Let me be frank. You may have seen this on MyDD or BestoftheBlogs. I'm posting it everywhere I can think of. Killing and wounding are part of war; the statistics leave me numb. But the callousness with which our wounded in action are being treated gets under my skin. So, apologies if you've read this before.
-------
Angela Boskowitz, a Democrat Abroad in Frankfurt, Germany, is a frequent visitor to the military hospital in Landstuhl where casualties of our war in Iraq are treated. This appeal hit me very hard, thankful as I am that daughter Kate and son-in-law Pat are pilots and are both home safely. I’ve asked Kate to buy a couple of hundred bucks worth of American telephone cards and send them to Landstuhl on my behalf. I’d appreciate your pitching in, too.
People have been asking me for months, if not years, what they could do to help the troops even if they’re opposed to the Iraq war and Bush foreign policy. I provided an extensive, detailed list of what the Landstuhl Hospital in Germany needs on a CONSTANT basis. I would like to make a special appeal again now.
I understand that everyone’s busy and stressed, here and back in the US. I also realize that shipping a large box of clothes/shoes/etc. can get quite expensive, especially if funds are limited.
I am making a direct plea to all members of Democrats Abroad, other American expatriate and Veteran’s organizations, and to those stateside who receive this email:
Per my direct conversations with the Chaplain, the Chaplain’s Closet is in dire need of phone cards. The need is URGENT. The first thing everyone wants to do when they get to the Hospital is to call their wives, mothers and children and let them know they’re ok. There is no open, cost free telephone line at the hospital and our wounded need phone cards to be able to make these important calls.
The phone cards should be American. They can be purchased in 120-minute formats from drug stores and supermarkets anywhere in the US. They may be purchased at PX’s worldwide.
The phone cards can be collected and sent in large envelopes to Landstuhl Hospital which has a US Address, reducing the postage costs. I ask that people send them directly to the Hospital instead of coordinating with me because the need is more urgent than my monthly trips can meet. Feel free to include personalized letters/cards.
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center,
ATTN: MCEUL-CH/Chaplains Office
CMR 402, APO AE 09180
I graciously request that you forward this email onto all of your friends and family stateside. This is something everyone can do to help. It’s not that expensive and people can reach out to their churches, social organizations and friends and flood the Chaplain’s Office. Supporting the troops is more than yellow ribbons.
No soldier missing body parts and laying in unspeakable pain with 3rd-degree burns should have to worry about how many minutes are left on his phone card! This is basic human compassion and dignity.