Comforting 'ordinary heroes'

'Soldiers' Angels' supports U.S. troops

By Anissa V. Rivera , Staff Writer

PASADENA -- "The story is, people say yes,' Patti Patton-Bader says in the bright light of her living room.
This is where the 51-year-old woman who calls herself "the ordinary mother of an ordinary hero' spearheads operations for Soldiers' Angels, a nonprofit group whose motto is "May no soldier go unloved.'

Patton-Bader, a great-niece of Gen. George Patton, founded the group when her son, Army Sgt. Brandon Varn, was deployed to Iraq last year. Her son returned home safely and is now stationed at Fort Sill, Okla.

During Varn's tour of duty, Patton-Bader sent him weekly letters and packages full of toiletries and snacks she later found he'd shared with others.

"I was shocked when he told me what we'd sent him was gone, but then he said, 'Mom, there are so many people here who don't get any mail at all,'' she said.

Mostly homebound from complications of the liver disease hepatitis C, Patton-Bader began a letter-writing campaign online. Within a few months, Soldiers' Angels went from one mother writing a few letters to an Internet community of more than 1,000 members, Patton-Bader said. Today, its 20,000 volunteers come from California, New York, North Carolina and even Australia.

The group sends cards, letters and care packages to deployed troops and wounded soldiers, sailors and Marines in three military hospitals, including Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany. They also support allied troops from the United Kingdom, Poland and Australia who are serving in Iraq.

Staffed by volunteers, the foundation's members use all donations to buy supplies for service members or help their families, according to Ana-Marie Smith, 43, of West Covina, the nonprofit's president.

"My dad was in the Navy 23 years and my husband served 10 years so I was brought up with a strong belief and respect for our military,' Smith said. "You send one a postcard and they're so grateful. I was in tears when one corpsman e- mailed, 'Don't forget me out here.''

From helping a soldier's wife recover and repair her car after it was stolen, to sewing American flags and blankets or packing backpacks full of supplies for the wounded, Soldiers' Angels include veterans, military families, celebrities and many people who have no connection to the military.

"Hugh Hewlitt helps us with his radio show, the producers of 'Third Watch' and 'West Wing' have come out to help, West Point is always ready to jump in,' said Patton-Bader, who puts in 10-12 hours a day mustering her forces. "I fly the world with my laptop. It's incredible the work that's been done. Our volunteers are tireless. I'm so proud of them.'

Local angels have gotten donations from Methodist Hospital in Arcadia and Kaiser Permanente in Baldwin Park and support from Rep. Adam Schiff, D- Pasadena, and actor Ben Stein.

Debe Tomney, 46, of Lake Forest, serves as the group's vice president. She said they get about 300 e-mails a day, a mix of military personnel asking for help and those wanting to adopt a soldier.

"I don't have anyone in my family in the military but I do this because I could be that mother of an 18- or 19-year-old serving in the war,' Tomney said. Volunteer Sue Marzorati, 59, of Pasadena helps publicize the angels' mission at Holy Family Church in South Pasadena, where she works. Parishioners have sewn sand scarves, fabric kerchiefs soldiers use over their faces during sand storms.

"There's no such thing as too much love and support for those who are willing to put their lives on the line for us,' Marzorati said. "You can't believe how the guys appreciate even just a card from someone they don't even know. This is an easy way to do something that's so important.'

Gearing up for the holidays, the angels have sent $400 each to 15 units in Iraq to buy decorations or even gifts for every soldier. They also hope to send 140,000 Christmas stockings filled with treats such as a phone card to troops by Nov. 20. They have about 30,000 now.

"Think how it must feel to spend three hours in battle and come in all shot up and receive a blanket with a note that says, 'Dear Wounded Hero, this was made for you,'' Patton-Bader said. "A family of one soldier told me when they came to visit him, first he held up his Purple Heart then he held up his blanket. The nurse said when he got it, a light came over this boy and he started healing.'

For more information, call (626) 398-3131 or visit http://www.soldiersangels.com .



Pasadena Star-News - News


Patti Patton-Bader 51, of Pasadena, founded Soldiers Angels in 2003 with Ana-Marie Smith 43 of West Covina (President of Soldiers Angels. Patti homebound, because of Hepatitis C, runs the nonprofit with her laptop and has attracted 20,000 helpers all over the country and the world. Soldiers Angels volunteers, who network through the Internet have sent care packages, sewed blankets and sand scarves, medical supplies and even helped soldiers families stateside. Their Christmas campaign is to send 149,000 Christmas stockings to troops to various places in the USA and the World. (Staff photo by Walt Mancini)