Special Delivery

Many order pizza over the phone. Few call a company 1,000 miles away.

But Hope For The Warriors® rarely follows the norm and few companies are as dedicated to our military as Casey's General Store.

It started with a simple conversation.  Staff members were visiting patients in Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C.  Each week, our coordinators meet with wounded service members and family members, talking about their challenges, and searching for solutions through our programs. 

This particular visit was with Petty Officer 3rd Class Taylor Morris, USN, from Cedar Falls, Iowa.  Wounded May 3, Taylor is a quadruple amputee.  Our staff member talked to him and his girlfriend, Danielle, about the support that we received from Casey's General Store.

If you are from the Midwest and have been to a Casey's store, it will not surprise you that Taylor and Danielle immediately talked about Casey's pizza.  Apparently everyone loves Casey's pizza.

Back at the office, the staff learned of Taylor's love for Casey's pizza.  Naturally, Bob Myers, Casey's President and CEO was called.

Through a series of phone calls, it was decided that somehow, pizzas would be sent to Washington, D.C.  As luck would have it, a staff member's neighbor was flying to Washington, D.C. on Wednesday.  She agreed to carry the pizzas on the airplane with her. 

The pizzas were freshly made, packed in ice, and boxed up with instructions on how to bake them in a regular oven.  Our staff greeted this volunteer at the airport.

The next day, each pizza was baked.  At 12:15 pm, three pizzas, baked to perfection, were presented to a very surprised Taylor.  He was joined by his girlfriend Danielle and several friends, some who were also from the Midwest and just as excited to see a slice of home.

It did not take long for all of the pizza to be eaten.

Thank you to Casey's General Store and to Bob Myers, President.  Many would have received that phone call and not completely understood how wonderful a piece of home can be in a service member's recovery.

Thank you to Beth, the woman who volunteered to carry the box on the airplane. 

And of course, thank you to Taylor and Danielle for your service and your strength.

Friday's Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words.

A look inside the cockpit as the pilot completes a loop.
Thunder Over Cedar Creek Airshow

Tough Sport Shows Caring Heart

Last month, Hope For The Warriors® attended the Fifth Annual NYC Rugby Cup – Presented by HSBC. Play Rugby USA, the largest rugby based youth development organization in the nation, hosted the event on Randall’s Island Fields.  Close to 900 middle and elementary school students competed in almost 200 games throughout the day.  In total, more than 1500 players and spectators attended the Rugby Cup.

Friday's Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words.

Concert goers at the Freedom Fest on Long Island proudly
wear Hope For The Warriors® pins

4th of July

Today we celebrate the 4^th of July and in the heat of the summer, we will celebrate events across the country with fireworks, barbeques and other celebrations.  As a nonprofit that supports wounded service members and military families, we become involved in events that thank our military members for their service—just as they do for Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

It is important to remember that Independence Day actually celebrates a moment in history that involved our government, not our military.  For those rusty on their American History, on July 2, 1776, the Second Continental Congress voted to become independent from Great Britain.  The wording of the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4.  Historians debate when the document was actually signed and many believe that it was not until early August.

So why are military members thanked, honored and remembered on a day that has nothing to do with our military?  The day is to remember a group of old men, sitting in a building debating over policy.  It does not actually memorialize a battle victory at all and the Revolutionary War did not end until 1783.

So now we have to guess why people celebrate our military on this day.  First, the 4^th of July is about patriotism and love of our country.  No other single holiday represents the love we have of our country, flag and freedoms than this day.  Our military members are a perfect example of patriotism.  Although there are many reasons why men and women join the military, we believe that each one also has a sense of duty to their country due to their patriotism. 

Photo provided courtesy of Paul Oberle

The second reason is that although July 4^th celebrates a political decision, we have to assume that our Founding Fathers made this decision based on what they believed could be accomplished on the battle field.  Shots had already been fired and the colonies were building up their military, ammunition and political allies.  Our Founding Fathers voted for independence, knowing that there were men ready to go to battle for that independence.

Today’s political leaders continue to make their decisions with this knowledge.  Each United States president is able to enter into negotiations with the strength of our military behind his words.  Sometimes this power is spoken, often times unspoken.  From these decisions, our military members are given orders that they must follow.  (Please remember that this November when you are deciding whether you have time to vote.)

So, have a great 4^th of July everyone.  Yes, we are celebrating a political moment in history.  But that bold political move was made possible by our military.

Stay safe!

Salute to Families

Often, the most memorable, life changing moments in our lives come unexpectedly.  They start will a simple idea or gesture. 

The Cortlandt Yacht Club of Montrose, NY recently hosted seven wounded service members and their families and six Gold Star Families for a boat ride along the Hudson River.  Hope For The Warriors® was proud and honored to be a part of this beautiful, family event.

Friday's Photo

A picture is worth a thousand words.



Family Reunited:  Learn more about our Family Reintegration Program