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If you ever wanted to thank someone who serves - you've come to the right place...Homefront Hugs USA - where we remember our heroes try to help make their sacrifices more bearable. Our 9-11 families have joined us since the beginning bringing support and thanks to our heroes who have made sure we have no repeats of that tragic day. If you have any time to volunteer from home - join our incredible volunteers from all over the USA ! BE A HERO....ADOPT A HERO ( Major Maggie's Trademark !) We really need volunteers to adopt our soldiers who just signed up ! If you think you might be interested in adopting a soldier or heard about us on CNN- send an email to:
  A huge salute and thanks to Art Levine and the Kings Pointe Veterans Group of Central Florida who
generously came to our aid this month with help for our missions and a fundraiser at the end of MAY !
Our veterans never cease to serve this country even after their military service especially when it
means coming to the aid of their fellow heroes. They raised $200 - God bless them all !
******
As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words,
but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
***
I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?" ~Eve Merriam
A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom. ~Bob Dylan
*****
Savor the moment...so you can remember it years later as if it just happened. ~Steve Schmidt
HOW CAN I HELP ? There are so many ways to help including donating money quickly right below for our missions. We hate asking but its a necessity to stay afloat and keep our missions going. If you would like to adopt a hero, write our wounded, help the families of the deployed or help in disaster relief....email us at Info@HomefrontHugs.org. We need everyone in one way or another ! You can also just email us with the subject " news" and sign up for our monthly newsletter while you decide.
At Homefront Hugs, we salute all our veterans, troops and families every
day. Our children sleep safe at night because of your sacrifices.
This July 4th, we will give thanks for our freedoms and celebrate our blessings due
to the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform...and our incredible veterans.
** Special prayers and Salutes go to our WWII Honor Flight Veterans whom we welcome
home from their special flights to Washington DC to see their special memorial- long overdue.
** **
Freedom Endures. Honor is Yours.
We are here to thank those who serve .
****
July 1, 2009 We welcome anyone of any ability and background- any religion, age,sex,race and culture to join us just like our troops are- making a difference together. Our volunteers matter at Homefront Hugs and are heroes as well.
Remember, you can do this all from home.
Let us remember our generations from World War II and let us emulate them by supporting our heroes on the homefront. This is a time our country must heal from our divisions and join together in service to those who matter including our most incredible troops and veterans who come from all walks of life and politics. The best is yet to come as our country heeds our Presidents' call to service. No excuses. Let's do it. Freedom Endures.
Right now, as of July 1, we have 11 care packages which need to be sent for July to our wounded and special operations troops ...
We also have care packages filled with toys and needed items for our orphans which cost $10.35 each. We have 2 filled boxes for the orphans ready to ship. To help just by donating funds - scroll down to the bottom of the page. We accept Paypal or direct mail donations to continue our missions and donations are tax-deductible. Look us up...google us- check us out on Volunteer Match.
How did we get started? * Eight years ago , Homefront Hugs was created outside Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as a small group of volunteers in tribute to our troops being deployed to Afghanistan to make sure 9-11 never happened again, and that the dismal Vietnam homecomings never happened again.... with the help and support of many 9-11 families. I had to find a way to make sense of 9-11 to my 3 year old son and support our troops better than I did once when married to a pilot in Desert Storm. Military life is such a challenge on marriages and families especially as I was so young and naive, and it was nearly twenty years ago. Times have changed just a bit in the military but not as much as neededd. I hoped one day we might close our doors, the war would end, and we could just have one huge homecoming celebration for our heroes just like in World War II. We are a legitimate 501-3c non-profit organization with integrity-incorporated as of July 2007 which was generously arranged by a wonderful national law firm dedicated to our veterans and families run by Attorney Bryan Aylstock of Gulf Breeze. Florida. ** ***How can you help say thanks to those who serve ? ***************
Homefront Hurricane Hugs : Hurricane Season just began on June 1st. We need a group of enthusiastic volunteers to start packing items for our backpacks and lunchboxes for hurricane relief to be given to children and families when disaster strikes. If anyone is interested in this project, please email me at info@HomefrontHugs.org asap with the subject "hurricane help" after you click on our Hurricane Hugs page. Let's not forget our troops are always heroes during disasters too especially our often forgotten Coast Guard during hurricanes ! And....our troops are depending on us to take care of their families during disasters while they are deployed ! This is a great summer vacation volunteer project for teens and kids ! Check out our Hurricane Hugs page above which tells you all about our work during Hurricanes Ivan, Dennis,Rita and Katrina. Operation Homefront Cupcake Hugs helping our local shelter with your family. Sign up for one day a month to bring cupcakes or cookies (36) homemade with the kids...to our poorest families at the shelter. More details by emailing us at HomefrontHugsUSA@aol.com with subject "Operation Cupcake ".
