30 APR 09 5050

Yesterday was a very full day for all of us I suspect. We are preparing to travel to Washington DC and tell our story, especially the fact that USA Cares is becoming the glue that is putting together public, government and private institutions that all have the same desire to help our Veterans deal with PTSD. I will be posting the slide show we are going to show as soon as it is final. 

Thanks for all you do and today is a brand new day!

Roger 

ICARE and 90999

A new friend of ours at the blog Political Vel Craft posted a request to use another one of our key words, "ICARE" and I thought I would show his readers how it is doing too.

Great job California!

Roger 

28 APR 09 5050

Good morning from rainy Kentucky! We have our first state to reach $100 in texts, great job Illinois!

I was on Facebook this morning and met another very good friend from my past, who has already asked, "what can I do for USA Cares?", well the answer is....  . My point in bringing this up is that given the virtual world we now live in, sometimes the friend (or texter) you are looking for is just waiting to be asked.

So hang in there and again, as we make history, we will look back and reflect on the start way back in 2009, when.........

Have a great day, and good hunting!

Roger 

27 APR 09 5050

Dang, already afternoon! There is so much going on around here that it is just flat fun! Bill and I are getting ready to go to Washington DC to attend a conference with the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans, (CIAV) and this will be a great opportunity for us to tell our story and especially the work we are doing with PTSD. You know I will mention what we are doing with 5050!

We are also getting ready to launch a book that is helping USA Cares along with a "Bark For America" (more on that next time).

You all have a great day, you are making a difference!

Roger 

26 APR 09 5050

Good morning on this great Sunday that finds Kentucky sunny and hot! I hope to be able to share some really great news here at USA Cares this week, but for now I have to be good! 

All of you have a great day, and if you notice, Beth Ann in Arizona is coming on strong!

Roger 

25 APR 09 5050

Good morning from sunny Radcliff! We are all watching with a grin with the efforts that you guys are making. The map is telling the story, people do care, when they know the story about what we are doing for our military families and especially the ones that are affected by PTSD, not just them, but the their families.

Have a great weekend, and I am betting that by this time next week, we will have three or four steps over $100 in texters!!!

Roger 

24 APR 09 5050

This morning at Fort Knox Kentucky, the 19th Engineers will conduct a departure ceremony as they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan. For many of the young soldiers, one of whom I met yesterday, are traveling into harm's way for a second time. He was a Specialist. He was somebodies son and he stood there in front of me, tall, slim and confident. His smile was disarming and he was matter a fact about his second deployment to war. 

I often find myself asking where we find these young men and women, and the of course the answer is that they are the ones we don't see on TV, these are the graduates of high schools across America, who look over the options, sense a purpose, or even just a job and the choose to become a warrior.

What you have to know is that when you do that, you have to give up even more of your rights as an American to serve America. You have to be polite. You have to professionally recognize your fellow servicemembers and provide appropriate greetings, little things like a sharp salute. They have to tell the truth, all the time, and often as we know, the are asked to do things that are very hard, and sometimes very dangerous. And they do it.

Can we do any less than our best to make a difference for them and their families? Of course not.

Thanks for all you are doing for USA Cares.

Roger 

23 APR 09 5050

Have you ever had a secret that you wanted to shout from the rooftops, but can't? Well, I have one, and it will make all of you that care very, very happy! We were told we can't tell, so, well, we just won't tell! :) Illinois jumped out a little yesterday, so who will be to 20 texters first? 

Remember, we are making history, and just like when we started back in 2003, there were times when you wonder, "What the heck am I doing?" and you have three cases that are already approved and you need $1,800 but only have $468 and you look each other in the eye, just as a check for $5,000 shows up, not once, but twice. True story. 

What can I do to help you?

Roger

Mr. Nelson goes to Congress

USA Cares had the privilage of providing testimony to a Congressional hearing concerning the care and treatment of Veterans. 

We have much to do, and we should all be thankful for the opportunity we have to be a part of the solution, rather than stand on the sidelines and complain.

To all those who are making a difference, thanks..

Roger 

22 APR 09 5050

Don't look now, but we have two states that are over 10% of the goal of 100 texters! Both ladies working hard, and from what I gather, they are doing it the old fashion way, one friend, aquaintance or family member at a time. I going to challenge the rest of you to get a least one texter a day, and ask them to do the same. So to Donna and Linda, you are showing us the way, and for that we all applaud you!!!

Bill testified yesterday infront of a VA Congressional Committee about "our' work with PTSD and helping guys and gals with barrier removal so that they can get treatment. Will keep you posted and if his testimony is made public, I will link to it for you.

Have a great day!

Roger 

21 APR 09 5050

Greetings from sunny Radcliff! I posted a story this morning about a family we are working with and I hope you have time to read it, I will keep you posted on how this warrior is doing. We now have 11 Veterans in our Warrior Treatment Today program, but there is no doubt that as the word spreads, that we will continue to recieve more and more inquiries about the program and how can they get their Veterans assistance. 

We can only do that if we have help like what you are doing! 

Roger 

5050? Why?

We don't have all the information yet, but this is what USA Cares is working on and why our campaign with 5050 is so important.

A VA Representative contacted USA Cares and said that she had heard about our Warrior Treatment Today and how we help PTSD patients during their residential treatments. We have learned that this soldier, who is a husband and father or two, lives in a state that does not have a residential treatment program and that he will have to travel to a state some 800 miles away for treatment. The soldier has already tried to harm himself, and even with that, there is a long wait to get a space in the treatment center. We are working to save his home and stabilize the family while he  receives treatment. 

