If you have a few dollars - or even $1 to put towards supporting our wounded heroes and their families, you need to check out GI-Bracelet.org. The GI Bracelet is a way for you to get some much-needed funds to some wonderful organizations. Many of you will recognize them. Here's some information on the project that I received from James Lee at GI-Bracelet.org

Hi,
Many military families fall into financial hardship when the breadwinner is injured or killed. For them, we just launched a philanthropic fund raising and awareness-building effort: The GI Bracelet. We aim to help the families and the children of the injured or fallen soldiers. It's a grass root effort from our Web site:http://www.gi-bracelet.org

The entire purchase price of the GI Bracelet is donated to support our troops and their families!

What is great and unique with this project is that:
1. 100% of the purchase price (not just 100% of proceed) goes towards a non-profit charity fund of the choice of the donor. So, the donor pays for the bracelet, and the entire purchase price is donated!

2. The Web site provides open transparent accounting, showing every single purchase, how much money has been raised, and when and how much has been donated to each charity fund. This ensures integrity, legitimacy and credibility.

3. The site provides real time stats on how much money is raised.We originally wanted to raise money and set up scholarship fund forthe children of the fallen troops. However, after doing some research, we've identified many wonderful non-profit organizations helping our troops and their families already. So we decided to focus our effort on raising money and redirect the donations to these organizations.

We have identified five great non-profit organizations to help out the injured or fallen troops and their families: Fisher House Foundation, Homes For Our Troops, Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, and Wounded Warrior Project.

You can go onto the site, and name your donation price - $1 to $5. You also specify where the funds will be donated. I ordered two tonight!

Scroll down and look to the right for a button that will take you to the GI-Bracelet website.

Bill White, a disabled Marine Corps veteran, learns scuba techniques at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Aspen, Colo. on April 4, 2005. The clinic, organized by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Disabled American Veterans, is the largest annual disabled learn-to-ski clinic in the world. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby



Disabled American veterans learn scuba techniques at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Aspen, Colo. on April 4, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby



A disabled veteran demonstrates sit-ski techniques at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo., on April 4, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby



Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, center, jokes with disabled Marine Corps veteran Landon Henderson, left, and his instructor Matt Feeney, at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo., on April 4, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby



Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, right, jokes with disabled retired Navy Chief Petty Officer Bill Thayer at the Roaring Fork Valley Sportsmen's Trap and Skeet Range during the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo., on April 4, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby



Disabled Army Spc. Oscar Olguin, left, and Army Sgt. Mike Griffin, right, climb the rock wall at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo., on April 4, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby



Disabled Army Spc. Oscar Olguin climbs the rock wall at the 19th National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic at Snowmass Village, Colo., on April 4, 2005. Defense Dept. photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby

from http://www.defendamerica.mil

HALL OF HEROES — U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Paul R. Smith is the first to receive the Medal of Honor in the war on terror during the Pentagon Hall of Heroes induction ceremony on April 5, 2005. Smith was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush in ceremonies at the White House, April 4, 2005. Smith, a combat engineer, was killed defending his soldiers on April 4, 2003, in the Battle for the Baghdad Airport. Defense Dept. photo by Helene C. Stikkel More Photos

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Saudi forces kill 14 Islamic militants
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The US News: Iraq News
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Beijing enforces the party line
Under fire, the UN looks to retool
Iraqi parties break a deadlock on candidates
4 GIs die in Iraq
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U.S. Re-Entry to Get Tougher
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Gonzales Defends Patriot Act
Three-Day Saudi Gunbattle
Saudi Forces Kill Militants


CNN
Prince Rainier of Monaco dies at 81
Kurd leader named Iraq president


Department of Defense
Army Sergeant Honored at Hall of Heroes — Story Photos Special
Bush Selects Khalilzad as Iraq Ambassador — Story
Troops in Iraq, Afghanistan Doing Well — Story
Abu Ghraib Attacks Show Terrorists' Might — Story

ON THE GROUND
Soldiers Carry on Tradition of Forefathers — Story
Operation Captures Suspected Terrorists — Story

IN IRAQ
Balad Medics Perform Critical Care Mission
Fighter Aircraft Flying New Missions
Military Police Partner with Iraqi Police

IN AFGHANISTAN
'Bobcats' Search Oruzgan Province for Enemy

WHY I SERVE
Soldier Finds Harmony in Army Life — Story

HOMECOMING
Movement Control Team Helps Returning Troops — Story

Disabled Vets Discover Capabilities — Story Photos

Vietnam-Era Vet Inspires Troops
Sports Clinic Honors Disabled Vets
Celebrities Encourage Disabled Vets

TOP NEWS
IN IRAQ
Terrorist Killed, Reporter Shot
Two Killed During Operations
Success in Iraq - DoD Fact Sheet
Year in Review 2004 Fact Sheets (pdf)
Iraq Daily Update
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps
Weekly Progress Report (pdf)

IN AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Daily Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Space Important to U.S. Security
U.S. Pledges to Help Ukraine
Security Forces Prepare to Deploy
Soldier Killed by Small-arms Fire
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

MILITARY NEWS
Communication Key to Jointness
Krieg Tapped for Acquisition Job
Bush Presents Medal of Honor
Industry Critical to Warfighters
Nuclear Arsenal Needs Upgrade
National Guard, Reserve Update

CASUALTIES
Officials Identify Army Casualty - Story


Today in History
1199 - King Richard I of England is killed by an arrow in France.
1789 - The First U.S. Congress begins regular sessions in New York City.
1814 - Granted sovereignty in the island of Elba and a pension from the French government, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicates at Fountainebleau after being granted sovereignty in Elba, permission to retain the title of Emperor, and a pension.
1862 - Confederate forces attack Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee.
1865 - At Sayler's Creek, a third of Lee's army is cut off by Union troops pursuing him towards Appomattox.
1896 - The Modern Olympics begin in Athens; eight nations participate.
1917 - The U.S. declares war on Germany, entering WW I on the Allied side.
1938 - The U.S. recognizes Nazi Germany's conquest of Austria.
1941 - Germany invades Greece and Yugoslavia.
1965 - President Lyndon B. Johnson authorizes the use of ground troops in combat operations.

Birthdays
1786 (?) - Sacagawea (alt. Sacajawea), American explorer.
1928 - James Watson, co-discoverer of the DNA structure.