Army Sergeant Major Denzel Washington?

Denzel Washington is the US Army’s newest (honorary) sergeant major

"He just wants to do better for the Army.”
Task And Purpose
BY HALEY BRITZKY
PUBLISHED OCT 11, 2021

Actor, director and Hollywood icon Denzel Washington is the “Honorary Sergeant Major of the Army” for 2021.

The Army formally announced Washington as the 2021 Honorary Sergeant Major of the Army recipient at the Annual Association of the U.S. Army conference on Monday. Washington was chosen because of his work with the Fisher House Foundation, a program focused on building homes at military medical centers around the world for military and veteran families to stay in while their loved one is receiving medical care.

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston, who presented the award to Washington, said that Washington represented everything he was looking for in this year’s honoree: humility, dedication to soldiers, and respect for the Army.
read more here

Attorney ripped off Fisher House?

CT attorney misused money meant for veteran families, group says

New Haven Register
By Pam McLoughlin
March 12, 2019

A spokesperson at Fisher House Foundation released a statement Tuesday: “Fisher House Foundation is extremely disappointed that anyone would betray donors’ trust and misuse funds earmarked for veterans and their families and has never encountered an issue like this in its 29-year history.

WEST HAVEN — Lawyers for the national charitable arm and local fundraising group of Fisher House — a place where veterans’ families stay while loved ones are being treated at a VA Hospital — are trying going to recoup a large sum of money they allege went missing through the hands of Attorney Kevin Creed of Litchfield, founder and former CEO of Fisher House in West Haven.

Attorneys for Fisher House Foundation Inc. and Friends of Fisher House Connecticut Inc., are due to appear in court April 8 to ask a judge to appoint a “receiver” to take over the finances of Creed’s law firm in order to repay the money that a judge ruled Creed owes the organizations.
read more here

Fisher House To Build Lodging Near Charleston VA

Lodging for VA patients’ families in the works
The Post and Courier
Diane Knich
Mar 19 2016

Emerson said he originally thought about organizing a golf tournament to raise about $30,000 for a good cause. But he ultimately got swept up into fundraising for the Fisher House and has helped raise $8 million of the required $10 million for the project.

The Charleston VA hospital soon will build the Fisher House Charleston at 150 Wentworth St. The old funeral home at the site will be torn down to make room for the facility, which is like a Ronald McDonald House where patients’ families can stay.
BRAD NETTLES/STAFF

Trux and Durbin Emerson’s desire to help veterans ultimately led to a $10 million campaign for a new lodging facility for families near the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center.

The Fisher House, similar in concept to a Ronald McDonald House, could open as early as next year on the site of the former McAlister-Smith Funeral Home at 150 Wentworth St.

The Charleston VA hospital soon will build the Fisher House Charleston at 150 Wentworth St. The old funeral home at the site will be torn down to make room for the facility, which is like a Ronald McDonald House where patients’ families can stay.

Family members of patients at the hospital will be able to stay for free in the 14,000-square-foot facility, which will include 16 bedroom suites and common kitchen, living and dining areas, said Trux Emerson, who retired from a residential real estate career and now lives on Kiawah Island.
read more here

Top Charities Do More For Veterans With Less Awareness For Themselves

Just to focus on something positive for a change, Top charities give larger portion to services than Wounded Warrior Project" on Stars and Stripes covered WWP but also covered what others do, so in a way, a valuable report to know next time you want to write a check.

“The donors’ money, they want it to go to the mission of Homes for Our Troops. So, if they give us $10, they want to know most of it is going to build that home,” said retired Army Gen. Richard Cody, chairman of the board for the charity, which builds specially equipped homes for veterans across the United States.

David Coker, president of the Fisher House Foundation, said his charity largely operates by word of mouth without marketing. It spent about 2 percent of its money on fundraising in 2014.

“We think if we just focus on meeting the needs in our lane that good things are going to happen,” he said.

Meanwhile, 91 percent of Fisher House expenses went directly into free lodging for military families so they can be close to a loved one during an illness or medical treatment. The group operates 67 locations and served about 25,000 families in 2014.

So pretty much, money has been donated to raise awareness about WWP while others do more work with less and don't advertise for themselves.

Fisher House Taking Standing By Side of Military Families

Heart Behind the House, Builder Tony Garczynski
By: Tony Garczynski
February 13, 2015

We are sad to report one of our builders Tony passed away in his sleep after writing this article. We are forever in his debt for his contributions to the Fisher House program.

