Putting our money where our mouse is

World War I poster urged farmers on the homefront to "Save Seed for Victory." Its poetically powerful message that "in the field good seed wins" still works metaphorically -- big time -- when you think of our awesome Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines. We can save seed today by supporting efforts like Valour-IT.

A republication today of our heartfelt, hat-in-hand post of last year asking all of our readers, commenters and fellow bloggers to help keep the homefires burning in a special way by joining in a friendly fundraising competition for Valour-IT, a truly worthwhile project in memory of SFC William V. Ziegenfuss that "provides voice-controlled laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at home or in military hospitals." [Thanks to blogpal Barry Campbell -- Navy, Navy -- of enrevanche for reminding us] Last year we joined the Army team in solidarity with our beloved Army mother Teresa of Technicalities. Now we add Laura Lee Donaho of The Wide Awake Cafe -- Army wife, mom, sis, daughter -- to explain our solidarity with the Army team. As always, the totally awesome ur-milblog Blackfive is competition central. Here's what we wrote last year:

"So, civilian bloggers, choose your branch. Choose wisely," writes ur milblogger Blackfive, rallying the blogtroops to roll up our sleeves and light a few homefires in Valour-IT's online fundraising competition. It started yesterday and runs through Veterans' Day, November 11. The idea is to send in our dollars -- and encourage our readers and friends to do the same -- to provide "voice-controlled software and laptop computers to wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines recovering from hand and arm injuries or amputations at major military medical centers" -- "A laptop in every soldier's lap" as we blogged last summer. Our blogpal Teresa of Technicalities, mother of "young son," explains:

Blackfive -- with his mega huge readership and years of Army experience is leading the team to completely trample on those Jarheads, Zoomies, and Squids who will try to beat us bring in the most money.

Please use the Donation Button over at Blackfive's or the top of my main page to donate for the Army team! Donations via the regular Project Valor button will NOT be counted for us.

Pick your branch -- we're going over there with Teresa's Army team -- and put your money where your heart is. Meanwhile, Argghhh! gets us up to speed and puts things in historical perspective:

In previous wars, letters from the troops remained private affairs. By their very nature, they were difficult to share beyond the family circle, unless a family member passed one to the local newspaper for reprinting. Usually, the information within did not pass beyond a few friends. In this war, e-mails routinely travel to multiple recipients, and chats and blogs are open to anyone with online access.

Computer access -- either PC or laptop -- is limited in a military hospital because they don’t have the luxury of unused space suitable for an internet café operation. And there’s the matter of shattered hands. Of missing hands . . .

Voice-activated computers exist. Voice-to-text software exists. However, the people who need them don’t have them – with the exception of the inspiration for Project Valour IT Captain Chuck Ziegenfuss of TCOverride [thanks to commenter FbL for the correction]. His wife, Carren, describes its use a bit here.

Let's get behind the precious ones who put their lives on the line for our freedom and set those blogfires burning.

Now it's your turn.

Update: Pajamas Media links.

Comments

[Teresa]

Ah Sissy, you always say it so well. :-)

I'll have to do a better post tonight. I was caught more than a bit off guard by Matt's post today.

[Laura Lee Donoho]

Thanks for the mention Sissy. I will be making a donation. Will be gone to an Art Conference for the next few days so won't have much chance to blog.