Soldiers' Angels and Spa Emergency Team Up for Mother's Day and to Support Deployed U.S. Troops

By pampering mothers around the world, visitors not only give mom a gift, but also give a donation to Soldiers' Angels.

Pasadena, California - May 1, 2007 - Spa Emergency and Soldiers' Angels have teamed up to make Mother's Day special -- for moms around the world. Mothers receive Instant Gift Certificates for sumptuous spa services, and Soldiers' Angels receives a portion of each purchase, to help support the brave and dedicated members of the U.S. Armed Forces. This joint venture between online spa directory, Spa Emergency, and Soldiers' Angels, a nonprofit organization devoted to caring for servicemen and their families, originates from a heartfelt appreciation for the true heroes of the world -- moms and soldiers.

Soldiers' Angels was begun four years ago by a self-described "ordinary mother," Patti Bader, whose son, Brandon, was serving in Iraq. Brandon noticed that some soldiers didn't receive much support from home, so Patti contacted a few friends and started a card-writing campaign. As the adoption campaign grew, literally thousands of concerned civilians began helping out. Soldiers' Angels is still an all-volunteer operation that helps 115,000 men and women in uniform. And the kind of services it offers has expanded beyond cards and care packages.

"We take in anything and everything," says Debby Frerichs, Vice President of Donations for Soldiers' Angels. "Money, baby formula, clothes...." Recently, Frerichs says, Soldiers' Angels just gave away their one-thousandth laptop computer, with voice-operated software, to injured soldiers.

The "anything and everything" is where Spa Emergency in: just minutes after logging on to www.spaemergency.com/soldiers, and selecting a spa from over 900 across the United States, you can purchase a gift certificate for just about any amount you want to spend, and either print or email it out right at time of purchase. You can even choose to send the gift certificate at a later date -- just request to do so in the purchase form. Spa Emergency will donate a percentage of its profits to Soldiers' Angels.

If you're serving overseas, this is a great opportunity to buy a Mother's Day gift that's a little out of the ordinary. For the rest of us, a Spa Emergency gift certificate is a great way of honoring our men and women in uniform, who can't be here on that special day. Your mom would be proud! Soldiers' Angels is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the support of the brave men and women deployed in support of the War on Terror in Iraq, Afghanistan and wherever we fly the flag of the United States of America. For more information about Soldiers' Angels visit their website at ww.soldiersangels.org

If you would like more information about this topic or to schedule an interview with Patti Patton-Bader, please call Don Mackay at (615)676-0239 or email Don: soldiersangels(at)gmail.com.

Labels: holidays, Mothers' Day, Soldiers' Angels

News of Note
Operation Iraqi Freedom
U.S. inspector general for Iraq under investigation
Key players meet in Egypt to stabilize Iraq
Police: 85 Iraqis killed nationwide
Bush says al-Qaida is top enemy in Iraq
Four Thousand Troops Arrive in Iraq

Homeland Security / War on Terror / Hamas-Hezbollah Happenings
Olmert toughs out calls to resign - Video

Other Military News
Gates supports Walter Reed closing
Soldiers Taste-Test New MREs

Worldwide Wackos
Flap Over Iranian President’s Forbidden Kiss
Major powers warn Iran of possible new sanctions
Iran arrests former nuclear negotiator
Castro recovery lifts Cuban government's spirits

Homegrown Moonbats
Joan Baez Banned From Walter Reed (Good call)
Military.com Poll: Joan Baez at Walter Reed?

Politics / Government
Senate Fires Out Another Subpoena
Obama Says 'MySpace Is Mine'
Bush, Democrats search for Iraq war compromise
House Fails to Override Bush Veto
Jim McGreevey Applies to Seminary School
Lawmakers: Uphill Fight for Bush Wiretap Plan
Vicar, Web site throws light on Obama's Irish heritage
Senate backs standard pet food labels
Britain's Blair faces last electoral test
Rice arrives in Egypt, ready for Iran
Senate panel seeks Rove e-mails on prosecutors

Illegal Immigration / Border Control
'Inappropriate' Police Tactics Disturb L.A. Chief
Texas officials say U.S.-Mexico wall not wanted

