T.R.O.O.P.S

Since I can remember, I have always wanted to become a member of the United States Air Force, and fight for the very freedoms that keep our nation free and allow men and women every day to stay free. I felt that the men and women in our armed forces get little recognition for their valiant efforts that they make every day to keep us safe and over the past couple years they have gotten little thanks and a lot of grief. I felt that it was my duty as a human being and an American to give back and do something for these amazing people. Being in the military is not a high paying job as many of you know. Usually the soldiers have little money to spend on their children that many of them have for Christmas, Birthday's, or what ever other religious belief they believe in. I thought, it is time to get up and do something about it. So I created a non-profit organization called TROOPS. TROOPS stands for The RIght Output Of Patriotic Service. Over the past three or four years this project has made an impact on my life as well as many other lives in the United States Armed Forces. I collect CD's and DVD's to give to the troops, as well as money donations, cards, letters, and other donations that people wish to give in support of our troops. All of these gifts are given directly to the soldiers and they don't have to pay a cent. Over the years I have gotten many thank you's and many hugs, but it was one soldier in particular who impacted me the most. His name I will not disclose. He was a Sergeant in the United States Army. While serving in Iraq he was shot in the knee, completely shattering it. He had to receive multiple surgeries and wear a contraption with metal rods piercing his knee to keep it straight. He told me history one night while visiting him in the hospital. The one thing he said that still stick with me today was "I can't wait to get back with my men." This is a man who was shot in the knee multiple times and all he can think about is getting back to his men. These are the type of people that keep us free and protect us every day. These are the unsung heroes. I continued my TROOPS project and eventually received a medal from the head of an organization all over the country called Fisher House. This is a place for family of a wounded soldier to stay when their son, daughter, family member is in the hospital and needs close family. It was a medal to recognize outstanding service and dedication to the community. I just wanted to give back. This project has made an impact not only in the United States, but all around the world when the thank you letters and other various things I received got shipped to Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, and many other places around the world.