Helping Our Troops and Families Even More in 2009!

For thousands of families like myself and my daughter and her Husbands Family we are closer to seeing our loved ones come back from 12-15 month deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan. In our case my son-n-law has served with the 1-8 out of Ft Carson on his second deployment. Early 2009 we will see him as he arrives here at Colorado Springs airport.

Many families across America are seeing their loved ones come home before the holidays and many like us will see them come home after. They have all been doing a great job over there helping the people of these historical countries regain their freedoms, their safety for their families and their country.

I was supposed to go back over and embed with them the end of 2008 but we were not successful to raise the funds this time. However, our troops deserve to have a forum where they can share their mostly untold progress stories. Even though we won't be there with them this time we have a Plan B that we are sharing with them.

30 days after they return from their leaves we are offering to come out to their bases and set down with them so that they can share their progress stories with YOU and all of America. This will most likely start taking place late February and throughout March. So stay tuned and in 2009 we will all hear what thousands of our troops have been doing over the pat 12-15 months that they have been away from their families.

The following are end of the year announcements with three new links on our website:

1. About Us 2005-2008 And Now 2009

This new link from our home page gives an overview of our last three years with an emaphasis on 2008. It also outlines some of our current plans for 2009. To Read this page go to the category box on the left side of home page and click on the link.

2. FALL 2009 - Iraq and Afghanistan

This new link from our home page outlines about our Fall 2009 Trip to embed again with our troops. We have commitments to help make this next trip happen. Other commitments will be posted on this page as they come in over the next six months. To Read this page go to the category box on the left side of home page and click on the link.

3. NEW SURVEY

We have added a first of its kind Survey link from our home page. We request that You take a few moments and fill it out. Having your feedback will help us do even more in 2009.

4. Suggested Hannukah, Christmas, New Year Present

Perhaps you know somebody who would like to be taken right into a Childrens Hospital in Baghdad, onto the site of a new Iraqi Water Treatment Plant, into an Iraqi School with the Principal, on a convoy with our troops as we drive through Baghdad, with some of our Chaplains as they talk about their in the military ministry, as we talk with North Dakota National Guard and Ft Carson soldiers, with US Army Corps of Engineers on the progress stories most people in America do not hear much about.

Order one or more of our 9 Two Hour DVDs from our last trip to Iraq. These could be a great Christmas Present for somebody you know. To Check them out and order go to the 3rd Iraq DVD Icon on the right side of our home page

We can ship your order directly to who you are purchasing it for and let them know it came from you. You will also be helping us work through big challenges this month.

5. New Talk Show at Peyton (Colorado) High Schhool 9th Annual Veterans Breakfast

December 11, 2008 I had the joy of broadcasting a one hour Veterans Breakfast Event with students, teachers and veterans at the Peyton Colorado High School. Wait till you hear from the students .. from our young people... and some veterans.

For Details and how to liste 24/7 go to:
http://talkingwithheroes.com/product_info.php?cPath=28&products_id=1306

Soon everybody will also be able to watch this moving event on www.myfbn.com channel 4.

6. A Call for Help from a Military Wife/Mom leads to Helping their family and more

About a month ago I received an email forwarded to me by Louise Downs from Desert Angels Support Group in Michigan. It was an email from a military wife and mom of four young children who lives in Fountain, Colorado not too far from me here in Colorado Springs. Her husband has been deployed in Mosul where my son n law has been with Ft Carson soldiers. Here is her email:

Bob, I am in need of help for Christmas for my children. My 5 year old auitstic son has been through 2 brain surgeries and a spinal lumbar drain put in place. He had a 6cm tumor that was causing several promblems. We have 4 children and my husband is presently in Iraq till March. I have to travel to Denver Children's hospital several times a month. This has caused a severe hardship on us financially considering my husband is only an E3. I just want my kids to have some type of holiday since they won't have their father here. My son still has a lot to go through. He will be seeing an infectious disease specialist, a geneticist, and a neurosurgeon. He also sees his pediatrician probably at least twice a week. My kids are 16yr old girl, 14yr old boy, 6yr old girl and my 5yr old son. They don't ask for much but, I do want them to have something. Anything that you can do or find out for me would be greatly appreciated. Please feel free to pass on my information to anybody. Andrea

Unfortunately Andrea's email is similar to what many other military families with children are experiencing across America and many other American Families.

One of the blessings I had had over the past three years is that I get to meet and work with many Americans who find ways to help our troops and their families. This includes many Military Support groups, veterans groups, organizations and companies who you can learn about on our talk show pages who are helping our troops and their families in so many ways.

I immediately sent Andrea's email to some support groups and friends. So far Andreas has gotten positive responses from SoldiersAngels.org, from my friend Matt at New Life Church where a family felt led to adopt Andrea's family, from Kit at OneFreedom.org in Denver area plus Mark at Operation Troop Aid suggested I go to a website KrisKringle.com. It turns out that Mike who started this site works for many years for Rhode Island Novelty. Mike and the owner Bob sent three boxes of toys, stuffed toys and novelties to Andrea's family. There was so much that Andrea told me that she would be sharing them with other military families with children here who are also struggling. And there is more..:)

Mike and Bob also sent 6 boxes to me for me to give toys out here to other military families and families in need. This weekend the management at the clubhouse where I live near Ft Carson let me put all those toys in the clubhouse so that military and other families with children in need can come and take home what they want. It was amazing to watch as the families came some with their children and all these toys went home with happy families.

What I have taken away from all of this is yes we may have challenges as this 3 year mission to help our troops continues on but we are blessed to be able to help many people and in 2009 God will provide.

I will keep living in Faith and do even more this next year to help our troops, their families, the wounded, troops with PTSD and TBI and military and veterans groups all across America who are also doing as we in America have a tradition of doing... helping our fellow Americans.

Blessings and a Merry Christmas to you and your families.

Bob Calvert, Host
http://www.talkingwithheroes.com
http://www.myfbn.com Channel 4 Watch Videos from Iraq, Walter Reed and More
http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/19487 - Audio of third trip to Iraq programs http://www.myspace.com/youngheroes
email: bobc9246@yahoo.com