From the Pundit Review Archives, honoring our veterans…

Someone You Should Know : amazing stories of bravery, courage and heroism from the war on terror. The Someone You Should Know radio collaboration began as an extension of Matt Burden’s series at Blackfive. Thanks to Matt, Bruce McQuain, a Vietnam veteran who spent 28 years serving this country in the Army, is now on board and we are honored to have him as part of the show.

Soldiers Angels: an amazing group of volunteers who support the troops and the families they leave behind. If you are looking for ways to support the troops, pay them a visit.

The Walter Reed Interviews: what an honor to be able to go there and talk to our wounded warriors, their families and caregivers.

Navigating the VA: A Journey Without Maps: this is the unfortunate reality for too many military families.

Dylan Desilva and Cape Cod Cares for the Troops: a tireless, amazing young man who has inspired us to do more to support the troops.

What great news, Patti Patton Bader, founder of Soldiers Angels, has been selected as America’s Favorite Mom. Patti is an amazing woman who has grown Soldiers Angels from an idea into a network of 200,000 volunteers who do numerous things large and small for the men and women serving and the families they leave behind.

On Mother’s Day 2006, Matt Burden, aka Blackfive, profiled Patti as part of our Someone You Should Know series

Soldiers’ Angels Founder is “America’s Favorite Mom”

Soldiers’ Angels founder Patti Patton-Bader was named “America’s Favorite Mom” in a primetime television show Sunday night on NBC. Sponsored by Teleflora and hosted by Donny and Marie Osmond, the show highlighted fifteen outstanding mothers who had distinguished themselves in categories ranging from Working Moms to Military Moms and “Non-Mom” Moms.

Humbled by the honor, Patti is thrilled to be able to use it to continue the Soldiers’ Angels mission of “May No Soldier Go Unloved.” As the grand prize winner, she will receive $250,000, a set of household appliances, and other valuable items. Patti hopes to apply the winnings to her plans for a small ranch that will allow newly returned soldiers to relax with their families after deployments.

“I really am lucky to know so many heroes in my life,” said Patti, who herself has two sons in the Army, one currently deployed to Iraq. “Whether they are the troops who serve our country or the amazing mothers here on this America’s Favorite Mom program, I am honored to be in the presence of such inspirational people and also am humbled to know that America thinks the same of me.”

Patti is also excited about the opportunities this platform gives her to help people learn more about America’s military heroes and options for supporting them and their families. The attention she has received through the America’s Favorite Mom events has already drawn a number of new volunteers who want to use their talents and connections to help support the troops.

Got some great news last night about Patti Patton Bader and Soldiers Angels.

For founding Soldiers Angels (www.soldiersangels.org) and other exemplary work that she does to make the world a better place Patti has just been notified that she is the recipient of the VFW 2008 James E. Van Zandt Citizenship Award.

“The VFW Citizenship Award - Awarded for outstanding service contrib to American citizenship. To recognize significant contribution to the spirit of service and dedication to the nation that inspires us to display better citizenship.”

From the VFW web site
“James E. “Jimmy” Van Zandt was Commander-in-Chief of the VFW three times, and a veteran of three wars (World War I, World War II, and the Korean War). He served as an enlisted man in World War I and retired as an admiral following the Korean War. Descended from a pioneer family in Blair County, Pennsylvania, Jimmy worked his way from newsboy to United States Congressman. Recipients of the award named in Van Zandt’s honor exemplify his dedication to public service, citizenship, and other admirable qualities.”

A few of the the others bestowed this honor during the 50 years it’s been given out include Ronald Reagan, Lyndon Johnson, Gerald Ford, Hubert Humphrey, John Connally, Sam Rayburn, Jeannie Kirkpatrick, William Bennett, and Barbara Bush.

Congratulations Patti and everyone associated with Soldiers Angels! You truly deserve such a great honor for all the incredible work you do around the world.

Patti Patton Bader’s son Brandon has nominated her for America’s Favorite Mom, a contest sponsored by Teleflora. Vote for Patti and she could get a chance to be on the Today show to publicize Soldiers Angels! Here is what Brandon wrote about his mom,

Is one of the most amazing woman in the world, literally. She has done more for me and the entire Military then another mother in the world. And I do mean that to be a fact, not a build up or over dramatic use of the word. She started a organization called Soldier’s Angels http://www.soldiersangels.com/ when I was in Iraq. The organization is there to ensure “may no soldier go unloved.” It is the largest non-profit Independent Military Organization that has come up since the beginning of ‘The War on Terrorism.’ She put’s her whole self into helping Soldiers, Airmen, Seamen, and Marines everday. She is on the phone and computer as early as 4 a.m. and does …

You can vote for Patti here. Please do.

Patti Patton Bader, the founder of Soldiers Angels, joined Bruce McQuain from QandO along with Gregg and I to discuss the ongoing fundraising drive for Valour IT, an amazing project that provides voice activated laptops for our most severely injured soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines.

As he began to recover, CPT Ziegenfuss wanted to return to writing his blog, but serious hand injuries hampered his typing. When a loyal and generous reader gave him a copy of the Dragon Naturally Speaking Preferred software, other readers began to realize how important such software could be to CPT Ziegenfuss’ fellow wounded soldiers and started cast about for a way to get it to them.

