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Visa Prepaid Card to re-launch in 2006

Did you know?

Passing of a Generation

Hear a Replay of The Power Hour Interview!

Yellow Ribbon Foundation on the air - March 7th!!

News Archive:

March 2005
April 2005
September 2005

Yellow Ribbon Foundation - News

Monday, September 19, 2005

Visa Prepaid Card to re-launch in 2006

Cash2Charities will re-launch thier prepaid card to raise money for Yellow Ribbon Foundation in 2006.

Anticipate better program with more benefits and lower costs.

Posted by: Yellow Ribbon Foundation at 2:00 PM  


Tuesday, April 05, 2005

Did you know?

This was shared with us recently. We hope all the information is correct because it's fun stuff!

The real actors of yester-year loved the United States.

They had both class and integrity. With the advent of World War II many of our actors went to fight. They gave up their wealth, position and fame to become service men & women, many as simple "enlisted men".

This page lists but a few, but from this group of only 18 men came over 70 medals in honor of their valor, spanning from Bronze Stars, Silver Stars, Distinguish Service Cross', Purple Hearts and one Congressional Medal of Honor.

I would like to remind the people of what the entertainers of 1943 were doing, (61 years ago - Most of these brave men have since passed on.)



Real Hollywood Heros

Alec Guinness (Star Wars) operated a British Royal Navy landing craft on D-Day.

James Doohan ("Scotty" on Star Trek) landed in Normandy with the U. S. Army on D-Day.

Donald Pleasance (The Great Escape) really was an R. A. F. pilot who was shot down, held prisoner and tortured by the Germans.

David Niven was a Sandhurst graduate and Lt. Colonel of the British Commandos in Normandy.

James Stewart Entered the Army Air Force as a private and worked his way to the rank of Colonel. During World War II, Stewart served as a bomber pilot, his service record crediting him with leading more than 20 missions over Germany, and taking part in hundreds of air strikes during his tour of duty. Stewart earned the Air Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross, France's Croix de Guerre, and 7 Battle Stars during World War II. In peace time, Stewart continued to be an active member of the Air Force as a reservist, reaching the rank of Brigadier General before retiring in the late 1950s.

Clark Gable (Mega-Movie Star when war broke out) Although he was beyond the draft age at the time the U.S. entered WW II, Clark Gable enlisted as a private in the AAF on Aug. 12, 1942 at Los Angeles. He attended the Officers' CandidateSchool at Miami Beach, Fla. and graduated as a second lieutenant on Oct. 28, 1942. He then attended aerial gunnery school and in Feb. 1943 he was assigned to t he 351st Bomb Group at Polebrook where flew operational missions over Europe in B-17s. Capt. Gable returned to the U.S. in Oct. 1943 and was relieved from active duty as a major on Jun. 12, 1944 at his own request, since he was over-age for combat.

Charlton Heston was an Army Air Corps Sergeant in Kodiak.

Earnest Borgnine was a U. S. Navy Gunners Mate 1935-1945.

Charles Durning was a U. S. Army Ranger at Normandy earning a Silver Star and awarded the Purple Heart.

Charles Bronson was a tail gunner in the Army Air Corps, more specifically on B-29s in the 20th Air Force out of Guam, Tinian, and Saipan.

George C. Scott was a decorated U. S. Marine.

Eddie Albert (Green Acres TV) was awarded a Bronze Star for his heroic action as a U. S. Naval officer aiding Marines at the horrific battle on the island of Tarawa in the Pacific Nov. 1943.

Brian Keith served as a U.S. Marine rear gunner in several actions against the Japanese on Rabal in the Pacific.

Lee Marvin was a U.S. Marine on Saipan during the Marianas campaign when he was wounded earning the Purple Heart.

John Russell: In 1942, he enlisted in the Marine Corps where he received a battlefield commission and was wounded and highly decorated for valor at Guadalcanal.

Robert Ryan was a U.. S. Marine who served with the O. S. S. in Yugoslavia.

