Let me start by saying thank you for visiting my page! My original goal was to raise $250 by Christmas. Well, thanks to EVERYONE who was so gracious in giving, I surpassed that goal by Christmas Eve. THANK YOU! My new goal is $500 before the New Year.

I got involved with Military Musters shortly after my Grandpa passed away this year on October 16th at the age of 92. He, like many men his age, was a World War II veteran. It was the first military funeral I have ever attended. The young honor guard men that stood so poised, the folding of the flag, the Taps played by the single bugler, I felt a sense of pride for him, his commitment, and the loyalty of the men involved. After the ceremony I was told that he did not receive the firing of volley shots by a rifle party because there simply was not enough men stationed in the Philadelphia area to do it. After coming home I heard of other veterans not receiving a full military funeral during war time due to limited resources. And then, I heard of one that really affected me...

...Lewis Schaeffer, my other Grandfather, was also a veteran. He enlisted in 1939, before WWII, and was trained as an airplane mechanic. When the U.S. joined the war, he was transferred to the Army Air Corps, Eighth Air Force and became a .50 Caliber Machine Gunner on a B-17. Approximately 27,000 8AF men were killed in action, 28,000 went missing in action (many were known POW's), and 18,000 were wounded in action (the physically wounded, there is no data or acknowledgment of those who suffered psychological issues). That's a total 34% of those who served in his division. Amazingly, he served 2 missions as a gunman and survived. 

He died on December 30, 1973, an early death at the age of 53. I was born just six weeks later on February 12th, his birthday. I never got to know him, but I have always felt a strong connection to him. I had no idea until just recently that he was denied a military burial because at that time, the Vietnam War had left no honor guard available to give him one. This was a man who received a Distinguished Flying Cross and a Bronze Star for his heroism and bravery. 

When I was asked to help produce the video above (that I hope you'll watch!), I began to grasp the affect of war on a human. I wondered, if my grandfather had gotten the proper psychological and physical treatment he needed and deserved, would he have been around long enough to share his life with me? Would he have been a better husband to my Grandma? A better father to my Dad? How many generations have been affected by what our soldiers experience during wartime? How many have gone untreated, unacknowledged? I know it's not quantifiable. I know that I can't do much to help our WWII vets and their families. The Iraq and Afghanistan Wars are the wars of my generation. I've always believed that understanding history is important for changing the future. I don't want the child born today to miss out on having a Grandpa or Mother or a Father as a result of neglect by our country to which they gave more than I can't even begin to imagine.

Through Military Musters I'm attempting to do something small to hopefully bring about awareness of what is to come with our men and women coming home. Hopefully, it will turn into doing something big for our service men and women and their kids, and their kids... so that no future veteran will ever be denied the care and treatment they have earned. Thanks for reading this, below is info on how you can help.

Much love,

Nikki

Welcome to My Fundraising Page! 

I just joined a cause that helps our wounded soldiers and I need your help to spread the word.  

But first, I want to share the good news that many of our troops have returned from war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and many more are coming home soon!  Our brave soldiers have fought long and hard in these difficult times, and still they are returning in record numbers and there are far less casualties than expected compared to prior conflicts. 

A Few Facts:

• 2012 will mark 10 years that America has been at war
• 182,000 troops will have returned from Iraq since 2007 by the end of 2011
• 40,000 troops are expected to return from Afghanistan by the end of 2012
• On average, Eight American soldiers are injured each day.  The number is still growing
• Nearly 90% of military members have survived the wars on Iraq and Afghanistan – making the number of sustained injuries far greater than previous wars

The sad reality is that the number of soldiers returning with injuries is far more than our system can handle and there are not enough healthcare and financial resources to go around.  They all need care and support. Currently, more than 2.65 Million claims are waiting to be processed while our heroes stand by, waiting for months on end for assistance with nowhere to turn.  

Now we must answer the call to our community by supporting those who have been fighting for us. If you support our troops please join me and take a stand today. 

All it takes is a small $10 donation and you will be part of a cause that makes a difference in the lives of millions who have fought and survived some of the harshest circumstances and perils of war.  

Please be sure to check out the music video, which includes never
seen before photos submitted by soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan.  
 

Your support will aid the development of Military Musters, a comprehensive online community of information, education, resources and peer to peer networking for service members, veterans, loved ones and their caregivers, so they can access and receive the support they need, when they need it.  It's time to take a stand as Americans and restore life and freedom to those who nearly lost theirs.  
 

A little bit goes a long way!  Three Ways to Show Support:

1. Make a Donation. The process is fast, easy, and secure. I truly appreciate any support you can provide. It will benefit a great cause!
    
2. Share this Page. Help me reach my goal by sharing this page with your friends on Facebook and Twitter!  Or you can simply send an e-mail to friends you think might be interested in contributing and include a link to my page!
    
3. Join the Cause.  Create your own fundraising page and set a goal so that you can help support the troops and be a top contributor to the cause! By participating in the fundraising efforts, you also qualify for perks and prizes that will be awarded to the top fundraisers in each category! 

Thanks so much for your generosity and taking a stand to support 
the brave men and women who serve our country.