A fellow blogger (blog author) who writes under the pseudonym FbL contacted Captain Ziegenfuss and the two realized they shared a vision of providing laptops with voice-controlled software to wounded soldiers whose injuries prevented them from operating a standard computer. FbL contacted Soldiers Angels, who offered to help develop the project, and Project Valour-IT was born.

You can send a tax deductable donation by mail to:
Soldiers’ Angels
Project Valour-IT Fund
1792 E. Washington Blvd
Pasadena, Ca 91104

What is Pundit Review Radio?

Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin and Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening from 7-10 pm EST on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.

From Laughing Wolf at Blackfive,

I discovered that Patti is a finalist in the Microsoft Above and Beyond Awards. Patti does go above and beyond, always has and always will methinks, and that seems to be the norm for the fine folks at Soldier’s Angels, as I haven’t met a one of them who don’t do so too.

For all that she has done, for all that she does, and for all that she will do — and for the force she has unleashed to help our soldiers, please go vote for her now. I can think of no one who deserves this honor more.

Patti is one of the most inspirational people I have ever had the honor of meeting. The enormity of what she has done with Soldiers Angels cannot be conveyed in a few words. Soldiers Angels is a remarkable organization.

Please vote for Patti!

Jeff Bader joined us last night to discuss his new series of books about Soldiers’ Angels. The four part series will follow their motto,

May no soldier go unloved.
May no soldier walk alone.
May no soldier be forgotten,
Until they all come home

The first book, May No Soldier Go Unloved, is available now. It would make a great Father’s Day gift!

Jeff talked about how this great organization got started, how its grown and what he’s learned from the experience. He also told us a great story about a recent trip to Dodger Stadium for a ball game with 500 soldiers.

Is there anything Soldiers Angels’ doesn’t do? No, not really. The reason is Patti Patton Bader, Jeff’s wife. Jeff talks candidly in the book, and with us tonight, about Patti’s serious medical situation. This just makes her accomplishments with Soldiers Angels’ all the more remarkable. I can’t think of a better way to show your support for the troops than by contacting this amazing group.

What is Pundit Review Radio?

Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin and Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Hailed as “Groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening from 7-10pm EST on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Leader.

Letter to the Editor-

To the 20,000 plus servicemembers and families….

Thank you from the bottom of our”freedom loving hearts” for serving our country! You all play crucial roles in defending freedom; what the family and loved ones do here in the states is equally appreciated as is the deployed servicemembers’ role in the call to serve.

We want to extend to you, our support during the last phase of news that has extended your stay in Iraq. Soldiers’ Angels, is an Internet-based nonprofit that matches thousands of soldiers with those willing to write or send care packages to them among many other projects. We are currently readying ourselves for a jump in the workload that will likely coincide with the increased troop levels.

We encourage the nation to stand up and support our servicemembers as well. “If you can not stand behind our troops, please feel free to stand in front of them!!!” You can quickly get involved at www.SoldiersAngels.org or feel free to email soldiersangelprteam@gmail.com or contact us at (615) 676-0239.

“Your call is important to us. Please leave a message including your name, email if possible and phone number and we will contact you within 24 hours.”

For Monetary Donations
Soldiers Angels1792 E. Washington BlvdPasadena, Ca 91104

To send donated items ship to:
Soldiers Angels914 Tourmaline DriveNewbury Park, CA 91320

Patti Patton-Bader
Pasadena, Ca 91104

To learn more about Soldiers Angels founder Patti Patton Bader, click here. To listen to Patti on Pundit Review Radio, click here, and here.

It was our pleasure to once again welcome Soldiers Angels founder Patti Patton Bader to Pundit Review Radio.

We were also joined by Boston area businessman Michael Pann of Pann Home Services. Michael heard about Soldiers Angels by listening to Pundit Review and has since adopted an entire platoon of soldiers, as well as taken on several other projects with this great organization.

Before we were even off the air last night we received an email from Patty with the subject line “HERE THEY COME–THANK YOU”. Our great listeners had immediately responded and contacted Soldiers Angels to help! You guys and gals are awesome!

To listen to Patti’s previous appearences on Pundit Review click here and here.

What is Pundit Review Radio?
Pundit Review Radio is where the old media meets the new. Each week Kevin and Gregg give voice to the work of the most influential leaders in the new media/citizen journalist revolution. Called “Groundbreaking” by Talkers Magazine, this unique show brings the best of the blogs to your radio every Sunday evening from 7-10pm EST on AM680 WRKO, Boston’s Talk Station.

Here is an urgent message from Soldiers Angles/Valour IT founder Patti Patton-Bader,

WE ARE BEHIND 11 LAPTOPS. NEED MONEY. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP. I cannot fail heroes. I just cannot.

Mudville Gazette has more,

There are Eleven recipients waiting and means we need at least $7,000.

I hear a blogswarm brewing.

The combined efforts of MilBlogs have raise over $100,000 in the past, let’s see what we can do this round .

What exactly is Valour IT?

Valour IT provides voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations. Operating laptops by speaking into a microphone, our wounded heroes are able to send and receive messages from friends and loved ones, surf the ‘Net, and communicate with buddies still in the field without having to press a key or move a mouse.

If you are interested in helping this wonderful organization, click here.

To learn more about Soldier Angels and Valour IT, check out a recent edition of Blackfive’s Someone You Should Know featuring founder Patti Patton-Bader by clicking here.

To listen to our interview with Patti Patton-Bader on Pundit Review Radio, click here.