to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the
'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field, all without
having to press a key or move a mouse.
During its initial phase, Valour-IT created "libraries"
of laptops equipped with voice-controlled software for the severely
wounded staying at major military medical centers. In many cases
laptops are provided to a wounded hero for permanent use. Valour-IT
has continued to accept donations of any amount to supply the “libraries”
of laptops at major military medical centers and gifts to individuals,
but has also added the option of an individual or organization directly
sponsoring a wounded soldier by completely funding the cost of a
laptop and continuing to provide him or her with personal support
and encouragement throughout recovery.
Through donations from milblogger challenges, churches, groups of
coworkers or friends, and members of community organizations, Project
Valour IT has recently donated its 500th laptop computer to a wounded
soldier. This project helps keep wounded soldiers from falling into
depression by providing them with task-oriented activity; giving
them access to entertainment and news; allowing them to sustain
positive self value; and allowing them to maintain and enjoy rewarding
personal contact through instant messages, email and even voice
chat. In essence, the voice activated laptops provided by Project
Valour IT become instant lifelines for the severely wounded soldier.
The project directly and positively helps those soldiers who have
given up so much of themselves to protect their fellow countrymen
and gives them the ability to experience some of the small enjoyments
found in daily life.
Continuing the time honored tradition of civilian support of American
soldiers, Soldiers’ Angels sponsors programs which provide
support to American soldiers and their families. Soldiers’
Angels’ programs include first responder packs, support, and
laptop computers to wounded soldiers who are receiving treatment
at American military hospitals; care packages, letters, and support
to deployed soldiers; armored blankets to military ambulances; items
shipped for deployed soldiers to give children in the war zone;
and memorial trees for the families of soldiers who have died in
the service of their country.
If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule
an interview with Patti Patton-Bader, please call James Riley at
(615)676-0239.Press Contact: Patti Bader
Company Name: SOLDIERS ANGELS
Phone: 615-676-0239
Website: soldiersangels.org