Even though it was 23 years ago, I remember it well. We received a phone call from a civilian architect working for the Navy. He asked us if we would take a look at plans for a Fisher House to be built at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego. He first needed to explain what a Fisher House was – we’d never heard of it. Upon learning what a Fisher House provided to our military families, I said YES with enthusiasm.

Little did I know, that would be the beginning of a very special relationship that has lasted more than two decades! If someone had told me then that we would still be working with the Fisher Family in 20+ years, I would not have believed it, especially since there were a limited number of military installations in San Diego, our hometown.

64

HOUSES IN OPERATION

25,000

FAMILIES SERVED IN 2014

$282,000,000

IN SAVINGS TO FAMILIES SINCE 1990

5.8 MILLION

DAYS OF LODGING

They are building one right here in the Orlando area for our Lake Nona Veterans Hospital.

They are also near military hospitals like Fort Hood

Fisher House receives $250K renovation
By Patricia Deal, CRDAMC Public Affairs
MARCH 12, 2015 | NEWS

The Fort Hood Fisher House became a lot homier thanks to a $250,000 remodel project and the charitable efforts of the Red River Company, an IT services provider to the U.S. government and Department of Defense.

The Fisher House is a “home away from home” for military personnel, both active and retired, and their Families during a medical crisis. The house has a warm, compassionate environment where Families and caring friends can nurture one another in times of need.

“It’s important for us to have the Families stay at our house be as comfortable and stress-free as possible. We’ve redone the house from top to bottom and now are proud to provide an even more amazing, comfortable place that our Families can call home during their stay,” according to Theresa Johnson, director of the Fort Hood Fisher House.

The Lincoln Awards Ten For Serving Veterans

Lincoln Awards and concert honor service to veterans
The Associated Press
By Brett Zongker
January 7, 2015

Nick Jonas performs at the KIIS FM's Jingle Ball at the Staples Center on Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, in Los Angeles. Jonas is joining forces with Jerry Lewis, Gavin DeGraw and other entertainers to honor those who serve and support U.S. veterans and military families with a new award.
(Photo: John Shearer/Invision/AP)

NBC's Brian Williams will host "The Lincoln Awards: A Concert for Veterans and the Military Family" at the Kennedy Center. The audience will include about 1,900 veterans and military family members.

WASHINGTON — Nick Jonas is joining forces with Jerry Lewis, Gavin DeGraw and other entertainers Wednesday to honor those who serve and support U.S. veterans and military families with a new award.

Ten individuals and corporations will receive the inaugural Lincoln Awards during a musical special that comes at a time when many service members are returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.

The honorees include Bruce Springsteen for supporting veterans for decades through his music and charity work; Segway inventor and bionic arm creator Dean Kamen for major advances in prosthetics for amputees; Fisher House Foundation CEO Ken Fisher for housing families of hospitalized military personnel and veterans; and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for the company's commitment to hire 100,000 veterans by 2018.
read more here

Fisher House Orlando VA Gets Huge Donation with a KISS

Went to Rock and Brews in Oviedo to see how many people showed up for the event today.  It was packed!

There was a huge check given to Fisher House by KISS for their new development at the Orlando VA opening in Lake Nona. 105.9 FM SUNNY was there blasting great music too.

Paco hangs out with Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons

From Sunny 105.9 FM

From Wounded Times

(No these are not members of KISS)

I checked to see what reports have come out, but so far, nada. Will update later.

Kiss Raises Funds for Fisher House Orlando and Veterans Spirits

Join 1059 SUNNY FM for the grand opening celebration on Tuesday, January 6th at the new Rock and Brews Oviedo location! Tickets are available now for a public meet and greet event with Simmons and Stanley from 2-4 p.m.

The meet and greet, hosted by Stanley and Simmons, is open to the public. Tickets to the meet and greet are $200 per person and include two adult beverages per person or unlimited soft drinks, a sampling of Rock and Brews cuisine, and a photo opportunity with Stanley and Simmons.

A percentage of proceeds, not less than $10,000, will benefit the Orlando VA Medical Center’s new Fisher House in Lake Nona located just steps from the Orlando VAMC’s newest hospital. The Fisher House is designed for Veterans and their families to stay at during hospitalization at no cost or restriction on the length of the visit.

Click here to purchase your tickets to hang with Gene, Paul and 1059 SUNNY FM’s Domino!

