Posted on 01/27/2012 6:07:45 AM PST by EnglishCon
As Britain announces that it is adopting the US concept of charity-funded houses for families of ill or wounded soldiers, the BBC's Joan Soley looks at how the Fisher House programme has helped American service personnel who have been scarred by war.
As is often the case, great ideas are also simple. The impetus for the Fisher House Foundation stemmed from one family seeing an obvious problem and taking it upon themselves to find a solution.
Any parent or spouse of a member of the military will tell you their biggest fear: receiving that phone call or that knock on the door.
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For people like Debbie, this is where Fisher House steps in and offers concrete help. Families of military personnel who have been injured or become ill can be given a free room in a house near the hospital where their relative is being treated.
The houses are large and meant to be shared, as they range from eight to 21 bedrooms; the communal areas in each house, such as the industrial-sized kitchens and children's playrooms are rarely quiet, as Fisher Houses are usually at maximum capacity.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
Looking after our vets is always a concern.
Yes, I am one.
Full disclosure - the man mentioned in the article was a friend of my son’s.
Donated my car to these folks. Would encourage others to consider some sort of contribution. Its a great example of getting help to those who need it without involving the government - and offers a way, however insignificant, of saying thanks.
Instead of buying Christmas gifts for each other my husband and I made donations to Fisher House and The Wounded Warrior project.
We are heavily involved in the regimental charity. 11 generations and counting in the same regiment, tis a family tradition. And you know the ground pounders creed - we don’t let one of our own suffer!
But this is a lovely way for people to say thank you to the ones on the sharp end who come out badly injured - mentally or physically
me too and it is about time The Uk Govt did something for vets.
There is also a campaign by vets to get something similar to Arlington cemetery and so they should, good for them
Good post. I first learned about Fisher House many years ago from Soldier of Fortune mag and they had a small article on Denzel Washington quietly making the rounds of the first Fisher House he donated to.
Too right mate. The Government response makes me sick.
The regimental charities are great. Simon Weston is a HUGE force for good (we served together in the same war, though not the same ship).
But the goddamned (sorry for language) government - no. Soldiers, sailors and fliers are there to be used then ignored. I mean, FFS, if you are going to destroy people to make a point in a useless game, at least make sure the people you destroy are OK.
It enrages me. Currently a bunch of us - ex vets all, including the legal team - are fighting the lack of care for our injured front line soldiers.
Even The Sun is onboard - and you know well what The Sun is ....
We went to war. Soldiers do that, it is in the job descrip[tion. We killed. Some of us died. Some were badly injured.
Yet soldiers are still treated like something out of Kipling or Sassoon.
He, quietly, does a lot of donations to servicemen charities. I respect him immensely.
That, well it made me tear up a bit.
Thank you!
Correct. I know he was at Obama’s inauguration and backs him up but unlike other black actors who throw the race card like Morgan freeman or Samuel jackson when talking about people who won’t vote obama, he on the other hands, shuts up about his politics.
He is an honest and decent man. That trumps color every time.
One of the things we can forget is sometimes (ok, not often) the people on the other side are just as honest and well meaning as we.
He is a great actor, and, from what I have seen, a good and honorable person. Respect for that - no matter what his endorsements.
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