BOSTON – April 15 2013/At 5:30am on Monday, twenty Soldiers lead by 1LT Steve Fiola of Fitchburg began the 26.2 mile “Tough Ruck” to honor comrades killed in Iraq and Afghanistan or lost to suicide and PTSD-related accidents after coming home.  The “Tough Ruck” , a charity march benefitting the Military Friends Foundation – a nonprofit serving Massachusetts military families and families of the fallen – followed the course of the Boston Marathon and ended on Boylston Street where the Ruckers met with Carlos Arredondo, Tough Ruck volunteer and father of LCPL Alexander Arredondo who was killed in Iraq in 2004.  Moments after Carlos greeted the Ruckers, bombs exploded nearby and Carlos and the Ruckers raced to assist the wounded.  They embody the best of our military community and are why we do what we do. For more information about how you can support the Tough Ruck mission, visit www.militaryfriends.org/tough-ruck.

HOPKINGTON – On Marathon Monday, a group of local Soldiers will gather at the Boston Marathon start line at dawn to march in honor of Massachusetts fallen heroes.  The group will be doing a 26.2 mile “Tough Ruck” march in military uniforms and carrying their ruck sacks which can weigh up to 45 pounds.  “Tough Ruck” leader First Lieutenant Steve Fiola of Fitchburg, a Massachusetts Army National Guardmember, and his Soldiers are raising money to support families of fallen heroes through the Military Friends Foundation.

“This partnership that we are starting with Military Friends is extremely exciting.  To be able to work with these amazing people who are so dedicated to helping the families of our lost brothers and sisters from the Commonwealth is wonderful.  This will be my fifth time doing this course and the support that we receive while on the historically challenging 26.2 miles is inspiring.  Working with Military Friends will allow us to give back to those families who also inspire us with their courage and strength.  26.2 miles won’t bring our friends and comrades back, if it could we would walk around the world a hundred times over, but since it won’t this is a great place to start,” said 1LT Steve Fiola.

All active duty military are welcome take part in the “Tough Ruck” and can register by visiting www.militaryfriends.org/tough-ruck.

The Military Friends Foundation proudly administers the Massachusetts Military Family Relief Fund – Question 32E on the Mass. State Tax Form – which was created by the state legislature to recognize the unique contributions and sacrifices made by military families after September 11, 2001. “This is a simple and easy way that taxpayers can directly support military families in their own backyard,” said SGM Jim Kelly (Ret.), Military Friends President & Iraq Combat Veteran. Through generous donations, Military Friends has provided nearly $1 million in grants and services to Massachusetts military families and families of the fallen. For more information on Military Friends Foundation, please visit www.militaryfriends.org or call (617) 733-7994.

Our first initiative is to sell wristbands for $5.00, which show YOUR support for these organizations and also make you a LS Hockey SuperFan!

100% of proceeds from wristband sales go toward the Military Friends Foundation and the Lt Scott Milley Ranger Fund and serve as a ticket into the game. Bands go on sale Friday, 10/12. See any LS Hockey player to purchase yours!
Our goal is to have 100% school participation. Wear a wristband and show your pride!

“A Tradition Begins”

Please visit www.militaryfriends.org/GoldStarTree for more information on the event and how to register your Gold Star Family.

Click here to learn more about Operation Military Smiles & the Dec. 16th toy giveaway at the Brockton VA

 By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff – The MetroWest Daily News/Photo Shane Gerardi

FRAMINGHAM – Rosemary Weddleton’s grandson will get exactly what he asked for this Christmas, the board game Shoots and Ladders, thanks to Operation Military Smiles, which hopes to provide 10,000 toys to children in Massachusetts military families in need this holiday season.

“This is so great,” said Weddleton, of Framingham, whose husband served in the Air Force during Vietnam. “These kids are my whole life right now … and they’ll be smiling on Christmas morning.”  Weddleton was one of more than 200 parents and grandparents in military families who were able to go “shopping” for gifts at Sunday’s Operation Military Smiles toy giveaway.

Operation Military Smiles, created by the families of local fallen service members, allows families to pick from a variety of donated gifts including toys for all ages, clothes and gift cards.  Steve Milley, whose son, Lt. Scott Milley of Sudbury, died two years ago on Nov. 30 in Afghanistan, said he was honored to support this program in his son’s memory.  “My son certainly would have loved this,” Milley said. “He used to like to help people where they needed it, not just mail in a check. This is an instant need that gets met.”

Milley is one of six military parents who founded this program last year in honor of their sons who died in service.  “Any event we do is bittersweet,” Milley said. “Six young men paid with their blood.”  Milley said he was happy to see the event expand to three different locations this year after one successful event in Fall River last year. He said he expects this event to continue in the Framingham area for years to come.

“It is very sweet of them to do this for the little kids who, without this, wouldn’t have anything on Christmas morning,” said Amy Dion of Ashland who was shopping with her mother, Sandra Goldman, for four grandchildren at Sunday’s event. “It means so much to them to have something, to know Santa didn’t forget them.”

Maj. Sharon McLaughlin, a member of the National Guard and volunteer for the Massachusetts Troop Welfare Council, was shopping on behalf of three families with immediate need on Sunday.  “There are a lot of military families that are struggling,” McLaughlin said. “These three families are struggling with post-deployment issues, including PTSD, unemployment and injury.” McLaughlin said this is just one way the council was helping these three families, but she was happy to work with the program to be able to get the gifts. “To have a Christmas, that’s what this event is allowing,” McLaughlin said.

