Fort Worth Air Force Association

Officials at Walter Reed Army Medical Center are seeking donations for wounded troops who are forced to leave behind personal belongings when medically evacuated from war zones. Many of the troops arrive with nothing. Because of the speed with which the most seriously wounded are evacuated from Iraq or Afghanistan, their belongings are often left behind and don’t catch up. The center is looking for everything from shoes, gloves, winter jackets, postage stamps, prepaid phone cards, and razors.  The Family Assistance Center requests that no cash or used items be donated. Among some of the more specialized needs are weightlifting gloves (for use by wheelchair patients), trousers with snaps or zips along the legs, umbrellas, and prepaid gas or grocery cards. Donations can be sent to:

Walter Reed Army Medical Center
Medical Family Assistance Center
Bldg. 2, 3rd Floor, Room 3E01
6900 Georgia Ave, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20307-5001

In general, the American public has respect and admiration for the sacrifices and hardships that are endured by those that volunteer to wear the uniform. Each and every citizen of America has a right to voice their opinion - to stand and be heard. But these rights end where the rights of others begin. Some extreme anti-war demonstrators have taken their protests to the funerals of our fallen heroes. Regardless of politics or philosophy or creed, it is inexcusable to so abashedly disrespect someone who has given their life in support of freedom, justice, and everything we hold dear. America owes a great debt of gratitude to these brave Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers. The Air Force Association is seeking your support for the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act that would prevent disruption of military funerals at national cemeteries.

Update: This act was signed into law on Memorial Day. Our sincerest thanks go to those of you that contacted your representative.

You may have heard some of the buzz a few months ago about the Air Force fitness uniform changing or the new Airmen Battle Uniform.  Apparently we have a very fashion conscious Air Force, because there is now talk of changing the Service Dress uniform.  Our Airmen love the updated PT uniform, especially with the new emphasis on fitness as we are tasked to do more “expeditionary” jobs.  There has been a good response to the ABU having no-shine boots and being wash and wear.  Of course, that “wash and wear” statement can be read on the tags of the current BDU on their way to the dry cleaner, but the new ABUs have a permanent press crease and would only be damaged by dry cleaning.  The pattern has been updated as most Airmen were not thrilled with the “Hawaiian shirt gone bad”.  The jury is still out concerning the service dress.