“The brave die never, though they sleep in dust: Their courage nerves a thousand living men.”
– Minot J. Savage
This Memorial Day, millions of patriotic Americans will honor the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces. From barbecues and fireworks to moments of silence and prayer, everyone has their own way of celebrating our courageous veterans. We understand that this can be a day of both joy and sorrow for many, as it’s a day when we not only celebrate, but also memorialize those who have passed.
At Carimus, veterans are near and dear to us. So too is their health and well-being – both during and after the time they serve in active duty. In honor of Memorial Day, we would like to spotlight two GoodBookey charity partners who are honoring the Armed Services with acts of service: Wings for Warriors and Stop Soldier Suicide.
Wings for Warriors
Wings for Warriors, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization, strives to build a national community of support for wounded service members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Using guidance and counseling, loan assistance, travel assistance, and more, W4W helps ease our wounded warriors’ transition home. Anthony “Doc” Ameen founded the organization in 2010 after returning home, a wounded service member himself, and discovering how difficult it was to receive the assistance he needed.
Born partly from Ameen’s personal experiences and challenges, W4W soon blossomed into a successful nonprofit, receiving attention from news outlets like CNN and The New York Times. W4W has served over 4,500 veterans to date with its programs – like the Odysea Aquarium Seatrek Helmet Diving Experience, W4W’s newest initiative, which brings wounded warriors and their families into the tank for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. The organization’s cause is simple, yet extremely poignant: “These wounded warriors fought for us… It’s time we fight for them.” ™
To learn more, visit https://wingsforwarriors.org/.
Stop Soldier Suicide
Stop Soldier Suicide is the first national, veteran-founded-and-led 501(c)3 nonprofit focused on military suicide prevention. It was founded in 2010 by three U.S. Army veterans – Brian Kinsella, Nick Black, and Craig Gridelli – who saw the suicide crisis in our military as unacceptable. With the risk of suicide being 50% higher for veterans, the three men recognized that the problem lay within the systems in place. It’s close to impossible to get the help you need as a veteran, and especially when you’re in crisis mode yourself.
Kinsella, Black, and Gridelli set out to change things. They founded Stop Soldier Suicide, which works one-on-one with active troops, veterans, and their families to help navigate the messy web of available benefits. Resources include mental health and PTSD referrals; emergency financial aid; housing assistance; and alternative treatments, such as art and equine therapy. Kinsella, Black, and Gridelli bring a wealth of personal experience that undoubtedly contributes to Stop Soldier Suicide’s impact. They know firsthand how crucial it is that all veterans have someone in their corner – someone advocating tirelessly for their health and wellness, when they may not have the energy or strength to do so themselves.
For more information, visit https://stopsoldiersuicide.org/.
Please consider supporting these amazing veteran nonprofits as part of your Memorial Day celebrations! We give thanks to our heroic Armed Service members, today and every day. Time to hop on GoodBookey and place your bets!
