Thankful Americans of All Ages Give Back to Veterans By Raquel Rivas The sacrifices service men and women make to protect us are increasingly front-of-mind for Americans of all ages. Everyday citizens are seeking the opportunity to say thank you and contribute to the well-being of veterans. Through Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP), injured veterans never pay a penny for programs and services — because they paid their dues on the battlefield. WWP’s services in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care positively impact lives. “Wounded Warrior Project will be here for us a year from now, five years from now, 20 years from now,” Jason Ehrhart’s mom and caregiver, Pam Estes, observed. “They are not going away. The effects of war don’t stop a year from now or five years from now. We will be living with the effects of war for the rest of our lives.” Pam and her husband Mike care for their son Jason Ehrhart. Jason is an Army veteran whose vehicle was blown up by an anti-tank mine in Iraq. Jason required constant care when he returned home. The Estes family began their own recoveries with help from WWP’s Independence Program, which provided rehab, respite, and helped Jason turn the corner to a more normal life. Needed services are possible thanks to the generosity of everyday Americans, including children who advocate on behalf of our nation’s wounded warriors every year. Their letters and donations always humble and inspire those around them. Take for example these supporters: No Presents, Please Charlie Molito did not want presents for his birthday. Instead, the almost 7-year-old told his parents he wanted to ask for donations to give to a “wounded soldier.” 12
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His mom, Sarah, searched for a good way to channel a donation and make the experience memorable for Charlie. “One of my friends had been across from a Wounded Warrior Project booth at the state fair,” Sarah said. “Our family had donated to Wounded Warrior Project in the past. I wondered if they would allow my son to meet a representative.” Charlie soon shook hands with Dan Hanson, Marine veteran and WWP outreach specialist in Minneapolis, who connected Charlie and family to Military Appreciation Day at a Minnesota Twins game. “Charlie went crazy when he found out we were going to get to go to the Twins game,” Sarah said. “Baseball is his favorite sport. I cannot explain how excited he was.” Alongside his family and friends, Charlie presented a check to WWP during that Twins game. He collected more than $2,600 from his birthday celebration and Facebook fundraiser. Everyone shared the excitement of his accomplishment. “It was an amazing day,” Dan said. “Everyone was blown away by Charlie’s generosity.” A Recipe for Veteran Support Nothing says summertime like a lemonade stand. Twin siblings Grayson and Kennedy Koop doubled the fundraising fun while selling lemonade at the local Elks Lodge in Oregon. With help from their grandfather, and support from parents and friends, the 7-year-olds raised $1,200 to help veterans access mental and physical health services through WWP. “We believe the twins taught themselves the power of selecting a goal and bringing community and family together on this journey to help wounded warriors,” grandmother Bonnie Houlihan said. “The sheer joy of accomplishment on their faces when they filled in the dollar amounts on checks sent to Wounded Warrior Project was priceless to us as grandparents,” said grandfather Mike Houlihan. Mike, himself a veteran, rolled up his sleeves to help the