Still Time To Sign Up For Fisher House News/Talk Holiday Show Morning Mouth

THE MOUTH, DECEMBER 15TH, 2014 –– Fisher House Foundation and news/talk radio partner again this holiday season to bring attention to wounded warriors, veterans and military families. Fisher House is offering a three-hour, highly-produced public affairs show for air between Christmas and New Year's Day. "Zachary's Gift" tells the inspiring story of Fisher House founder Zachary Fisher through heroes served by the foundation's growing network of no-cost comfort homes built on the grounds of VA and military base hospitals. The show is free; no contract, no barter. Stations may air it multiple times. Affiliates include KABC Los Angeles, WLS Chicago, WPHT Philadelphia, KSFO San Francisco, WRKO Boston, WMAL Washington, WSB Atlanta, KTRH and KPRC Houston, KTAR Phoenix, KOA Denver, WTAM Cleveland, KFBK Sacramento, WTIC Hartford, KQTH Tucson, KSL Salt Lake City, KARN Little Rock, KRMG Tulsa and many others. "Many stations are using 'Zachary's Gift' to fill a local three-hour show on Christmas or New Year's Day," said executive producer Marshall Adams. The show's host is Mark Watkins, a radio newsroom vet who recently retired from the anchor booth at WBAP and KLIF Dallas. Jeff Davis is the show's promo voice. Jonathan Shaffer from WSM Nashville is leading production and imaging. Westwod One is handling affiliate relations pro-bono. To sign up, send a note with your planned air times to Stuart Greenblatt at sgreenblatt@westwoodone.com. Marshall Adams can answer questions about content at (412) 856-3400 or radio@fisherhouse.org.

Memorial Day and a Mother's Loss

Fisher House for Families of the Fallen in Delaware is a place where family members can stay while waiting for the return of their sons, daughters, husbands and wives. It is a place where they can be supported on one of the saddest times in their lives.

A Mother's Loss

For the past 38 years, military service in the United States has been voluntary. As U.S. citizens, we are fortunate to have men and women who, knowing the dangers that may lie ahead, continue to answer the call and proudly serve our nation.

Behind every man and woman at war is a family on the home front. Their support is unconditional, their prayer always the same – a safe return.

Kristofor Stonesifer was one of those brave and committed young people whose life goals included becoming a U.S. Army Ranger. Thirty-eight days after Sept. 11, he was the first killed in action in Operation Enduring Freedom. He and Jonn Edmunds, a fellow Ranger, died on Oct. 19, 2001, in a helicopter crash the first night of major military operation in Afghanistan.

Gold Star Mother Ruth Stonesifer
Ruth Stonesifer, proud Gold Star Mother of Kristofor Stonesifer Kristofor’s mother, Ruth Stonesifer, became the first Operation Enduring Freedom mother to take on the national presidency of the American Gold Star Mothers, which she described as a “wonderful organization none of us ever wanted to become eligible to join but we are grateful to have.”
read more here

Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Legacy Helping Others

Chief Master Sergeant Joseph W. Hubbard passed away unexpectedly on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2014, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Chief Hubbard was 41 years old, born on May 29, 1972, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Joe faithfully served his Lord and Savior, loved and adored his family, and invested his career in serving America and caring for airmen. He is survived by his wife, Karen; his daughter, Katherine; and his son, Joey. He is also survived by his father; his mother; two brothers; and two sisters.

Chief Hubbard entered the Air Force on Aug. 21, 1990, initially serving as a security specialist at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. In 1994 he transitioned into communications and computer system operations. Chief Hubbard's service included duty at Kunsan Air Base, Korea; KI Sawyer Air Force Base, Mich.; Robins Air Force Base, Ga.; Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont.; Heidelberg, Germany; and Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Additionally, he served as the Superintendent of the Secretary of the Air Force's Legislative Liaison Office at the Pentagon, and as the Superintendent of the 53d Test Management Group at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.

Chief Hubbard earned a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in management from Park University and a Master of Business Administration degree, with honors, from Webster University. As Chief Hubbard does every day, he had spent Monday focusing his time, energy, and attention caring for the airmen of the 53d Test Management Group.

A viewing and visitation will be held at 10 a.m., on Monday, Jan. 13, at the First Baptist Church of Niceville, Fla., with a memorial service to follow at 11 a.m.