In the Courts / Crime and Punishment / Law and Order
Man Nabbed in Video Rape of His Daughter
$1M Stolen From Armored Truck in Florida
Woman Planned to Torture, Kill Neighbor
SUV Plows Into California Middle School Kids

Adventures in Political Correctness
'Grey's Anatomy' Star to Do Gay Rights PSA
Imus Reportedly Set to Sue CBS Radio

U.N. News
ICC judges issue arrest warrants for Darfur suspects - Video

Media in the Media / Bloggers in the News / Watching the Web
Blogging economists draw cyber-crowds
Military.com Def Tech: Milbloggers a Dying Breed?

Science / Medicine / Technology
FDA Expands Antidepressant Suicide Warning
Stroke risk high for siblings of stroke patients
Mexico finds world's oldest lobster fossil
Deep tremors may hold key to predicting big quakes
Study identifies gene linked to longer lifespan
Canada confirms mad cow case in British Columbia
Study: Hormones may ward off dementia

Mother Nature
Strong Storms Swamp Texas
Tiny Terrier Dies Saving 5 Kids From Pit Bulls
Bee Colony Collapses Spark Strange Theories
Did Man Needlessly Die on Survival Trip?

Oddities
Police call locksmith to break into jail
Guess what movie may make you sick...
Judge sues cleaner for $65M over pants

Fox News
Dow Board Won't Act on News Corp. Bid
Organization: Miss America Will Help Sex Sting 'Any Way She Can'
Pop Tarts: Britney Spears Back in Business!

Reuters: Top News
Sarkozy, Royal go on offensive in French TV debate - Video
Gasoline prices could hit record this month: AAA
Next target of cell phone industry: navigation
Evacuees of Katrina distrusted authorities: study
Stay-at-home mother's work worth $138,095 a year
"Spider-Man 3" on track to beat predecessors
UK's high court back OK! in Douglas, Zeta-Jones case
Asia stocks rise in thin trade, yen weak
Dow at record on M&A, earnings
Yen under pressure as data, Fed view underpin dollar
LaBranche up after report on possible NYSE plan
Restaurant stocks soar on strong fast-food reports
Dow Jones says taking no action on News Corp bid - Video
Home Depot, Wal-Mart roll out smaller stores
When she earns more than he does
GMAC posts loss, hurt by mortgage unit
Big mortgage firms won't back subprime principles
U.S. seeks tighter UK laws after Saudi case

AP World News
Freight train with shuttle parts derails
'American Idol' axes two more finalists
Finley, Spurs shoot down Nuggets in 5
Sens' fluky goal brings Devils to brink
NBA, some players dismiss referee study
Lohan plans big 21st-birthday bash
Curlin has to overcome history in Derby
Wall Street jumps, Dow at record close
Brewers sweep leaves Cardinals dazed
Ashlee Simpson 'confident' about looks

Military.com
New Must-Have Benefits Guide
Op-ed: Middle East Earthquake
SpouseBUZZ: Live! Going to SD
The Web's Best Equipment Guide
Kit Up! Wants You!

CENTCOM: News Releases
4TH BRIGADE, 2ND INFANTRY DIVISION ARRIVES IN IRAQ
BAGHDAD EAGLE BATTALION TAKES LEAD IN COUNTERINSURGENCY FIGHT
AFGHAN BORDER POLICE AND COALITION FORCES STOP ENEMY INSURGENTS
AFGHAN NATIONAL POLICE, COALITION FORCES NAB IED CELL LEADERS
SUSPECTED SUICIDE BOMB FACILITATOR DETAINED IN KHOWST
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR APRIL 30
5 TERRORISTS KILLED, 20 SUSPECTED TERRORISTS DETAINED
AIRPOWER SUMMARY FOR APRIL 29

USJFCOM
USJFCOM to assist as DoD and DEA partner up to support personnel recovery - podcast
Learn more about JPRA
Joint Knowledge Development and Distribution Capability rolls out enhanced Joint Knowledge Online - podcast
Noble Resolve 07 enhancing homeland defense - podcast
Liveblogging: Noble Resolve 2007Learn more about Noble Resolve