We still need about 17 more families to commit through end of Sept to one day a month to bring these treats to these special kids at Fishes and Loaves Shelter of Pensacola. Please sign up !
ASK ALI program Are you a deployed or returning veteran with some challenges you want advice or support with? Or are you a family member manning the homefront or dealing with a changed spouse after his or her return? Ask Ali is here for you to seek support in privacy and help provide you with possible answers and resources. If your children are having a tough time- let her know as well. You are not alone. worked in the military herself as a counselor and education specialist, and now sharing some of her time answering daily letters and providing referrals and resources when needed . We recognize the challenges you have as families and in coping with 3rd and 4th deployments and the marriages that are under a great deal of stress- been there, done that, and we are here to help. OPSEC and confidentiality are followed to a tee by our crisis intervention counselor staff. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE.
And if you are a hero in need of adoption...a little moral support- and treats... just email us with " adopt me " at adoptions@HomefrontHugs.org.
 Read our latest freedom tribute to an amazing woman, mother of a veteran : Life is short...as my best friend Steve ( Claire's son) always said, Sincerely in peace and hope, ** Alessandra " Sandy" Kellermann
President and Founder
Homefront Hugs USA, Inc. - a
University of Michigan/Ann Arbor Alumnus - Go Blue !
Recipient of the Four Chaplains' Award
Member of the Southern Poverty Law Center
 Come visit us in Gulf Breeze...white sandy beaches, cradle of aviation, nestled in between Pensacola and Destin,Florida - great schools, national seashore, a warm inviting community surrounded by 5 military bases.
***** "be the change you wish to see in this world..."  ( Ed Kellermann- Co-President with Mom above) THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS ! We are in the news....our first national award...thanks to all of our incredible volunteers: http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2007/0628/Front_Page/004.html
THANK YOU AT&T for the 3000 phone cards sent to lift morale and keep our troops in touch with loved ones !!!
(slideshow above- pause here) In honor of Memorial Day and beyond
(click on Guest Book link above)
Click on this special guest book above to leave a message for our heroes and help us
update our guest book for and by the troops ! Please share this so we can
get as many Americans to sign this by the end of July 4th weekend as possible.
Our goal is 5,000 entries.This will be published and the troops read this to lift morale.
United we stand.
  Thanks so much to all the wonderful students across the country who who help during all our holidays to reach out to our families of deployed heroes.
You are all heroes too...some of you have even adopted a hero to send care packages
to all year ! WOW ! Being a volunteer makes you very special Americans
and God is proud of you too !
O
Our adopted largest combat hospital in Iraq is thrilled we have them hugged after 2 years still ! Join us in keeping their morale high. The poster behind them was made by 2nd grade classes in Florida. These ducks are anxiously waiting to be adopted. Go to the Healing Angels page for more info...
