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Presidential Volunteer Service Award

The Thousand Thanks program earned Kat and Clare Lanigan a President's Volunteer Service Award from President Bush at the White House on Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008. It was an in-person thank-you for the 30,000 mailed thank-yous the girls have processed at all hours of the day and night for the past two years in their Herndon home.

They started sending the special letters to provide a morale boost to kids on the home front, just as other organizations mail letters to deployed members of the military to let them know their service is appreciated.

"Your friends will sympathize with you, but they can't empathize with you the same way the other children of deployed people could," said Kat, who was in fourth grade when her father was sent to Bosnia. "I think the letters help kids realize if they're in that situation that someone does recognize what they're going through."

The program works like this: A child's mother or father contacts A Thousand Thanks and provides the child's name and other information for personalization. The parent also chooses one of the athletes or cartoon characters whose likenesses have been lent to the program. The child is then mailed a letter, adorned with a picture of the chosen athlete or character.

The response from program participants is amazing. A wife told the Lanigans that her son sleeps with the letter under his pillow. An officer e-mailed to say that the letter was the first thing his daughter wanted to show him when he returned from Iraq. Some kids just write to say that getting a letter from Bugs Bunny made them feel better.

"It's so completely beyond what I ever thought it would turn into," Clare said. "The attention we've gotten for this is incredible, not because we've gotten the attention, but because of the message that we have been able to put out.

"There are people everywhere who have this problem. It's so much bigger than we ever thought it would be."

Above photo: President George W. Bush poses for a photo with Presidential Volunteer Service Award recipients Kat and Clare Lanigan Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, on the South Lawn at the White House.

White House photo by Chris Greenberg

U.S. Congress

From the floor of the United States Congress, Cong. Jim Moran of Virginia introduced a resolution in honor of April, the Month of the Military Child, reminding all of us to remember the sacrifice that children make when they have a parent deployed. Cong. Moran, a loyal supporter of military families, gave a special thanks to the Kids Serve Too co-chairs, Kat and Clare Lanigan, for all they have done to honor children of deployed.

A Thousand Thanks to Military Kids

Shaquille O'Neal, racecar driver Tony Schumacher, Air Force Racing Team members Jon Wood and Kelly Bires, Warner Bros. Looney Tunes® characters and Scooby-Doo and the Gang joined us in helping recognize the sacrifices made by the children of deployed Service Members.

>>Click here to find out more>>

(U.S. Air Force Photo of Jon Wood by Master Sgt Robert W. Valenca)

Have you thanked a military child today?

Children who have a mom or dad deployed, or who have a parent who has been wounded in the war, deserve our gratitude. They sacrifice a lot, so their parent can serve our country. Thank a military child by donating tickets to a local sporting event or concert. These children deserve a break from their worry and concern.

We are an organization by military families, for military families, providing support to military families across the nation. We will make sure your donation is provided to legitimate military families.

Military kids have been able to enjoy baseball, basketball, soccer, ice hockey games, golf tournaments, and pop rock concerts like the Spice Girls and American Idols because of your generosity.

Please provide us as much notice as possible when donating tickets. Click here to contact us and let us know how you can help.

Fox Power of One

There are organizations in place to help our service men and women heal, but what about the families troops leave behind when they are deployed? Sometimes those families can feel very alone.

Fox 5's Gurvir Dhindsa has the story of one woman who took her feelings of isolation and frustration and turned them into something positive. Watch the Video>>

Words of thanks

Thank you so much for your concern for the military child. I don’t think people realize how hard it is on them and what gambit of emotions they go through when their parents are away. News stories are especially frightening. I think you are doing a great service for the children of Service Members.

~3rd Grade Teacher, Ft. Bragg, NC

Thank you for your time in doing this, it is very much appreciated. This is Daddy’s 3rd time over there and my daughter is having a pretty hard time with it this time! Thank you for showing your appreciation. It means a lot to us!

~A Marine Wife in PA

I already had you send one to my youngest son. He loved it! He just got the letter a week ago. Thanks, it’s a neat thing to do for these kids.

~Mom of 3 in OK

Thank you for what you do. It is hard enough on kids when either of their parents is deployed especially when both are. I know that they would like something like this. Thank you again for your support.

~Mom and Dad Deployed

Thanks so much for remembering the children of soldiers!

~Ft. Bragg, NC

Would you like to thank a military child?

We are Proud to Show Your Comments of Gratitude

Click here to view messages.

Downloads available

Check out the Download Center for the SOS brochure and various other forms.

Honorary Board

KS2 Honorary Board member Senator Bob Dole, pictured here with military kids.

Armed Forces Appreciation

Kids Serve Too, in in partnership with the D.C. United, honored military children in conjunction with Armed Forces Appreciation Day on June 16th. The D.C. United gave free tickets to a special group of military children and thier families to honor their daily sacrifices. Thanks D.C. United for a fun family night!

What's going on where you live? Let us know and we'll post it on our website!

Another Way You Can Help!

Salute Our Services has just been registered on GoodSearch, as seen in Oprah Magazine, ABC News, and The New York Times. Starting tomorrow SOS will receive a direct donation every time our supporters use GoodSearch to search the Internet!

Please go to www.goodsearch.com or click to download the GoodSearch toolbar to get started now-http://www.goodsearch.com/toolbars.aspx

GoodSearch is the search engine with a unique social mission. It’s powered by Yahoo!, so you get the same great search results. They donate 50% of advertising revenue to the nonprofits and schools selected by their users. Now SOS can make a difference in the lives of many people, simply by using GoodSearch to search the Internet!

You Can Help!

100% of your donation goes to our projects to meet the needs of our deployed Service men, women and their children. Our overhead is covered by a generous sponsor, which means all of your money goes directly to people like Summer to continue her dance class and Eric to continue riding Motocross.

Your contributions also fund programs like the Thousand Thanks to Military Children, where a letter of thanks is sent to children who have a loved one serving our country. Celebrities such as NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, racecar drivers Tony Schumacher, Jon Wood and Kelly Bires or popular characters Bugs Bunny and Scooby Doo, sign these letters.

The more you send, the more we can do. We make your contribution count!

Donate now!

2006 Newman's Own Award Winner!

Kids Serve Too received a $7,500 Grant for 2006. Kids Serve Too fosters awareness of the challenges that military children face, including programs to help children of deployed soldiers to remain active in extracurricular activities by providing grants to keep them involved. >>Read more

Salute Our Services™ is a not-for-profit organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.
Donations are tax deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law.

Salute Our Services, Inc. · 2100 Reston Parkway Suite 300 · Reston, VA 20191
office (703) 234-1773 · fax (703) 234-1701 · Toll free 1-866-863-6867
sos@saluteourservices.org

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