An additional visitation and memorial service will be held at the Loudon Funeral Home in Loudon, Tenn., on Jan. 15, at 11 a.m., followed immediately by a burial with full military honors at Lakeview Cemetery in Lenoir City, Tenn.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Chief Hubbard's name to the Fisher House or the Bob Hope Village

Veterans are not public property

Veterans are not public property
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
December 26, 2013

VA hospital refuses to accept 'Merry Christmas' cards was the headline of a piece written by Todd Stames about Dallas VA hospital refusing to take Christmas cards from school children.

According to Stames, the VA said,'That's great. We're thrilled to have them, except the only thing is, we can't accept anything that says ‘Merry Christmas' or ‘God bless you' or any scriptural references because of all the red tape.'" And that is true but he should have told Stames that the Chaplain could deliver them because he would know the "patient" well enough to be able to judge if the card would be helpful or not.

Any religious item, not matter how innocently it was sent, is not welcomed by everyone equally.

This is a huge issue for our veterans in the hospital. People want to let them know they care and that is a wonderful thing but assuming what they want to give is right is actually wrong. How many times have you wanted to do something for someone only to discover it was not what they needed from you? Just think of yesterday when you gave someone a gift and they took it back to the store today.

If you really want to do something for them, write letters to members of Congress to make sure they are taken care of. Donated to great charities like Fisher House so they can take care of family members near where their loved one is recovering. In 2012 they cared for 19,000 families. They operate 62 houses near hospitals. Since 1990 they have saved families $200 million dollars they would have spent on lodging. The list goes on.

You can donate to the Home Depot Foundation or help to repair a home for a veteran in need. Or give your money and time to Homes For Our Troops to make sure that disabled veterans have a home that is adapted/built for their wounds to make their lives better.

You can volunteer at a VA hospital to spend time with them. You can also do what is advised. If you want to send cards or letters, do it in a generic way so that they know you care about them.

These men and women are not our property and they are individuals. What we may want to do for them may not be what they need or want. It isn't up to us to decide for them.

I would love to take Veterans Bibles to all of them but all of them will not receive them the same way. It isn't up to me to decide who should or should not get one and I take no offense when I am told what I can and cannot do. It is much better to ask first.

Magic 107.7 John and Leslie disconnected from military life

Magic 107.7 John and Leslie disconnected from military life
Wounded Times
Kathie Costos
October 10, 2013

This morning I was listening to 107.7 driving to work and was shocked. John and Leslie were talking about how Fisher House stepped up to cover the fallen soldiers during the government shutdown.

Leslie had no clue who Fisher House is but that isn't the worst part. She said she thought they were the group showing up at people's houses with the huge checks. Sorry but that would be Publishers' Clearing House. Then she made it even worse by calling them Fisher Price. That would be the toy company. Then they made it worse by saying Fisher House does great work for veterans. Sorry, yet again they got that wrong.

Providing a "home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization for an illness, disease or injury.

How can they be so disconnected from what is going on they don't know who Fisher House is? How can they care so little they didn't even bother to find out when they heard about them stepping up to cover the fallen because the government didn't?

They are a reflection of what is happening all over this country when people just go about their daily lives and pay more attention to sports teams than the real heroes risking their lives everyday quietly, without expecting any rewards and their families sacrificing so much while they are deployed. All they expect is that they are taken care of properly, their wounded are taken care of and their fallen are actually honored. They expect that since they are willing to die for each other no matter what political party pride divides others, that the congress would actually be willing to set aside those same differences and pride for the sake of the nation they love so much they are willing to put it all on the line.

Sports? Yes because right after John and Leslie were done talking about the fact the fallen had to be taken care of by this charity, they went right into sports talk and Leslie got upset because someone said the wrong name of some sports figure!

Now this gets a bit worse because IHeart Radio has been running commercials about Show Your Stripes and hiring veterans. I have a link up because I believe in what they are doing with that but you'd think a station that cares so much would at least require some basic knowledge from their on air "talent" so that they wouldn't end up having to be responsible for showing exactly how disconnected people are from the troops and our veterans.

I think tomorrow I'll find another station to listen to on the way into work.

Fisher House steps up for fallen soldiers shafted by shutdown

Whenever I am asked what is a good charity for veterans, Fisher House is at the top of the list because of all the fantastic things they are doing. If you want one more good example of this, just read this and know how important it is to them to always do the right thing.