Tyrone Power (an established movie star when Pearl Harbor was bombed) joined the U.S. Marines, was a pilot flying supplies into, and wounded Marines out of, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.

Audie Murphy, little 5'5" tall 110 pound guy from Texas who played cowboy parts?

Most Decorated serviceman of WWII and earned: Medal of Honor, Distinguished Service Cross, 2 Silver Star Medals, Legion of Merit, 2 Bronze Star Medals with "V", 2 Purple Hearts, U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, 2 Distinguished Unit Emblems, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with One Silver Star, Four Bronze Service Stars (representing nine campaigns) and one Bronze Arrowhead (representing assault landing at Sicily and Southern France) World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar, Expert Badge with Bayonet Bar, French Fourragere in Colors of the Croix de Guerre, French Legion of Honor, Grade of Chevalier, French Croix de Guerre With Silver Star, French Croix de Guerre with Palm, Medal of Liberated France, Belgian Croix de Guerre 1940 Palm.

Posted by: Yellow Ribbon Foundation at 5:19 PM  


Wednesday, March 09, 2005

Passing of a Generation

I am a doctor specializing in the Emergency Departments of the only two military Level One-trauma centers, both in San Antonio, TX and they care for civilian Emergencies as well as military personnel.

San Antonio has the largest military retiree population in the world living here As a military doctor, I work long hours and the pay is less than glamorous. One tends to become jaded by the long hours, lack of sleep, food, family contact and the endless parade of human suffering passing before you. The arrival of another ambulance does not mean more pay, only more work. Most often, it is a victim from a motor vehicle crash. Often it is a person of dubious character who has been shot or stabbed. With our large military retiree population, it is often a nursing home patient. Even with my enlisted service and minimal combat experience in Panama, I have caught myself groaning when the ambulance brought in yet another sick, elderly person from one of the local retirement centers that cater to military retirees. I had not stopped to think of what citizens of this age group represented.

I saw "Saving Private Ryan." I was touched deeply. Not so much by the carnage, but by the sacrifices of so many. I was touched most by the scene of the elderly survivor at the graveside, asking his wife if he'd been a good man. I realized that I had seen these same men and women coming through my Emergency Dept.. and had not realized what magnificent sacrifices they had made. The things they did for me and everyone else that has lived on this planet since the end of that conflict are priceless.

Situation permitting, I now try to ask my patients about their experiences. They would never bring up the subject without the inquiry. I have been privileged to an amazing array of experiences, recounted in the brief minutes allowed in an> Emergency Dept. encounter. These experiences have revealed the incredible individuals I have had the honor of serving in a medical capacity, many on their last admission to the hospital.

There was a frail, elderly woman who reassured my young enlisted medic, trying to start an IV line in her arm. She remained calm and poised, despite her illness and the multiple needle-sticks into her fragile veins. She was what we call a "hard stick." As the medic made another attempt, I noticed a number tattooed across her forearm. I touched it with one finger and looked into her eyes. She simply said, "Auschwitz." Many of later generations would have loudly and openly berated the young medic in his many attempts. How different was the response from this person who'd seen unspeakable suffering.

Also, there was this long retired Colonel, who as a young officer had parachuted from his burning plane over a Pacific Island held by the Japanese. Now an octogenarian, his head cut in a fall at home where he lived alone. His CT scan and suturing had been delayed until after midnight by the usual parade of high priority ambulance patients. Still spry for his age, he asked to use the phone to call a taxi, to take him home, then he realized his ambulance had brought him without his wallet.

He asked if he could use the phone to make a long distance call to his daughter who lived 7 miles away. With great pride we told him that he could not, as he'd done enough for his country and the least we could do was get him a taxi home, even if we had to pay for it ourselves. My only regret was that my shift wouldn't end for several hours, and I couldn't drive him myself.

