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By BETHENY HOLSTEIN
WHEELING — The West
Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation and Main
Street Bank of Wheeling are urging local residents to
remember those who serve their country this Memorial Day by
donating money to provide items for soldiers healing in
overseas hospitals.
The “We Remember” campaign was announced Friday by both the
organizations in conjunction with the Landstuhl Hospital
Care Project of Stafford, Va.
“What this campaign is about is recalling what is the true
meaning of Memorial Day,” WVHTC Foundation Vice President
and General Manager Joseph Allen said. “We are going to show
that this Memorial Day, we remember those soldiers. ... We
are going to remember our fighting men and women.”
The funds raised will be used to purchase “comfort items”
for patients at U.S. military hospitals and medical units in
Iraq and Afghanistan in addition to the Landstuhl Regional
Medical Center, Germany.
“As time goes by, we sometimes desensitize ourselves to the
ongoing war,” Main Street Bank Senior Vice President Cheri
DeBlasis said, adding that it is important to think about
what wounded soldiers go through as they work to heal.
“These men and women sometimes require weeks and months of
treatment.”
Karen Grimord, president of the Landstuhl Hospital Care
Project, spoke at the announcement of the campaign, which
was held at West Virginia Independence Hall, and she
described her experiences helping soldiers in the hospital
in Germany.
“Many times all they have is their hospital gowns and
sheets,” Grimord said. “Sometimes their belongings are
thrown together, but they might not even be on the same
flight.”
The four military hospitals inform Grimord of their
patients’ needs and she, in turn, relays the information to
the various fund-raising campaigns throughout the United
States. Allen said the locally raised funds will be used to
purchase the needed items to be shipped overseas. Grimord
commented on how much the soldiers appreciate all they are
given.
“It is such a wonderful feeling to know that some people
really do care,” Grimord read from a thank-you note she had
received from a soldier. “It brings tears to my eyes knowing
that you want to help. God bless America and people like
you.”
While there have been a wide variety of items needed,
several of those typically requested include jersey shorts,
non-logo colored T-shirts, sneakers, pajamas, blankets,
pillows, sweat pants and foot powder.
“Regardless of your position on the war, we have young men
and women who are severely wounded and need our help. As
Memorial Day approaches, what a great time to remember these
individuals with our donations to purchase items they need
to ease their emotional and physical pain,” said Allen.
Area residents can drop off or mail a donation to Main
Street Bank, 2001 Main St., Wheeling, W.Va. 26003. Checks
are to be made payable to: We Remember/Main Street Bank.
In addition to direct donations to Main Street Bank, a bake
sale will be held in the bank’s lobby beginning at 11 a.m.
June 2.
The WVHTC Foundation, headquartered in Fairmont, is a
501(c)(3) nonprofit organization functioning as an engine of
economic change for growing a regional and statewide high
tech business sector. The foundation has established a
multi-faceted approach to maximize economic development,
commercialization and work force development. In addition to
its Fairmont headquarters, it has offices in Wheeling,
Moundsville and Glenville.
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