House votes for death benefits, but Defense reaches agreement with donor
Washington Post
By Ed O'Keefe and Aaron Blake
Published: October 9, 2013

The House voted 425-0 on Wednesday to approve a measure that would ensure the Pentagon is able to pay death benefits to the families of U.S. service members killed in the line of duty.

The vote came shortly after the White House said President Obama has instructed the Defense Department to ensure that the roughly $100,000 payouts are made as scheduled when necessary.

Around the same time the House passed the bill, though, the legislation became somewhat moot, as the Defense Department announced it had found a donor to pay death benefits until the shutdown is over.

In a statement, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said his department is "entering into an agreement with the Fisher House Foundation that will allow the federal government to provide the family members of fallen service members with the full set of benefits they have been promised, including a $100,000 death gratuity payment."

The Fisher House Foundation provides temporary housing for the families of loved ones undergoing medical treatment at military and Veterans Affairs hospitals.

The Fisher House Foundation had said Tuesday that it would step in and provide the $100,000 benefit to any family members of killed troops who were being denied the money because of the shutdown. The difference now is that the Pentagon has formally agreed to pay back the Foundation after the shutdown ends.
read more here

Military families share roof, sometimes grief at Fisher Houses

Military families share roof, sometimes grief at Fisher Houses
By IAN SHAPIRA
The Washington Post
Published: January 3, 2013

WASHINGTON — There were plenty of times, Bridgit Fennell remembers, when new families checked into the guest house at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and inevitably asked her all the personal questions.

Was your husband in combat theater? What's his prognosis? Sometimes she chafed at having to answer them again and again.

But Fennell, whose husband Ken Fennell, a Navy Band saxophonist, died on Christmas Eve from brain cancer, prefers to recall the moments of kinship: the girlfriend her teenage son met at Fisher House. Or the time she prayed with a Tennessee family after their son died from wounds in Afghanistan.

"We looked in each other's eyes, and we all cried," recalled Fennell, whose Maryland family has stayed at the Walter Reed-based group house for nearly a year and is checking out this month. "We were meant to be together for that moment."

These are the little-seen glimpses of life at the nation's Fisher Houses, group homes at every big military medical campus, as well as two by Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The Fisher Houses offer free lodging to members of the military, veterans, and their relatives, who need treatment at the nearby military or Veterans Affairs hospital.
read more here

Miracle Quilts delivers to Walter Reed

VETERANS AFFAIRS: Miracle Quilts delivers to Walter Reed medical center, VFW National Home for Children
Published: Friday, December 07, 2012
By SHARON LONGMAN

Miracle Quilts is in its fourth year of providing quilts to wounded troops that are currently in the hospital in Michigan and Washington, D.C. The quilts are constructed by numerous volunteers of all ages. Many caring hands go into the quilting process and finishing of each quilt for the wounded service member.

Last month Miracle Quilts, represented by founder Carole Carroll and Judy Miracle, mother of PFC Joseph Miracle, for whom the project is named, hand-delivered 171 quilts to Walter Reed National Medical Military Center, Washington, D.C.; Fort Belvoir Hospital, Fort Belvoir -Fisher House and Fisher House; Silver Spring, Md.

Carroll and Miracle met with Dan Wagner, Army Legislative Fellow of U.S. Congressman Mike Roger’s office, who assisted with making the appropriate contacts to deliver the quilts to the different venues.

In the cooler months, the quilts are greatly appreciated due to the hospitals being kept at much cooler temperatures.
read more here

Wounded Warriors Discuss Transitions to New Lives

Wounded Warriors Discuss Transitions to New Lives
By Lisa Daniel
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Sept. 13, 2012 – Caregivers, National Guard, reserve support and sports for the wounded are the top Defense Department priorities for wounded warriors and their families, the deputy assistant secretary of defense for warrior care said today, as wounded warriors discussed their experiences with recovery.

John R. Campbell made the comments after listening to panelists at the annual Warrior-Family Symposium, sponsored by the Military Officers Association of America. The panel included four wounded warriors who spoke about their transitions to a new life after being wounded in battle.

Retired Marine Corps Master Sgt. William “Spanky” Gibson moderated the panel, along with Retired Marine Corps Col. Derek Donovan, vice president of the Fisher House Foundation. Gibson was a 35-year-old gunnery sergeant in Iraq in 2006 when he was shot through the knee. His left leg was amputated above the knee, but he started competing in triathlons while recuperating at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and has competed in more than a dozen races. In 2008, he went back to Iraq as the first above-the-knee amputee to return to a ground combat area of operations.

