Veterans recognized on 100th visit to wounded troops

Pictured from left: Frank DeAngelo, Vic Carroll, Justin Hart, Al Meadows, Capt. Tim Huff, Terry Pacitto, and Josh Phillips (veteran of OEF/OIF). / Contributed photo

Six members of the Derby/Shelton AMVETS Post 43 recently participated in Operation Gift Cards’ 100th visit to wounded troops at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Justin Hart, Associate National Service Director of the Disabled American Veterans, presented the six Post 43 members with a plaque from DAV National Headquarters during their Nov. 4 visit.

The plaque was in recognition of Operation Gift Cards’ 100th visit to Walter Reed. 

The six veterans who participated are also leaders in other veterans organizations which have participated in Operation Gift Cards.

Sixty-eight organizations have co-sponsored Operation Gift Cards visits during the last eight years while distributing over $733,450 in Post exchange gift cards and corporate donations to the wounded troops and their families.

In Connecticut the DAV and AMVETS have formed a partnership in order to expand several programs for helping servicemen and servicewomen, and veterans and their families. 

The programs are: Operation Gift Cards; the Local Veterans Assistance Program which takes veterans from hospitals, homeless shelters, nursing homes, and veterans who are shut-ins, on day trips; and CT Heroes On Wheels which collects and repairs electric wheelchairs, electric scooters, wheelchairs, walkers, and other medical equipment and donates them to veterans and their families.

For more information about Operation Gift Cards or the other programs contact Al Meadows 203 929-3357 al.meadows@snet.net.



This post is taken from a press release from Al Meadows of Shelton.

Operation Gift Cards receives $20,000 donation

 

Veteran Angel Cadena, left, accepts a $20,000 donation on behalf of Operation Gift Cards and the Disabled American Veterans from Steve Lobdell, center, and Steve Curry of Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426. / Contributed photo

Operation Gift Cards for wounded troops, a program co-sponsored by 62 Connecticut organizations, has received a $20,000 donation. 

Angel Cadena, a veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan-two tours) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (one tour) and a member of AMVETS (American Veterans) Post 43 accepted the $20,000 donation July 10 from the Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426.

The check was presented by Steve Lobdell and Steve Curry. The Fairfield firefighters raised the money during the annual Stratton Faxon Fairfield Half Marathon and 5K hosted by the Fairfield firefighters' local in June.

Lobdell, creator and President of the fairfieldhalf.org, and Steve Curry, Assistant Chief of the Fairfield Fire Department and an Air Force veteran, have both been among the 199 representatives (from 64 organizations - 62 from Connecticut) who have visited the wounded troops for Operation Gift Cards. 

The AMVETS and the Fairfield Firefighters Local 1426 have been the largest two supporters of Operation Gift Cards.

This information was provided by Al Meadows of Shelton.