Fallen Citizen Provides Critical Support for Citizen Soldiers and their Families
Bethesda, MD – Fallen Citizen, a new non-profit project of the National Heritage Foundation, has been established to help veterans and their families who have suffered because of death or injury, and therefore face financial uncertainty.
(PRWEB) October 8, 2004 -- For the first time since World War II, thousands
of our nation’s citizen soldiers in the National Guard and Reserves are serving
honorably in combat and peacekeeping operations throughout the world. These
reserve component members and their families face daily uncertainty from these
long deployments.
Fallen Citizen is giving something back to the reserve
component soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and coast guardsmen who have given
so much for our country. The program will help meet unanticipated demands on
military members' families that can not be remedied in a timely and effective
manner through existing means.
"There are many cases where service men and
women in the reserves and National Guard have not been adequately treated for
medical problems, are having devastating financial problems, and do not know
where to turn. Fallen Citizen serves as a clearinghouse of information for the
service member and their families, and also gives financial assistance to those
in the greatest need," said Phillip Selleh, Fallen Citizen’s Executive Director.
“Active duty members have a built-in support system that is not available to
those who serve in the reserve components. Fallen Citizen helps to bridge that
gap. In cases where a military member has been killed or severely injured, these
financial hardships take the worst toll on families.”
There are hundreds
of stories about brave servicemen like these:
--Two members of an elite Army
National Guard unit were severely injured in Afghanistan. Both soldiers’ wounds
are so severe that they will be unable to continue their civilian
careers.
--Reserve Soldiers were injured in service and then not allowed to
stay on active duty to receive proper medical and dental care. Instead, being
released and forced to seek medical care on their own, from private sources and
the Department of Veteran’s Affairs.
--Service members are waiting for
funding under military incapacitation orders, and are experiencing severe
financial hardship before their first paycheck arrives.
Assistance
supported by Fallen Citizen includes helping to defray medical costs, grocery
bills, child care, rent and mortgage payments as well as education &
retraining. Another way Fallen Citizen supports families is through “reunion”
funding which allows loved ones to visit their military member who may be many
miles away. Last year Fallen Citizen funded an “Events While Healing” program
that allowed wounded military members to see a professional baseball game and
other events.
Corporations or individuals wishing to contribute can
donate online at www.FallenCitizen.org or by mail to:
Fallen Citizen
7831
Woodmont Ave, Suite 284
Bethesda, MD 20814.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/10/prweb165868.htm