Donations are still being accepted and additional volunteers are welcome. For more information, visit www.militaryfriends.org.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x35747094/Creating-smiles-for-military-families#ixzz2E1EfrF00

 

Citizens Small Acts of Kindness Made A Big Impact

UPDATE: Baby Kailyn now has her helmet! 

(NEWTON) – SGT William Girouard joined the National Guard after the terrorist attacks on 9/11.   This time when he deployed, he had to leave behind his 6-month old daughter who was in need of medical care.  Only a week before he deployed, William and his wife Michelle learned that the cost for the helmet device needed for their daughter Kailyn would not be covered by TRICARE, the Department of Defense health provider.

“When we learned about baby Kailyn we had to do something immediately,” said SGM Jim Kelly (Ret.), Iraq Combat Veteran and President of the Military Friends Foundation, a local non-profit that supports Guard, Reserve and Families of Fallen Service Members.   “It is unacceptable to have a soldier be overseas and have this weighing on his mind.”

“Brave men and women in uniform like Sergeant Girouard put their lives on the line day in and day out to keep our country safe,” said Senator John Kerry.  “The very least we need to do is make sure their families back home, who already sacrifice so much, receive the health care services they need. I’m grateful to Military Friends for answering our call and for making this all possible.”

The helmet cost over $2500 and payment was required before baby Kailyn could even be fitted for the device.  Military Friends Foundation was able to cover the entire cost because of generous donations made through Question 32E – Mass. Military Family Relief Fund – on the Massachusetts State Tax Form.  After 9/11, the state legislature created this voluntary contribution box to recognize the service and sacrifices on military families and enable taxpayers to easily support military families.  The Military Friends administers this Fund and works with local municipalities to offer support to service members.

Representative John Lawn and Alderman Allan “Jay” Ciccone joined the Military Friends Foundation to present an emergency grant to Girouard family.

“When I found out the Military Friends was going to support our daughter I didn’t know what to say – for a parent all you want to do is take the best care of your child that you possibly can – Military Friends let us do that,” said Michelle Girouard.  “I want to thank everyone who supports the Military Friends Foundation programs – they truly make a difference to military families.”

“Given the sacrifices that SGT Girouard and our other service men and women are making while fighting the Global War on Terrorism, it is imperative that elected officials and organizations like the Military Friends Foundation do all they can to take care of militaries families across our Commonwealth,” said Representative John Lawn.

“We must ensure that people across our state know that their donation to the ‘Military Family Relief Fund’ makes a real difference to military families – these donations help those in our own backyard,” said Alderman Allen ‘Jay’ Ciccone Jr.  Newton is home to more than 5,000 veterans according John MacGillivray, the city’s Veterans Service Director.

Military Friends Foundation has provided nearly a million dollars in assistance to Massachusetts military families through grants, services and support programs since 9/11.  For more information on all Military Friends Foundation programs visit www.militaryfriends.org or call (617) 733-7994.

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BOSTON – To recognize our military on Veterans Day the Military Friends Foundation is offering a limited quantity of tickets to the New England Patriots vs. Buffalo Bills game on November 11th at Gillette Stadium.  Massachusetts veterans, service members & families of the fallen are eligible to apply for ‘Pats for Patriots’ tickets. The recipients will travel from South Station to Foxboro aboard MBCR’s Gold Star Memorial Coach, which bears the name of Massachusetts soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen who lost their lives while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Applications will be accepted at www.militaryfriends.org until October 31, 2012 and recipients will be randomly selected and notified by Military Friends Foundation on or before November 5th. The “Pats For Patriots” program is a partnership between Military Friends Foundation and MBCR honoring Massachusetts veterans.

***Click here to apply online today.

***Click here to download the “Pats For Patriots” poster.

Scituate, MA – On Saturday, over 500 people took part in the first annual Massachusetts Run For The Fallen put on by the Military Friends Foundation, a local non-profit started after 9/11 to care for Massachusetts military families. Participants ran in honor of each of the 192 Massachusetts service members who have lost their lives since September 11, 2001. The events’ purpose was to raise awareness of those who have died, to rejuvenate their memories and keep their spirits alive.

“It is important for me to have a place like this run to honor those who protect our freedoms and the service members who have made the ultimate sacrifice. These families have been impacted by 9/11 as much as our families,” said Jennifer Kirwin Masse of Kingston, who lost her brother Glenn in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Jennifer joined General George Casey, David McKiernan, L. Scott Rice and Thomas Sellars, MA Veterans Services Secretary Coleman Nee and families of the Fallen in the reading of 192 names during the run’s opening ceremony.

Tribute markers honoring the Fallen were placed along the run course and runners came from all over New England, including special support for this year’s inaugural Massachusetts Run from the Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut Runs For The Fallen. General George W. Casey, who served as master of ceremonies, called upon the citizens of Massachusetts to make the run an annual tradition. “We have asked people across the state to Join Us and Honor Them. This event was a rare opportunity to step up and literally say to families who’ve have lost a loved one that we haven’t forgotten and that we will continue to remember,” said SGM Jim Kelly, Iraq Combat Veteran and Military Friends Foundation President.

The Military Friends Foundation 501(c)3, which was started after 9/11 to support Massachusetts military families and Families of the Fallen, is working to raise funds to hold next year’s event and to continue to support families of the Fallen year around. The run is a 9/11 community service project and there is no cost to take part in the memorial tribute run. Please visit www.militaryfriends.org for more information about becoming involved in the run.