Thanks for all you are doing to help us, it is worth it.

Roger 

20 APR 09 5050

Monday morning and raining in Kentucky. We had a great weekend with Bryan with lots of good stuff. I know this week, great things are going to happen with 5050. 

I watched the people who came to our booth this weekend at Thunder Over Louisville, and the emotion ranged from one end to the other, but one in particular was a young man who was also in a wheelchair who came back three times to see Bryan. To watch Bryan encourage this young man to try anything and that anything was possible was so inspiring, not only to me, but to all of us that were within listening range.

Bryan Anderson, you are a remarkable young man.

Roger 

19 APR 09 5050

Sunday morning! Donna and the state of Washington are moving, $5 at a time, and I suspect one friend or family member at at time toward making a difference in a wounded warrior's life. Yesterday, while we were at Thunder Over Louisville, a wonderful person came up and after listening to what we are doing, wanted to take on both Tennessee and West Virginia! We are eagerly getting the information to her an her husband in hopes of seeing 5050 in two more great states! 

It is raining here today, very hard, but after watching Bryan push the button that started the fireworks and standing in a crowd that was estimated to be 700,000, and hearing Bryan's introduction include his volunteering for USA Cares, well, it was pretty moving. 

Never mind he did 20 pullups with the Marines! Pictures to follow!

Have a great week, and I know that we will be doubled by next Sunday!!

Roger 

18 APR 09 5050

Good Morning!!! Life is really, really good. Jim flew down to Tallahassee yesterday, picked up Bryan "Thundernator" Anderson and is ready to throw out the first pitch, meet the fans (today's audience is estimated to be over 600,000!) and then at 9 p.m. sharp, Bryan will push the buttons to start the nation's largest fireworks display! six barges and a bridge full! That doesn't count an airshow that starts at 3 p.m. and includes lots of military and civilian aircraft! We are going to be there and talk about USA Cares. This is the video that will be shown at the ball game, BRYAN CARES! 

I don't know if you know this, but you can click on the map to enlarge it! You can see the hard work that the volunteers are doing, and I am so happy to see the numbers slowly creep up! Like an avalance, first, just a little, then more and more! Get your friends to tell their friends, and to Washington, Nevada, Kentucky, Illinois and Delware, share your stories! How are you doing it! 

Jenn is getting better, so we will be hearing from her soon too! You have to love Kentucky Crud!

Words can not express how proud we are of all of you and for what you are doing for our guys and gals who are suffering from PTSD and other wounds of war!

I can send you this widget, just ask! Roger

I recieved this email back from a very good friend of mine and of USA Cares. CSM Joe Gainey was selected as the first enlisted advisor for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and has allowed me to post his reponse to my email to him on the 15th.

===============

Roger,
As one that has been granted a 90 percent VA disablility rating, (most of which was for PTSD), I support you 100%.  It's time that people in high places both Military and Civilian stop talking about how we should help our Military men and women and their families and DO IT!!!!
V/R
Joe Gainey
1st Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman
JCS, United States Army (retired)

=================

Joe, thanks for the support and for the text!!! 

Roger 

17 APR 09 5050

Good morning! We are now "coast to coast" Way to get out the gate, Washington! I am going through my email address list and sending a friendly request to my friends and family, (regardless of where they live).  Our Executive Director, Bill Nelson is traveling to Orlando next week to testify before a Congressional Subcommittee in regards to our efforts in helping PTSD affected warriors. Our Florida Representative has done such a great job down there telling the USA Cares story. She serves on the Mayor of Orlando's Veterans Commission and so much more. And did I mention that it looks like Dennis Miller will be attending our Golf Scramble in Las Vegas this October!!  

By the way, I am challenging some of my friends to "match" the next $1,000 in donations from anywhere in the US through our 5050 program, but you might want to look for someone to do the same for your state! Then when you are asking someone to text in, you can tell them they are actually donating $10!! It all adds up! We will post those who join our match effort. If they do chose to match, they can make the check out to "USA Cares" and send it to PO Box 749, Radcliff Kentucky 40159. 

We are making history!

Roger 

16 APR 09 5050

Good morning team!!! We are on our way. Yesterday, I was talking to a friend who tried to text  in a donation and found out that his regional carrier wasn't a partner with mGive yet. He wanted to do it, so he handed me $5, and I texted in TROOPS! Life is good. Delware, Illinois and Nevada Great Job!!! You are rocking. Have a great day and God Bless Our Troops! 

We also were mentioned in a blog yesterday from our friends at mGive! BLOG HERE!

Roger 

15 April 09 5050

Good morning. 

Tax Day, Tea Party Day and USA Cares 50-50 Day! I'm okay with sharing it, our cause is right, and we are making a difference. Early congrats to Illinois, Nevada and Delware!! The old saying that it takes a step to start a journey is exactly what we are doing, making a difference and making history.   Roger 

14 APR 09 50-50

Good morning! We are starting off with a bang! Although we are supposed to really start tomorrow, but it is all for families and so I am just going to put it up there so you can see how it will look. Steve in Maryland, and Linda in Nevada you guys are on the right track and showing the way!! 

Roger

13 April 09 50-50

This is the 13th of April. Two days to go to the start date!

You can help!