Help Me Raise $5000 for a Retreat For Wounded Veterans & Their Battle Buddies

A few of you may remember a few weeks ago that some co-workers and I, on a dare I might add, entered a pig wrestling event. I only agreed to do so if all of our co-workers collectively made donations to Defenders of Freedom. It was a huge success.

The goal is to put the pig up on the tire.

That's me in the red t-shirt behind the lady in yellow.  Yeah, I had the back end.  :)

I'm coming out of retirement to jump into a mud pit and wrestle one more pig on September 10th. This time I'm doing it in order to raise $5,000 for airfare to fly a group of Wounded Veterans and some of their battle buddies to Texas for a 4 day retreat. The Ranch, food, etc are being donated by a husband and wife who are incredible American Patriots and huge supporters of our active duty military personnel, Wounded, Veterans and their families.

The retreat is scheduled for mid October 2011 so we only have a few weeks to get this done.

I know times are financially tough right now for many of us and there are many requests for donations but please "sponsor" my pig wrestling event by donating what you can. $5.00, $10.00, $25,00, $100.00, etc.

If you've ever been around a Wounded Veteran or any Veteran you know that a few days together with battles buddies is about the best "medicine" there is.

Thank you for your consideration and please "share" this on facebook and/or your blog. For those who have friends, family, co-workers, etc who may want to donate please "share" on facebook or share this link direct to Defenders of Freedom.   If donating via the Defenders of Freedom website (versus facebook) once you 1) select an amount, 2) Add to cart, 3) click on "check out" please remember to 4) type Retreat towards the bottom of the page in the "How did you find out about Defenders of Freedom" line.  By typing Retreat there you will ensure that 100% of your donation goes towards this project.

If you prefer to donate by check you may do so via the following address:

Defenders of Freedom
706 Stratford Lane
Coppell, TX 75019

Please be sure to note "Retreat" on the memo line of your check.  All donations are tax deductible.


This fund raising event is endorsed by:

Ranger Up - (best darn t-shirts on the planet)
Blackfive -  (love my B5 guys!)
This Ain't Hell (Jonn's got a crush on me and I LOVE IT!  Plus he and TSO are more than awesome!)

Help Us Raise Money for a Great Cause by Purchasing 173rd Airborne Throws

A group of Gold Star families, Blue Star families, families of the wounded from OEF VIII and civilian supporters of the 173rd, 2-503 are selling throws as a fund raising project.  The immediate goal is to raise funds to fly any medically cleared wounded of the 173rd ABCT from OEF X back to Italy and Germany at the end of the deployment to join their brothers in arms for Memorial Services and other official ceremonies.

The response we received from the Wounded, their battle buddies and family members at the end of OEF VIII was overwhelmingly positive, and, at times deeply emotional. The battle buddies commented about how important it was to “see” that their brothers-in-arms were “ok”. The Wounded commented about how important it was to attend the Brigade Memorial Service and to talk with their brothers-in-arms about the ambush or attack and about those who didn’t survive. The family members commented about the marked improvement in the emotional healing of their Wounded Soldiers after being able to sit down with those left behind on the battlefield. The results in 2008 were so positive for the Wounded they have asked us if we will do this at the end of the current deployment

We have two designs from which you can choose.  Buy one for yourself, for a Sky Soldier for Christmas, birthday or as a Welcome Home from deployment gift.  If you aren't a member of a Sky Soldier family consider purchasing one or more for us to give, in your name, to one of the wounded or one of the Soldiers currently deployed or even to one of the Vietnam Veterans of the 173rd.

Design #1:

Design #2

Please go to the 173rd, 2-503 Sky Soldiers Fund Raising (Civilian Sponsored) website and order 1, 2 or several.  Instructions for ordering either by paypal or check are on the above mentioned website.  All purchases are tax deductible thanks to Warrior Legacy Foundation's partnership with us on this project.

If you have any questions please email us at skysoldiers2503@gmail.com.

FINALLY! The 2-503 Throws/Afghans Are Available For Sale!

Some of you are aware that we've been "advertising" the upcoming sale of 173rd, 2-503 throws/afghans.  Well....we're finally ready to take orders.

Please go to the 173rd, 2-503 Fund Raising website to order either or both of the following.  More details over there but here are photos of the two options

Design #1

Design #2