Despite the news reports, you can help and write our wounded...and here is how... You are needed. Read a super email we received and join us please !: Homefront Hugs,
Thank you very much for sending all of the wonderful care packages filled with coffee, snacks, and supportive letters. I want you to know that the troops here really appreciate it. We have many wounded that come through the hospital and I want you to know they receive the cards you make and the goods you send. Your support is appreciated and needed. Alessandra always leaves a note that says, "Let us know if you need anything." One thing we could really use is a coffee grinder!! We receive all the wonderful Starbucks coffee beans, but have no way of grinding the beans. If we could get a coffee bean grinder that would be awesome!!!! Oh, and possibly some sort of basket or something to put all the candy in? Thank you!!!! Thank you Homefront Hugs!!!! Very Respectfully, Kristina M. Decot, SrA, USAF You CAN write ANY WOUNDED HERO at: Operation Healing Angel Homefront Hugs USA 1449 Tiger Lake Drive Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563 We'll make sure it gets to our heroes directly into their hands... and send it on...to our heroes and their healing angel caregivers...to American combat hospitals in the sandbox and medical centers worldwide which truly need your support. We cannot release our addresses of the medical hospitals in the war zone that have asked for our support due to security but we'll make sure your cards and help get to our heroes . Read all about it: Click here: Volunteers offer hand in healing to injured soldiers | Neighbors | pnj.com (news article)
Click here: Guardians of freedom get guardian angels (news article) 
THANKS FROM THE SANDBOX : All,and packages that we received from the 9-11 families. Amazing! Although we are away from home, this Christmas will be a great one to remember for all of us. Some of the contents of the packages were used as gifts for our Christmas party which was a huge success, but the majority was distributed throughout the organization and Above all, we are so humbled by the incredible support from those who have lost so much. Knowing the 9-11 families are supporting us here in Iraq is more than we could ever ask for and inspires us all. Of special note, the Christmas cards from the children, to include a few toys, will always be cherished. Reading the cards really touched us and brings back memories of our own children when they were small and even memories of making cards Again, thank you so much for you support and encouragement throughout the Christmas season. If you would like to communicate directly with any of our members, send your info and I will coordinate and get you information to correspond. It is an honor and privilege to //SIGNED-elw// (stationed at Eglin AFB, Florida when home)
...**
Thank you to the Etheredge Family of Gulf Breeze ! Alex and his sister Ashley (below) just helped bring some beanie babies for our Homefront Holiday Hugs and troops this month ! They are dedicated volunteers with Mom since 2004 ! Check out the latest story about us in the Navarre Press December 18th ! Alex is in the interview..
 Remembering Charlie- our friend and hero... ...** A Very Special Thanks to Melissa and her Gulf Breeze United Methodist angels
who made some lovely pillowcases, helped stuff them, wrote cards to the wounded,
and donated monies to send them to our hospitals in Iraq...
this Christmas season. And then you surprised us with lovely Valentines and Easter hugs
filled with love and hugs. God bless you all. You are all heroes too !
s
Go Forward With Courage
Thanks to some wonderful fellow University of Michigan Alumni who help us out every time we need packages sent and more ! Go Blue ! A Thousand Thanks to our countless Michigan families and school kids who helped with our Homefront Hurricane Lunchbox Hugs and our smiles for our troops and WWII veteran Charlie ! GO WOLVERINES ! ****
THANKS to all our Girl Scouts in their hard work to collect cookies and postage for our troops who cannnot wait to get their treats....especially our Gulf Breeze Brownies and Girl Scouts from Gulf Breeze, Florida ...you are heroes too !
We were also in the News....in the Eglin Air Force Base Newspaper...AIM HIGH ! EGLIN DISPATCH reports on Homefront Hugs for our Wounded To join the fun and bring a smile and support: Click here: OPERATION HEALING ANGEL FOR OUR WOUNDED TROOPS 
Both mother and daughter above have been deployed and adopted by the same wonderful volunteers....
Sign our 2nd special guestbook today if you have lost a loved one to this war or on 9-11 and remember this country stands with you...and never forgets. Sign this guest book if you wish to express sympathy and support as our families of the fallen also read this and when you care- and thank them- and say it out loud- it matters. To link to us, please feel free to use this banner :  Homefront Hugs USA : Thanking Our Troops,Veterans and Families;
Support Without Conditions- Where No Hero Is Forgotten
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" There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle. "
Albert Einstein
Special thanks to a fantastic law firm dedicated to our veterans and their needs helping Homefront Hugs USA pro bono to achieve non-profit status : a national Pensacola law firm which serves clients nationwide, Aylstock, Witkin, Overholtz & Kreis, PLLC. Check out their website at http://www.awkolaw.com/ if you need any legal help at all.