DefenseLink
Group Will Ensure Wounded Warriors Get Care - Story
Transcript: Briefing with Gates, West and Marsh
Video Clip: Gates on Importance of Troop Care
Bush: Al Qaeda Cannot Gain Safe Haven in Iraq - Story
General Impressed with Agencies' Collaboration - Story
Security Surge to Position Iraq, Ambassador Says - Story
Gates: Officials Expected Rise in Violence as Plan Unfolds
Pentagon Channel Launches New News Program - Story

More Headline News
Bush Vetoes Emergency War-Funding Bill
Bush: Coalition Stands Strong in Face of Terror
U.S., Republic of Montenegro Sign Agreement
Month of May Dedicated to Appreciating Troops

Military News
Officials ID Five Missing World War II Airmen
Webcasts Bring Graduations to Deployed Parents
Edwards Airmen Star in 'Ironman' Superhero Movie
U.S. Soldiers, Community Remember Wereth 11

War on Terror
Five Enemy Fighters Killed - Story
Coalition Kills Seven, Nabs 21
136 Taliban Fighters Killed
Taliban’s Influence Waning
Five U.S. Servicemembers Killed

America Supports You
Arizona Team Thanks Troops - Story
NASCAR Family Offers Support
Golfers Tee Off for Fisher House
Musicians to Honor Veterans
NASCAR Honors Troops

Transformation
New Concept Ensures Latest Technologies Reach Warfighters
Technology Leaves No Place to Hide
Edwards Readies for Testing
Test Mission Helping Shape Future

Face of Defense
Soldier Helps African Youngsters - Story
Soldier Beats Injury, Runs Marathon
Marine Helps Rebuild Iraq
Cousins Reunite at Speicher PX

DefendAmerica
NEWS UPDATES
U.S. Ambassador: Improved Security Helps Iraq’s Political Progress - Story

ON THE GROUND
Army Engineers, Iraqis Build New Water Plant - Story
Task Force, Council Discuss Bank Reopening - Story
Marines Donate Fitness Equipment to Villagers - Story
Tops in Blue Perform for U.S. Airmen, Soldiers - Story

IN IRAQ
Iraqi Soldiers Hustle Through Basic Training
Seabees Help Marines Spearhead Effort
Fallujah Engineers Rebuild City’s Electric Grid
Cavalry Soldiers ‘Live the Legend’ in Iraq

IN DJIBOUTI
Marines Collect Sandals for Residents in Africa
Country Desk Officers Play Vital Role in Africa

IN AFGHANISTAN
Troop Commander Delivers Aid, Mentorship
Unmanned Aircraft Boosts Surveillance Efforts

BACKGROUND
IRAQ
Renewal In Iraq
Iraq: Security, Stability
Fact Sheet: Progress and Work Ahead
Report: Strategy for Victory in Iraq
Iraq Daily Update
This Week in Iraq
Multinational Force Iraq
State Dept. Weekly Iraq Report
'Boots on the Ground' Audio Archive
Weekly Reconstruction Report (PDF)
Iraq Reconstruction
Maps

AFGHANISTAN
Afghanistan Update
Maps

WAR ON TERRORISM
Fact Sheet: Budget Request
Fact Sheet: Terror Plots Disrupted
Waging and Winning the War on Terror
Terrorism Timeline
Terrorism Knowledge Base

Weather
Afghanistan
Bost/Laskar Ghurian Herat Kabul Qandahar

Germany
Ansbach Aschaffenburg Berlin Berlin-Tempelhof Berlin/Schonefeld Bremerhaven
Darmstadt Frankfurt Frankfurt/Main Freiburg/Breisgau Garmisch
Garmisch-Partenkirchen Geilenkirchen Gelnhausen Giessen Kitzingen
Hanau Am Main Heidelberg Mainz Mannheim Nurnberg Stuttgart Trier
Wiesbaden Wurzburg

Gitmo

Guam
Agana Agana Heights Agat Andersen AFB Asan Barrigada

Iraq
Al Azamiyah Al Basrah Al Hillah Al Karkh Al Kazimiyah Al Kut
An Nasiriyah Baghdad Baqubah Mosul Najaf Nineveh Tall Kayf

