First, a video:
As many of you know, I spent my time in the military as a proud member of the Army. However, due to a clerical error on the part of my contact for a worthwhile charity, I have been accidentally assigned to the Navy team. As such, I am proud to provide this website’s support to the Navy team for Project Valour-IT:
A little about this charity:
Every cent raised for Project Valour-IT goes directly to the purchase and shipment of laptops and other technology for severely wounded service members. As of November 2008, Valour-IT has distributed over 2700 laptops to severely wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines across the country, and is now expanding its mission to include other technology that supports physical and psychological recovery.
Valour-IT accepts donations in any amount to support our mission, but also offers a sponsorship option for laptops. An individual or organization may sponsor a wounded soldier by completely funding the cost of a laptop and continuing to provide that soldier with personal support and encouragement throughout recovery. This has proved to be an excellent project for churches, groups of coworkers or friends, and members of community organizations such Boy Scouts.
Originally Valour-IT provided the voice-controlled software that accompanies the laptops, but now works closely with the Department of Defense Computer/electronic Accommodations Program (CAP): CAP supplies the adaptive software and Valour-IT provides the laptop. In addition, DoD caseworkers serve as Valour-IT’s “eyes and ears” at several medical centers, identifying patients in need of laptops and other technological support for their recovery. Wounded military personnel can also directly request a laptop through the sign-up form or through the Valour-IT/Soldiers’ Angels representatives at the following medical centers:
* Balboa Naval Hospital
* Brooke Army Medical Center
* Madigan Regional Medical Center
* National Naval Medical Center (Bethesda Naval Hospital)
* Naval Hospital, Camp Pendleton
* Robert E. Bush Naval Hospital (29 Palms)
* Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Thanks to the efforts of the Military Order of the Purple Heart, Valour-IT is also able to reach patients in VA hospitals who would benefit from a Valour-IT laptop or other technology to support their recovery and independence.
This is a very good charity, and I hope you all support it. I will add a link to the right where the Obama thermometer was for the election.
And, for the first time in my memory, let me be the first to yell out “GO NAVY!” I hope you all have some change left over from the election to support this endeavor. I know you all understand how important the internet and modern technology is to our every day lives, and can recognize how useful this is for our guys and gals who really have given it all.
Thanks in advance.
Comrade Kevin
Done.
Comrade Kevin
I see the thermometer has already updated :-)
mick
i think it’s also a good thing to remember how bad our prison system is.
just a little bird that might get the pie treatment.
remember those guys. beaten and pushed down.
I think the greasemonkie makes my comments about pie.
MAX HATS
It’s not just Navy. The Marine Corps relies on the Navy for all their medical.
Tim
You’re quite the philanthropist there, eh John?
However, since you enabled Bush’s Great Bullshit War and thus helped end for many soldiers their ability to walk, or to eat, or to use their arms or penises or vaginas, bladders or feet or whatever the hell else they got blown off over there, have you considered spending a good amount of time each week changing diapers or emptying bedpans in a veterans’ hospital?
Have you considered walking the halls of said hospital asking each soldier for forgiveness for your arrogance and stupidity and blindness?
Perhaps you have done the above, and if so I commend you. If not, get on it please.
But then again, I suppose many of the quadraplegic and other unspeakably wounded soldiers may use their shiny new laptops, which apparently the obscenely bloated military budget can’t possibly cover, to search the web for methods of ending their misery. Misery folks like you brought about.
jnfr
As usual I have to wait till Friday, but will do, Sir John.
here4tehbeer
Damn. My broke-ass-back checking account (thanks, Kos) just tossed $50 to the cause.
KRK
I’m in.
Go Navy!
Ash Can
Done. And unlike #5 up there (his number at this writing, at least), I believe in St. Dismas.
low-tech cyclist
Definitely a worthwhile cause. I’ll be throwing a few shekels its way.
Drives me nuts that our allegedly pro-military Administration isn’t picking up the tab for this sort of stuff, but if it doesn’t, then the rest of us must pitch in. We owe these people a far greater debt than this.
DrDave
I supported the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and I will support this as well.
Amen. Let’s hope that President Obama makes supporting our wounded veterans a higher priority than the current occupant of the White House has.
Josh Hueco
@Tim:
Fewer purity trolls, please.
Laura W
I caught Body of War last night on Sundance channel.
Highly recommend.
cyntax
John this charity seems very worthy and I’ll certainly donate, but is this all your enthusiasm is about?
Admit it, you’re tired of watching Army getting getting our asses kicked up and down the gridiron every year (and of course Navy would never stand a chance if the Marines didn’t play for them).
Just sayin… Hooah!
Tsulagi
@Josh Hueco: Ditto
Navy? Well at least you didn’t go Air Force. The squids aren’t too bad.
Tim
Josh: Do you really see all the political/social/military commentary that takes place in public discourse as having no real-world consequences, many of them horrific?
If not, then why is it "purity trolling" to mention said consequences or ask questions about them? Why is it "purity trolling" to ask for real-world action to make amends?
As for the term "purity trolling" itself, it amuses that each blog seems to have a fan boy/girl base eager to use the latest blog cliches/labels/insults to demean anyone who dissents and to cement their own feeling that they are are part of the site’s "cool kids."
Relax, Josh, you are very, very cool and I’m sure your support will be noted by John.
Tim
John:
I appreciate that you posted my first comment. A lot of bloggers would hide it behind "moderation."
Tsulagi
@Tim:
Shorter Tim: This thread shouldn’t be about service members who could benefit from a hand up, it should be to watch me display my shiny anti-war cred and for you to think I’m smart and special.
Get over yourself.
mrrichardfeder
Not to beat a dead (sea)horse here – but this might be an appropriate time to note some of the Navy’s less philanthropic activities …
Bubblegum Tate
I’ve donated to this charity before, and I fully plan on donating again, but this time, I’ll do it via this site.
Tim
Shorter Tsulagi:
Please, please, please, John…love me more than all other faithful fanboy/girl posters here. Look! I’m dissing a dissenter; pick me, pick me!
As for "get over yourself," um, I don’t even know what you think you might mean, and don’t care to go there.
Tsulagi
@Tim:
Get over yourself. I’m sure you’ll figure that out; I’m confident in your mental faculties. Take as much time as you need.
Josh Hueco
TIm…what Tsulagi said. I voted for W in 2000 (didn’t in 2004). It was a mistake. A lot of otherwise smart people did so as well. If we would have known what was to come we wouldn’t have. People like myself and John have spent the last four to eight years atoning for our mistakes by leaving the GOP and donating time and money to progressive causes. Going to a vets hospital and getting on our knees and begging for forgiveness like some busted televangelist would have accomplished nothing, except for making very very important people like you feel self-satisfied.
And if you hang around this place long enough, you’ll find that we all disagree with John from some time to another.
Tim
Josh: You’re full of shit, and you’re lazy. You helped get people, thousands of people, killed. Deal with that. It’s not some abstract concept; it’s a fact. And if you think pushing progressive causes, whatever the hell that means, will atone, you are mistaken.
Sorry to hear you’re too proud to ask forgiveness from a few of the people you maimed…it would be good for your soul.
Furthermore, I’ve been "coming around" here for a long time. I just don’t feel the need to post every day.
Oh, and fuck off, weak assed prick.
Nancy Irving
Our wounded vets should not have to depend on charity. The government (i.e., taxpayers) should be covering this.
Our wounded vets have earned this, and more. They should not be put in the position of beggars.
Shame, America.