" Savor life for it is fleeting. Honor our troops by making the best out of your life." Sandria Schmidt Tonight at the Holocaust Museum, children had prepared a play which spoke of peace and understanding and the need for our world
to change. The play was a conversation between Anne Frank and Emmett Till, a 14 year-old, African-American boy who left his home
in Chicago in 1955 just to visit relatives in Mississippi. Less than two weeks later, this young boy was lynched. Ann Frank was a young
heroine in WWII who wrote an incredible diary with words we still remember until she was finally taken, like cattle with her family, to
a concentration camp and never made it out alive. Her father, the only survivor would grieve his loss- the demise of his beloved wife
and family especially his little girl with so much faith in humanity. Emmet and Anne...two futures stolen by those who hated.
Tonight the play will not happen. There will only be eerie silence.
***
Tonight the friendly and brave security guard who welcomed the children, who practiced each day for their play, will not come home to
hug his own children. He lies in a funeral home after being shot by a white supremacist.
***
Tonight I feel like I owe an apology to our troops who are fighting so hard for our freedoms and safety- for those who
choose their freedoms to hate...because of one's color, one's religion, ethnicity or race and more. What a sad waste
of this gift of freedom.
****
Let us use our freedoms to unite.
Let us use our freedoms to show compassion as our children watch .
Let us use our freedoms to have the courage to speak up against hate.
Let us use our freedoms to remember we are ALL children of God.
My family perished in concentration camps before our WWII heroes- our troops- came to end it all.
****
The Holocaust Museum is a museum where my grandfather who survived this terrible time, gave me a tour and showed me film of him
helping to prosecute the Nazis at the Nuremberg trials. There is a wonderful section just for children called Daniel's Story explaining
how children lived through this time- their art work and stories...a place of peace and remembrance. It is a museum meant for reflection
and change...and for us to never forget. Never again.
***
To deny the Holocaust- is chosen ignorance and weakness.
Let us be the best we can be as images of God, and rebuke hate.
Let us use our freedom our veterans have fought and died for as the most cherished gift we have under God.
Let us remember that through hate- nothing is accomplished, through empathy and compassion- the world becomes a gentler
place for all.
***
Tonight there are groups in the country we love applauding this hateful act. Let us stand tall and remember
and remember our own troops who sacrifice so much every day come from all walks of life. Just walk through a military cemetery
sometime and read the tombstones designating all the religions which are represented in our military....and then remember all the
races and cultures which make our troops the best they can be.
***
Finally amidst my own tears, I will stop and remember what Anne Frank wrote in her journal before she perished :
" Despite everything, I believe that people are really good at heart."
****
Alessandra Kellermann
VOLUNTEER !
Still not sure how you want to help? Just email us for a volunteer application and we will explain
it all to you,including your options, references and how we got started...
" Be the change you wish to see in this world..." Ghandi
" What you keep to yourself, you lose.
Please visit our generous donors when shopping to include the Popcorn Factory, Philosophy Beauty Products and Museum Tour Toy Company....God bless them for remembering our families and troops ! SPECIAL SPECIAL THANKS to Mally Beauty who helped us honor our military mothers manning the homefront on Mother's Day. If you are a business and wish to help bring a smile to our heroes- contact us. Finally, if I am short on time or just want to make a donation to keep the missions going- what is the best way? 1. You may send a check or money order to: Our troops,veterans and families will not be forgotten because of you.
Special Military Discounts on the Florida Gulf Coast in Gulf Breeze:
restaurant in Gulf Breeze: right across from the high school on Shorleine Drive. Bring the family- free desserts for children /super menu/ excellent service. Thank them for honoring our troops with this fantastic discount. United we stand.
To volunteer or contact us: info@HomefrontHugs.org Homefront Hugs USA and its programs does not endorse any political party or candidate. We are here strictly to provide support and comfort to our service members,
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a dash of sprinkles, fun and your hearts !
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