Gibson’s determination showed up early in his recovery, when he proved he could get himself to the second floor of a Fisher House room – the only one available – rather than stay in the hospital. “I went up and down those stairs for two hours, sweating profusely, just to prove I could do it,” he said.

Another panelist, retired Navy Petty Officer Benjamin Host, was with the Seabees in Iraq in 2004 when he suffered severe traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder after being in a Humvee convoy accident. Host said he received “exquisite” military medical care that included three brain surgeries and repairing his fractured skull. But, he said, “it’s the in-between area where we get a drop-off” meaning a lack of oversight in the recovery process.

Although it took a legal battle, Host said, he was medically retired from the Navy earlier this year.
read more here

Fisher House stands tall, aids all

Fisher House stands tall, aids all
Posted: Thursday, July 26, 2012 12:00 am
Cpl. Damany S. Coleman
Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune

“He was injured in Afghanistan,” said Genesis Elias, wife of Cpl. Ritchie Elias, with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment. “I came to see him and the Naval Hospital let us know we could stay here at the Fisher House. I set up an appointment and they took us right in.”

Cpl. Elias was wounded on deployment after surviving a blast from an enemy grenade.

Now, at the Fisher House aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, the Elias’ have spent a few weeks at the Fisher House, taking advantage of the top-of-the-line accommodations. Anywhere else, the family could have expected to pay hundreds of dollars per night, adding to the complications and potentially slowing down the emotional and physical healing processes.

“If this house wasn’t here, we would be at a hotel or I just wouldn’t be here with him at all,” said Ritchie. “We’re comfortable, they check up on us, we’re able to cook and shop and we don’t have to tip-toe around. It feels just like home.”
read more here

Denzel Washington went to Brooke Army Medical Center for visit, wrote check to build Fisher House

UPDATE
Not sure if this is a hoax or not now. I wanted to see if I could find some video on this story. With everyone walking around with cell phones that will turn anything into a video, it was possible. When I went searching, I found that there were more links to reports of this being a hoax than fact. The kicker is, it has been around since 2004 when he did in fact go there and did make a huge donation.

Actor Denzel Washington Spontaneously Paid for the Construction of a "Fisher House" During a Visit to Brooke Army Medical Center-Fiction! But He Came Through Later!

Summary of the eRumor
The eRumor describes a visit by actor Denzel Washington to "Brookes" Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas.
He saw the buildings known as "Fisher House," where families of hospitalized soldiers can say for little or no charge while visiting. He is described as having asked how much it costs to build one, pulled out his checkbook, and wrote a check for the full amount.

The Truth
Denzel Washington did make a visit to the Brooke (not Brookes) Army Medical Center (BAMC) in San Antonio, Texas, in December, 2004.

Among other things, he participated in a ceremony awarding Purple Hearts to three soldiers and visited several others.

He also toured the Fisher House facilities there, was impressed with what they were doing, and did indicate a desire to support it.

An eRumor got started that he dramatically pulled out his checkbook on the spot and wrote a check for the cost of building an entire house, which was not true.

Fisher House says the confusion may have come when an announcement was made later in that a new $1-million facility was going to be built.

It was at the same time as a mention that Denzel Washington had pledged a donation to Fisher House. Four months later, however, he came through "in a big way", according to the folks at Fisher House. They won't disclose the amount of his gift, but Fisher House spokesman James Weiskopf says it's one of the largest in the organization's history and that Denzel Washington has agreed to serve on the Fisher House board of trustees.

Fisher House is a program that provides special housing at each of the Army's major medical centers for the families of soldiers who are receiving medical treatment, often from being wounded on duty. Fisher house is either a facility or a group of facilities where family members can stay for no cost or reduced cost, which helps ease the burden of possibly having made a long and expensive trip to be by the bedside of a family member and to make it possible for even low income families to be able to stay close by.
read more here

Rev. Doc

If this is true, it's pretty cool...
Remember this next time you walk up to the ticket window of your local movie theater with $10 in your hand.
The Media (Accidentally?) missed this one!!!!
Please read this: The troops oversees would like you to send it to everybody you know.

Subject: Denzel Washington, and Brooks Army Medical Center.

