The mission of Yellow Ribbon America is to provide a national framework to organize all of California's cities and towns, to deliver immediate and direct support to our deployed military personnel and the families who are left behind. Our Deployed Military Members & Family Support Program continues to grow as do the needs of our military and their families. Yellow Ribbon America continues to organize community outreach events to help communities welcome home our military members and thank their families for their sacrifices’ for us all.

They never asked for anything.  Not sympathy, not understanding not even a thank you.  Soldiers returning from this war wounded have had their lives forever changed.  Transitioning back to civilian life for these folks is daunting.   Our idea was simply to have a welcome home ceremony for these brave men and women and say thank you for your sacrifice, and your service.   We had no idea how a simple gesture like this would grow into what this has become. 

We asked local businesses and community leaders to support our idea.  In no time, we had commitments for as many gift baskets as we needed, containing everything from two round-trip tickets on Mesa Airlines and $200.00 dollar dinner certificates to the finest steak house in town, to a nearly a dozen free car washes, free gasoline, groceries, movies, even a Visa card for $100.00 - all practical gifts to ease their transition.  To date we have given away nearly $150,000.00 in gift baskets to Arizona and California Purple Heart recipients and their families and are poised to do the same in 2008.

Our goal was to unite America’s communities.  Without regard for political leanings we just wanted folks to know that the men and women risking their lives for our Country are fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, and sons and daughters.  Our Welcome Home Project ceremonies brought an incredibly diverse group of people.  CEO’s, politicians (both Democrats and Republicans), teachers, police and fire fighters, journalists, school children, and anyone who wanted to say thanks.  We could never have known the power of thanks.  Soldiers cried at seeing this kind of unexpected appreciation. 

Since the Welcome Home Project got started it has gained amazing energy, and is beginning to spread.  The CEO of Mesa Airlines was so moved by his involvement that he’s now partnering with us to take this effort to other states.

We have received letters of thanks from those in the community who didn’t know this kind of avenue existed to thank our troops.  We have heard a lot from Vietnam Veterans who wished that something like this existed when they returned from war.   We can only hope that a simple gesture such as this will bring some closure to those returning now. President Lincoln once said, “We are the land of the free because of the brave.”   We agree, we owe these brave men and women a debt we can never repay, but at the very least we can say “Thank You, and Welcome Home”.

Operation Christmas 4 our Troops IV will bring

250,000 America’s Military Members & Families a Merry Christmas

THIS YEAR’S MISSION BIGGER & BETTER THAN EVER:

OCT 2007 - The Objective of Operation Christmas 4 Our Troops IV is to bring community-based help and support for the families of America’s deployed and home-based military members and their families so that they can have the best Christmas Season possible.

Through the generous donations from America’s communities, we will be able to give gifts to military families -- especially the children of America’s military -- to help them through the emotional difficulties of the holidays while their loved ones are far from home. Operation Christmas 4 Our Troops will show support from their own local communities that helps bring all Americans together to support their local troops and their families. Locals helping Locals - - local businesses, residents, churches and community groups focusing their resources on helping military members and their families in their individual communities.

GOALS:

The primary goal of Operation Christmas 4 Our Troops IV is to uplift the morale of all of America's military members and their families through generous community based donations of toys, DVD’s, gift cards, and financial assistance during the holidays.

To deliver Christmas community support to over 250,000 of America’s military members and their families here at home and throughout the globe.

To help sponsor military unit Christmas parties and raise unit emergency funds for California’s nearly 200 National Guard Armories, Reserve Centers and Active Duty military installations. In addition we will be bringing Christmas help and support to Military Units and their Families in the States of Arizona, Louisiana, Washington, Ohio, Oregon, Nevada (Las Vegas area), New York, Mississippi, Michigan, Illinois, Massachusetts and Florida.

To deliver holiday gift baskets and Christmas Cheer to the recently returned Iraq and Afghanistan Injured Patients to local Military Hospitals, VA Medical Centers/Hospitals.

Help America’s 1# Cause! TM DONATE TODAY!