Japan
Kadena Air Base Okinawa Tokyo Yokohama

Today in History
1345 - "Quaden Maendach" in Gent: Battles between volders & weavers
1497 - John Cabot departs to North-America
1536 - King Henry VIII accuses Anna Boleyn of adultery & incest
1595 - King Philip II names Albrecht of Austria land guardian of Netherlands
1598 - France & Spain sign Peace of Vervins
1668 - 1st peace of Aken ends French-Spanish War in The Netherlands; Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ends War of Devolution
1670 - King Charles II charters Hudson Bay Company
1703 - Portugal signs treaty with England to become a Great Covenant
1776 - France & Spain agree to donate arms to American rebels
1780 - William Herschel discovers 1st binary star, Xi Ursae Majoris
1808 - Uprising against French occupation begins in Madrid
1833 - Czar Nicolas bans public sale of serfs
1863 - Stonewall Jackson attacks Chancellorsville, VA, and is wounded by his own men; South defeats North
1865 - President Johnson offers $100,000 reward for capture of Jefferson Davis
1878 - US stops minting 20¢ coin
1885 - Congo Free State established by King Leopold II of Belgium
1887 - Hannibal W. Goodwin patents celluloid photographic film
1889 - Abyssinian emperor Menelik II/Italy signs Treaty of Wichale
1890 - Territory of Oklahoma created
1902 - The 1st science fiction film, "A Trip To The Moon", is released
1907 - Belgium Jules baron de Trooz forms Belgian Government
1911 - French troops occupy Fès El Bali, Morocco
1916 - US President Wilson signs Harrison Drug Act
1919 - 1st US air passenger service starts
1920 - 1st game of National Negro Baseball League played in Indianapolis
1921 - Beginning of 3rd anti-German revolt in Upper-Silesia
1924 - Netherlands refuses to recognize USSR
1926 - US military intervenes in Nicaragua
1927 - International Economic Conference (52 countries including USSR) opens
1933 - In Germany, Adolf Hitler bans trade unions
1934 - Nazi-Germany begins People's court
1936 - Emperor Haile Selassie & family flee Abyssinia
1941 - FCC approves regular scheduled commercial TV broadcasts to begin July 1; Martin Bormann succeeds Rudolf Hess as Hitler's deputy; Nazi-occupied Netherlands layoff Jewish journalists
1942 - Japanese troops occupy Mandalay Burma
1943 - German troops vacate Jefna, Tunisia
1945 - Allies occupy Wismar; Dutch Queen Wilhelmina & Princess Juliana reach Gilze-Rijen; German Army in Italy surrenders; Russia takes Berlin; General Weidling surrenders; Yugoslav troops occupy Trieste
1946 - Prisoners revolt at Alcatraz - 5 die
1949 - Bolivian state of siege proclaimed
1950 - Dutch 1st Chamber accept Laws on immigration; Dutch PM Malan recognizes South Africa, but not China People's Republic
1952 - 1st scheduled jet airliner passenger service begins with a BOAC Comet
1953 - Feisal II installed as king of Iraq; Hussein I installed as king of Jordan
1955 - India poses discrimination "onaanraakbaren" punishable
1956 - US Lab detects high-temperature microwave radiation from Venus; US Methodist church disallows race separation
1965 - Early Bird satellite goes into commercial service
1968 - Israeli television begins transmitting
1969 - British liner Queen Elizabeth II leaves on maiden voyage to New York
1972 - Electrical fire in Sunshine Silver mine - 126 die (Kellogg, Idaho); Lieutenant General Vernon A Walters, USA, becomes deputy director of CIA
1974 - Former Vice President Spiro Agnew is disbarred
1975 - Apple records closes down
1980 - Joseph Doherty & 3 other IRA men arrested for murder; Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in Wall (Part II)" is banned in South Africa
1982 - Falklands War: Argentine cruiser General Belgrano sunk by British submarine Conqueror, killing more than 350 men
1983 - 6.7 earthquake injures 487 in Coalinga, CA
1990 - South Africa & African National Congress open talks to end apartheid
1992 - Yugoslav Army seize Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic
1994 - Bus crashes into a tree at Gdansk, Poland, killing 30; Dr. Kevokian found innocent on assisting suicides
1995 - Serb missiles exploded in the heart of Zagreb, killing six
1997 - Republic of Texas security chief Robert Scheidt surrenders

