NOTE: THIS ENTRY WILL REMAIN ON TOP THROUGH VETERANS' DAY. SCROLL FOR NEW STUFF.
We are seeking donationf for Project Valour - IT. "Valour" is an acronym for "Voice-Activated Laptops for OUR Injured Troops."
The Project Valour - IT Site describes the initiative as follows:
Project Valour-IT, in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss, provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the 'Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse. The experience of CPT Charles "Chuck" Ziegenfuss, a partner in the project who suffered hand wounds while serving in Iraq, illustrates how important this voice-controlled software can be to a wounded servicemember's recovery.
Project Valour - IT has injected a friendly inter-service competition into the mix to see which military branch team can produce the most donations. So, you are asked to pick a "team," and go make your donation. I again stress that this is a friendly rivalry, as the real winners here will be our wounded soldiers, sailors, Airmen and Marines.
Team Leaders
Army: BLACKFIVE (This, of course, is my team)Navy: The Indepundit
Air Force: The Mudville Gazette
Marines: Soldiers' Angel - Holly Aho
I'm making a special appeal to Jersey Bloggers who are active military, vets, those who have friends or family in the military and generally to all those who really do "support our troops." You need not make a large donation. Every single donation helps!
Jim, glad to see you supporting the cause.
Of course, the Army team is going down. Navy's been kicking your butt for 2 days and will stay ahead until the end.
Stop by and see the tracking chart!
Posted by: Ken Adams at November 6, 2005 07:57 PMOh, and if you haven't found it yet, there's a blog for the project itself. Stop in for competition updates, success stories, etc.
Posted by: Ken Adams at November 6, 2005 09:29 PMSorry, Ken, but I've known Jim longer. I pitched my pennies to the Army.
Posted by: Sluggo at November 6, 2005 10:40 PMI don't care which team you join, just as long as you know that Navy will win!
Posted by: Ken Adams at November 6, 2005 11:59 PMGo Navy!!! Ack! I can't believe Matt pulled you to the dark side. OK, not dark, but darker. ;-)
Posted by: Bou at November 7, 2005 08:02 AMBou,
Matt is, most definitely, da Bomb, but being on the Army Team seemed like a natural, having spent a couple years as one of its many numbers back when the Army was still issuing muskets. :-)
Posted by: Jim - Parkway Rest Stop at November 7, 2005 08:17 AMSluggo,
Tanks! Don't pay any attention to ol' Ken, who believes that an early surge by the Navy will carry the day. Poor guy can't think straight sometimes as a result of having spent too much time on those battlewagons listening to the big guns. ;-)
Posted by: Jim - Parkway Rest Stop at November 7, 2005 08:20 AM.. Holly's site is down right now... so, word up to any jarheads out there... you can donate from the USMC button on my site until her site comes back up...
As a guy who grew up south of Trenton (bordentown) and spent 30 years in the Navy, guess where my donation is going?
"Stand Navy out to sea. . ."
Posted by: MCPO Airdale at November 7, 2005 08:25 PMWay to go, Master Chief!
Posted by: Ken Adams at November 7, 2005 09:21 PMMCPO Airdale,
Yowza! A Master Chief from Jersey. That is one badass combination. Thanks!!
Posted by: Jim - Parkway Rest Stop at November 8, 2005 02:19 AMJim,
Chris Muir has graciously offered to create a custom (and signed) Day by Day cartoon in support of Project Valour-IT.
We're holding an auction and the highest bidder will be featured in a cartoon and receive the original artwork. They'll also be able to give credit to the service team of their choice for their donation.
Posted by: Matt at November 9, 2005 12:24 PMThis just in from the Valour-IT database:
NAVY REGAINS THE LEAD!
The count now stands:
Navy Army Marines Air Force
$19,348 $18,668 $11,905 $ 5,890
Although Army beat the Navy to $21K, Smash has challenged BlackFive to see who will be first to $25K.
If you haven't donated yet, there is still time!
"Stand Navy out to sea. . ."
BTW: Happy Birthday United States Marine Corps!
Posted by: MCPO Airdale at November 10, 2005 01:48 PM