Supporting America’s Largest Overseas U.S. Military Hospital
 Landstuhl Hospital Care Project
"The nation which forgets its defenders will be itself forgotten."
- Calvin Coolidge
And Combat Support Hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan

 

 

 

The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence is awarded to the members of Independent Charities of America and Local Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent review, been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness.  These standards include those required by the US Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive in the world.  Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or 5 percent, meet or exceed these standards, and, of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded this Seal.  

 

 

Honoring Yesterday's Heroes

 

Landstuhl Hospital Care Project has long honored today’s war veterans by sending shipments of personal care items to wounded warriors recovering from their wounds at the Army medical center in Germany.

 

On May 22, members of the nonprofit, headquartered in Stafford County, honored yesterday’s heroes by participating in a wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns at Arlington National Cemetery.

 

“It’s hard to put into words what an honor it is to pay tribute to the real heroes, the ones that have actually died and made the ultimate sacrifice for the country,” said Army Sgt. Joe Santolla. “I don’t feel worthy of doing it.”

 

Santolla was one of four participants who took part in the ceremony on behalf of Landstuhl Hospital Care Project. The soft-spoken Santolla was wounded by a roadside bomb in May of 2009 and suffered a traumatic brain injury. He was talked into participating in the wreath laying ceremony by his wife and daughter.

 

“I really didn’t want to do it to begin with. I didn’t feel like I earned it,” he said.

Combat medic Michelle Gray, a veteran of both the Air Force and Army Reserves, took part in a motorcycle ride that benefited Landstuhl Hospital Care Project in early May, where she met the organization’s president, Karen Grimord. It was during that ride that Grimord asked Gray if she would like to take part in the wreath laying ceremony.

 

“I don’t think there’s any words,” she said before the wreath laying. “I can’t describe how it feels.”

 

Paul Russo, who served as project’s civic/corporate representative for the ceremony, is a veteran of the Air Force and National Guard who currently works as a local veterans employment representative for the Department of Labor.

 

“I think it’s unbelievable that I’m here today to do this,” he said. “It’s a privilege to be part of this.”

 

For more information on the Landstuhl Hospital Care Project, visit its website at landstuhlhospitalcareproject.org.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns the wreath party lays flowers for LHCP honorees buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

We then travel to the Pentagon Memorial to lay flowers for our first honoree.

After respects are paid the Air Force members stop by the Air Force Memorial

 

 

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Contributions to Landstuhl Hospital Care Project (LHCP) are tax-deductible.
LHCP is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit charitable organization.
Site is not officially sponsored by the US Army or Landstuhl Regional Medical Center
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This site was last updated 06/02/10