It's Official! - Project Update 4

We have a name!  Wings for Our Troops "in loving Memory of CPL Chad S Wade".
For those new to this project I will give you a quick overview before getting into the newest developments we've had.  This project was first conceived when Tebo and I first realized that our Marines had to pay to get home before and after deployments.  I guess I just assumed that our government paid for these young men and women to go home for pre and post deployment leave.  I was wrong!  This expense comes out of their own pockets.  There is a true misconception that our military folks get paid this great salary and everything is paid for them.  That is so far from the truth that it's actually very sad.  Our military does not make much money at all.  So when we learned that some of the guys wouldn't be able to go home before deploying to Iraq Tebo and I offered to help them get home.  They refused to take a hand out so that's when the wheels started turning for us.  They are too proud to take a hand out, but maybe, just maybe they would be willing to apply for assistance through a foundation set up just for that reason.  Well, I'm ashamed to say that once we had Chad home, while it was in the back of my mind, we didn't actively push to start this project.  Once Dec. 1st came around and we got the news that Chad was KIA while in Afghanistan it tugged at my heart even more knowing that while the band of brothers is an amazing thing and I know it helped these guys more than we may ever know, I truly believe their true healing won't start until they are home with their families.  Chad was fortunate enough to have us be able to help him get home.  I can't imagine now not having those 11 days with him here before Afghanistan and I'm sure every parent and family member feels the same way we do that we wouldn't trade those visits for anything, but can you imagine after all these guys have been through while on this deployment how much more their families will cherish their return visits home and how much these guys need these visits?  I do not ever want one service member not be able to go home because they can't afford to get there.  So now on to our official update!

So we have a name, Wings for Our Troops and now we are in the process of setting up our bank account as well as I've already been reaching out to folks to understand how to get our website up and running.  If there is anyone out there reading this that can help me with that it will be greatly appreciated.  I'm clueless and a little computer challenged so I can use all the help I can get with that.  We have our "Advisory" committee set up.  Our members for that are:  Tebo & I, Russell Tooley, Sean Gill (former Captain in the Air Force and Navy), Jimmy Keene (former Captain Army), Glennia Hunt, and our honorary member, Seth Voie (USMC).  This committee will be responsible for coming up with rules of engagement and criteria for distributing the funds.  We will be creating another committee as well that will help generate ideas for fundraisers, getting the word out about our project/foundation, etc.  I'm excited to work with this committee, because this is where all the action happens.  :)

Speaking of raising money, I am so excited for a couple of reasons.  First, I know many of you have seen my blog about the jewelry I received from Ally Miller (and check out Daisy & Elm for Friday's Jewelry!).  Well, she has decided all military jewelry she makes she will donate the money to our foundation.  This will include her "Red Friday" jewelry.  Thank you so much Ally!  You are amazing!  Also, one of Chad's very first friends he had here in AR, Cody Bradley, is in a Christian rock band and he has a t-shirt that he will be donating all proceeds of those sales to our project as well (I will be getting more information about that from him).  We haven't even kicked off this project completely yet and we've already had so many amazing people reach out wanting to help that it is almost overwhelming. 

This is a chance for us all to pay it forward a little and to show our troops that we not only appreciate them, but we want to take care of them as well.  Not all these service men and women are as fortunate as Chad was (we were blessed enough to be able to help) to have the help to get home and it breaks my heart to think one of them might not be able to travel home because of money.

While starting out we will have to focus on the US Marine Corps it is our goal that the other branches pick up and it will be available for all branches.  Our goal is to have this foundation go nation wide and have a website up and running in order to make it easier for people to donate online.  Tyson Foods, Inc has been amazing in helping us get this thing started and if we get the sponsorship from one of our groups here at Tyson we will be able to have fundraisers here that will allow the money collected to go directly to our foundation.  This is so exciting.  We still have much to do, but we are so close I can taste it. 

I want to give a special shout out to Russell Tooley of Tyson Foods, Inc.  If it weren't for him we wouldn't be this far.  Thank you Russell for all your help and your excitement for this project.  I am sure I drive him crazy with my impatience and excitement and energy, but I am passionate about this and I am determined to see it through.  I have a burden on my heart for these men and women and I won't rest until I know they know we are here to appreciate them and take care of them.  I guess you could say I have a new life mission.  Oh boy, there better look out.  When I put my mind to something there could be no stopping me. 

I would love to see our NFL teams, Nascar, college teams, etc. get involved in this.  If you think about it, almost every sports team regardless what it is typically recognizes our military in some fashion at some point in their season.  Why wouldn't they want to support this effort.  I will tell you that I expect the Peyton Mannings, Pat Summits, and Dale Jr (Chad's favorite driver) and more to get involved and they can certainly expect to hear from me.  :D 

Thank you in advance for all everyone has done or will do with this project and be watching for the latest updates.  I plan to start a blog just for the project very soon (maybe even tonight) so I can make sure we get as much visibility as we can.  I will also have a Face Book page for it as soon as it kicks off.  I'm super excited if you couldn't tell and I hope everyone reading this gets excited as well.