Birthdays
1729 - Catherine II (the Great), Empress of Russia (1762-96)
1810 - Leo XIII, 257th Roman Catholic pope (1878-1903)
1821 - Abram Sanders Piatt, Union Brigadier General
1844 - Elijah McCoy, Black inventor, held over 50 patents including a lubricator for steam engines ("the Real McCoy")
1849 - Fürst Bernhard HM von Bülow, German chancellor/Prussian PM (1900-09)
1918 - Frederick Archibauld Warner, diplomat
1930 - Morris Courtright, manned spaceflight pioneer and Arizona State legislator
1935 - Faisal II, King of Iraq (1939-58)/son of Ghasi I; Hussain ibn Talal, King of Jordan (1952-99)
1938 - Constantine Bereng Seeiso, King Moshushoe II of Lesotho
1940 - Sari van Heemskerck Pillis-Duvekot, Dutch MP (VVD)
1941 - Jules Wijdenbosch, premier of Suriname
1947 - Bill Lowery (Representative-CA); Jo Ann Pflug Atlanta GA, actress (MASH, Candid Camera, Rituals)
1954 - Bulelani T Ngcuka South African attorney/leader (UDF)

Passings
1250 - Toeransa, sultan of Egypt, murdered
1459 - Pierozzi Antoninus, Italian archbishop of Florence/saint, dies
1488 - Jacob van Horne, Burgundy statesman
1818 - Herman W. Daendels, Governor-General of Guinea (1815-18), dies at 55
1849 - David H. Chassé, Baron/General (fought Napoleon at Waterloo), dies at 84
1945 - Martin Bormann, propoganda minister for Hitler
1957 - Joseph McCarthy Communist-hunting senator (WI), dies at 47
1968 - Donald L. Hall, airplane designer (Spirit of St Louis), dies at 69
1969 - Franz von Papen, German chancellor (1932), dies at 89
1972 - J. Edgar Hoover, head of FBI (1924-72)/cross dresser, dies at 77
1985 - Milton S. Eisenhower, US diplomat, dies at 85
1990 - Oleg Anatolyevich Yakovlev, Russian cosmonaut, dies at 49
1992 - Wilbur Mills (Representative-AR)/involved with Fanne Foxe, dies at 82

Reported Missing in Action
1966
Wood, Walter S., USN (NC); A4E shot down, KIA/BNR

1968
Englander, Lawrence J., US Army SF (CA)

1969
Mascari, Phillip L., USAF (NJ); O2A disappeared on mission

1970
The following US Army personnel reported MIA when their UH1H was shot down (one passenger made it back to US lines):
Crowson, Frederick H. (FL); crew, released by PRG February, 1973 (injured) - retired as a CSM - alive as of 1998

Griffin, Rodney L. (MO); passenger

Maslowski, Daniel L. (IL); crew, released by PRG February, 1973 - retired as a Lt. Colonel - alive as of 1998

Price, Bunyan D., Jr. (NC); passenger

Richardson, Dale W. (WI); passenger, died in Cambodia September, 1970 - remains returned July, 1989

Varnado, Michael B. (LA); passenger, died in Cambodia September, 1970 - remaisn returned July, 1989

Young, Robert M. (PA); passenger, reportedly DIC due to lack of medical care September, 1972

1972
The following US Army personnel reported MIA when their UH1H was shot down:
Berkson, Joseph Mike (IL); remains recovered July, 1972

Jesse, William Clifton (OK); remains recovered July, 1972

Morgan, Charles Vernon (KY); remains recovered July, 1972

Petrilla, John Joseph, Jr. (PA); remains recovered July, 1972

Porterfield, Dale Kyette (CA) remains recovered July, 1972

Labels: Headlines, History