I was there the night MSgt. Roy Benavidez came through the Emergency Dept. for the last time. He was very sick. I was not the doctor taking care of him, but I walked to his bedside and took his hand. I said nothing. He was so sick, he didn't know I was there. I'd read his Congressional Medal of Honor citation and wanted to shake his hand. He died a few days later.

The gentleman who served with Merrill's Marauders, the survivor of the Bataan Death March, the survivor of Omaha Beach, the 101 year old World War I veteran, the former POW held in frozen North Korea, the former Special Forces medic - now with non-operable liver cancer, the former Viet Nam Corps Commander. I remember these citizens. I may still groan when yet another ambulance comes in, but now I am much more aware of what an honor it is to serve these particular men and women.

I have seen a Congress who would turn their back on these individuals who've sacrificed so much to protect our liberty. I see later generations that seem to be totally engrossed in abusing these same liberties, won with such sacrifice. It has become my personal endeavor to make the nurses and young enlisted medics aware of these amazing individuals when I encounter them in our Emergency Dept. Their response to these particular citizens has made Me think that perhaps all is not lost in the next generation.

My experiences have solidified my belief that we are losing an incredible generation, and this nation knows not what it is losing. Our uncaring government and ungrateful civilian populace should all take note. We should all remember that we must "Earn this."

Written By CPT. Stephen R. Ellison, M.D.

(If you send this story along to friends, please include the author's name. Thank you!)

Posted by: Yellow Ribbon Foundation at 6:49 AM  


Monday, March 07, 2005

Hear a Replay of The Power Hour Interview!

If you missed this morning's interview, and can listen this evening, it will be at the beginning of the 3rd hour of the show. The replay starts it's 1st hour at 9 PM CST. Before time, get your media player up and running by going to:

www.thepowerhour.com

and clicking on the red "Replay" text on the right hand side of the page. Or, the 2nd red "Click Here" in the middle frame will take you to the replay as well.

Thank you to all who came to the website or called today to express a desire to join our cause! Because of you the help for Veterans will be able to continue.

Our toll-free number is 1-888-99-4VETS (888-994-8387)

Posted by: Yellow Ribbon Foundation at 5:02 PM  


Tuesday, March 01, 2005

Yellow Ribbon Foundation on the air - March 7th!!

We're happy to share the news of Kenneth Brown being interviewed by Joyce Riley VonKleist and Dave VonKleist on their radio show "The Power Hour". It will be broadcast Monday March 7th from 7am to 10am CST, both over the internet and via shortwave. (Links are listed below)

Ken Brown is the strategic business architect who has been able to oversee the construction of the Yellow Ribbon Foundation and Cash2Charities organizations. As a result, Yellow Ribbon Foundation will be the first charity launched with the Cash2Charities Visa Prepaid Card that can have significant impact in helping our Veterans. He's been the hub of a wheel that's composed of a wide variety of spokes, each one having an integral part of a broader goal to help many charities and school districts. This concept would not have come together had it not been for his passion and insight to building a strong foundation for the future. You will hear his philosophy and how it came about on the show.

We all know how Joyce Riley has been there to help Veterans ever since her experiences with her health resulting from her service as a flight nurse during the Desert Storm Gulf War. She is a truth seeker and extremely supportive of Veterans in need. You can imagine her excitement at seeing a dream come true through The Yellow Ribbon Foundation, "An organization devoted to supporting all United States Veterans".

We are equally thrilled that their plan has come together and hope you will join us for the grand announcement to the Power Hour listeners that the Yellow Ribbon Foundation has arrived!

Tune in over the internet:

http://www.thepowerhour.com/ Click on the red "Click Here" to listen.

or alternately:

http://www.gcnlive.com/monday-friday.htm A number of options are available, including Shortwave frequencies

There is also the option, on The Power Hour site, to listen to a replay of the morning show. It broadcasts from 9pm to 12am CST. With all the choices available, we hope nobody misses this terrifically important broadcast!

Posted by: Yellow Ribbon Foundation at 6:21 PM