Don't know whether you heard about this but Denzel Washington and his family visited the troops at Brook Army Medical Center , in San Antonio , Texas, (BAMC) the other day. This is where soldiers who have been evacuated from Germany come to be hospitalized in the United States , especially burn victims. There are some buildings there called Fisher Houses. The Fisher House is a Hotel where soldiers' families can stay, for little or no charge, while their soldier is staying in the Hospital. BAMC has quite a few of these houses on base, but as you can imagine, they are almost filled most of the time.

While Denzel Washington was visiting BAMC, they gave him a tour of one of the Fisher Houses. He asked how much one of them would cost to build. He took his check book out and wrote a check for the full amount right there on the spot.

The soldiers overseas were amazed to hear this story and want to get the word out to the American public, because it warmed their hearts to hear it. The question is - why do:
Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton, Tom Cruise and other Hollywood fluff make front page news with their ridiculous anticsand Denzel Washington's Patriotism doesn't even make page 3 in the Metro section of any newspaper except the Local newspaper in San Antonio .

A true American and friend to all in uniform!

This needs as wide a distribution as we can create.
Please share it!

Families of wounded vets get new home away from home

Families of wounded vets get new home away from home ...
Posted by: Jeremy Olson Updated: June 9, 2011

As dignitaries celebrated the construction of a second Fisher House at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center today, it seemed appropriate that Terry Maxwell and her husband, Bill, were on hand. Terry has stayed at the first Fisher House -- a home away from home for relatives of veterans undergoing treatment -- so much over the past year that she has become its den mother.

Other families there know she has an open door policy, so they can talk to her if they are stressed or if their loved ones are struggling with treatment across the street at the Minneapolis VA. They also can look to her to enforce house rules about noise or curfews, and can count on her making mean cheesesteaks or stuffed peppers for everyone.

"I love cooking," said Terry, 46, "so I cook meals for the house. I shop if they need shopping. I help wherever I can. Financially, I can't do much. But physically, while I'm here, I do all I can."

The first time Bill needed to come from central Wisconsin to the Minneapolis VA for prolonged treatment, Terry was skeptical about what she perceived as "government housing" at the Fisher House. She worried it wouldn't be comfortable for her and her two grade-school children during tests and treatments for her husband's heart condition and breathing problems. What she discovered on that first trip last year was that the rooms were larger and more comfortable than most hotels, and that the camaraderie of other families at the house was irreplaceable. Her family has stayed there a dozen times, and arrived Wednesday in time for today's dedication ceremony of the second Fisher House on the VA campus.
read more here
Families of wounded vets get new home away from home

Fisher House, good family medicine for the wounded

Families are good medicine for wounded warriors
By Robin Beres
Published: February 27, 2011

The sight of a long-missed loved one is good for more than just sore eyes. It's good medicine for the entire body — especially when one is injured or ill. There can be few things more comforting to a wounded service member then having his family by his side. And there are few wives, mothers or fathers who wouldn't go through hell to be with a hurt spouse or child.

But what happens when an injured service member is sent to a hospital far from home for recovery and medical care? How does a family afford to pack up and stay for weeks or months at a time in a city that may be hundreds of miles away?

Neither the Department of Defense nor the Veterans Administration provides funds for extended family visits. Hotel stays can run into the thousands of dollars. For a young wife anxious to be near her husband — or a family wanting to be close to a son, a sister, a father — the cost of a prolonged stay far from home can be financially devastating and oftentimes impossible to manage.

Enter Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher, founders of the Fisher House Foundation. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Zachary Fisher was a fabulously successful real estate developer. Although rejected for service at the outbreak of WWII due a childhood leg injury, Fisher became a strong advocate of the U.S. armed forces, devoting incredible amounts of time and money to military and veteran causes.

In 1990, Pauline Trost, wife of the then-chief of naval operations, Admiral Carlisle Trost, approached the Fishers about the desperate need to provide temporary lodging for families of patients undergoing treatment at military hospitals. The Fishers immediately donated $20 million to the project.

One year later, the first Fisher house opened at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Fully furnished, the sprawling home was able to accommodate eight families. It was a place where family members could return in the evening after an often grueling day spent in a hospital — a warm, homelike setting rather than a cramped, impersonal motel room. It provided families a chance to meet and share concerns with others going through similar crises.

Today, 53 Fisher Houses provide homes away from home that serve families of both active-duty service members and veterans. The homes are located on or near military and veterans' medical centers and hospitals. There is no cost to the government to build these homes — they are gifts from the Fisher Foundation. And there is no charge to the families who stay at the homes.
read more here
Families are good medicine for wounded warriors