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.  

 

 

Arlington-Pentagon 2008 Trip

During my visit to Virginia in mid-September Karen and I planned to place flowers at the head stones of the 14 Honorees at Arlington National Cemetery.  This included visiting the new Pentagon memorial to place flowers at our first Honoree’s marker who was a friend of Karen’s family.  It was a humbling experience to visit both places.

To be honest, I did have mixed feelings about going to Arlington.  Before going on my trip I stopped by the officer of a friend of mine at work, who was a Vietnam veteran and has been to Arlington, about visiting the cemetery.  He said be prepared to be overwhelmed. My friend was right and it was overwhelming to see the rows of white head stones that seemed to go on forever.  Arlington is more then a cemetery it represents the history of our country and each head stone represents a person with a unique story.

Of our Honorees many are sons and daughters of veterans, one is a Medal of Honor recipient, and another is described as a trouble teenager who became a role model for his community.  Their ages are 19 years old to 40 years old with many leaving behind families of their own.  One was a LHCP member’s son and one the son of a Bataan Death March survivor.  They represent all of the services, including the Coast Guard, and are both enlisted and officers.  One of our Honorees emigrated from France and became a U.S. citizen. Family and friend describe them as gentle, caring, and generous people. These Honorees represent only a fraction of the approximate 250,000 people buried on these 612 acres.

Why does LHCP annually place flowers at the headstone of our Honorees?  The answer is simple.  It gives us the opportunity and honor to remember who they were, not only as someone who gave the ultimate sacrifice, but as individuals with stories of their own.  Karen met the sister of one of these Honorees at Arlington a while back, and this lady broke down and cried when she found out LHCP placed flowers at her sister’s head stone.  She was grateful that someone made the effort to remember her sister.  I encourage everyone to visit our website and read the biographies of our Honorees to find out what great people they were.

Remember us. Remember why we fought.  Remember why we died.  Remember us.

 

View pictures from the Pentagon Memorial.

View Pictures From the Arlington Cemetery.

 
 

 

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This site was last updated 08/12/09