Since September 11, 2001, thousands of Americans serving in our Armed Forces have given their lives or sustained life changing injuries to protect our freedoms in the global fight against terrorism. The families of these fallen heroes and warriors that are wounded deserve to be recognized for their sacrifice. They need the help and support of a grateful community -- indeed a grateful nation. Many of the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country have left behind a spouse and/or children. In addition to dealing with the loss of a husband, wife, mother or father, these families must also deal with the challenges of rebuilding their lives. They must deal with the issues of finding a job, raising children, relocating, providing children’s education, or even providing those military warriors with basic needs such as food, car payments, mortgage, or rent. The Armed Forces provide some benefits, such as Serviceman’s Group Life Insurance (SGLI). While these benefits are helpful, the financial needs that many of these surviving families and warriors that are wounded face may require more assistance.

The Our Fallen Heroes Foundation provides support to the families of military personnel who have given their lives in the defense of our country as well as those wounded in action in operations since 9/11. The gifts provided to each military warrior and dependent family are intended to help these survivors through any short-term or long-term financial needs that they may have. The Our Fallen Heroes Foundation also helps our wounded men and women who have sustained permanent injury such as a loss of a limb or limbs. These warriors need our assistance as well. Our objective is to support these families in their time of need. Equally important to material assistance provided is the comfort these families can have knowing that a grateful community will never forget the sacrifice they have made for us.

The Our Fallen Heroes Foundation has worked with the casualty assistance offices of the United States Armed Forces to determine families eligible for financial support. Today we are working through our network of fellow military veterans. The Foundation will provide support to the surviving spouses and/or dependent children of uniformed military personnel on active duty who are killed or wounded in action during deployment on our war against terror. The Foundation provides support to those families and military warriors who are in need. The Foundation provides support to those families who are afflicted with life changing wounds who must learn to adapt to a new world of challenges brought upon them such as blindness, loss of legs, arms, hands, or any other life altering injuries. Moving around their homes may no longer be a simple walk from one room to another, taking showers, opening cabinets, cooking food may now be nearly impossible without some sort of assistance. Gifts provided by the Foundation can help these families in many ways— providing funds for a mortgage payment or sufficient down payment for a home, providing schooling for dependent children, and even more immediate needs such as food and other necessities. It is our sincere hope that the donations received for the Our Fallen Heroes Foundation will honor those families by helping them with their financial needs during their difficult times. It is an opportunity for fellow Americans, who may not know these families personally, to show their support and to ensure that they will not be forgotten – they will not be left behind.

The Our Fallen Heroes Foundation continues an effort begun by many other organizations throughout the country to assist the families of military personnel lost in the line of duty. Jim and Patti Wells were inspired to establish the Foundation when they learned of a military family in Auburndale, Florida that lost a service member while deployed on a reconstruction mission near Baghdad in May of 2004. He had only been deployed to Iraq for three weeks before being killed in a mortar attack on his unit. The efforts and the efforts of people like you have helped this and other families with the financial hardships they face following the loss or wounding of their loved one. Their hope is that any family that has lost a fallen hero or has a warrior at home who is wounded does not feel left alone and that the memory of his sacrifice and selfless service is appreciated today and for many tomorrows. The Foundation hopes to continue the service of helping others who have served and sacrificed for us.