Thanks Hood River Saturday Market - See You There!

Many thanks to the Hood River Saturday Market for giving us free space for this weekend's local Saturday Market. Representatives of GHC will be on hand to collect care package items and hand written cards for our Heroes. The GHC will also be selling our Hero Support Bands and yummy Packer's cookies.

The market will be held: This Saturday and Sunday, 9am to 4pm at Westside School, 3685 Belmont Drive.

Proudly, Your GHC

Weekly Hero News

"My Dearest Friends: Thank you so much for your support. It has meant a great deal to me. Have a wonderful holiday season, enjoy friends and family in the greatest country in the world. Happy Thanksgiving," SFC Rouleau. "PS: Have a drumstick for me?"

_________________________________

"I wanted to ask if you could pass a HUGE thank you to the all the people involved in putting our gift mugs and cards together. I can only imagine the time it took to personally sign each card with a personal message. These are the little things that make me feel proud to have spent my entire adult life in service of our country. So with that I say a very big thank you to all that were involved. "
SSG Gochenour

Thanks Hood River County Law Enforcement Association & Hood River Delta Kappa

Many thanks to the Hood River County Law Enforcement Association for their $250.00 donation and to the Hood River Delta Kappa for their donation of $200.00 to GHC.

GHC and our Heroes really appreciate your contributions. The funds received will help supply our deployed Heroes with their monthly care packages from home.

Proudly,
Your GHC

GHC Community Day - Spaghetti Feed & Holiday Care Packaging

Dear Heroes,

Our phones have been ringing off the hook with excitement for this Saturday's Heroes Community Day in Hood River. You will be proud of all your local friends and neighbors who are pitching in to make your holidays brighter.

Special thanks to the Hood River National Guard Members who are helping get the Armory's renovations in tip-top shape for this weekend's event.

The Westside Fire Department, is not only donating a huge portion of the spaghetti feed yummy's for this weekend, but they are also sending down a team of proud West Side firefighters to cook the entire meal! How awesome is that?

When I spoke to Westside's Fire Marshal Jim Trammel, he proudly told me, "These are our local Heroes and we want to help. They support us, so we are supporting them".

If you click on this link, it will take you to a wonderful article about this weekend's event that appeared in todays edition of the Hood River News:

http://www.hoodrivernews.com/News%20stories/2009/092_troop_spaghetti_feed.htm

The Hood River Delta Kappa Sorority and the Hood River County Lions Club will also be sending proud members to help our community visitors with your holiday care package assembly.

Businesses also helping sponsor your event are: D&S Frame and Body, Les Schwab Tire Company, Walmart, Rosauers, Safeway, Kiyokawa Orchards, Mountain Valley Meat Service, Western Family Foods and Miller Tree Farms. Thank you!

Here is the line up for this weekend's events that will be held at the Hood River National Guard Armory located at 1520 12th Street:

Heroes Spaghetti Feed: Noon to 2PM

Menu

Homemade "Special Westside Fire Department" Spaghetti

Tossed Green Salad

Rolls

Fruit

Dessert

Drinks

Adults: $9.00

Children: 10 & Younger - $5.00

Family: Parents and Children - $25.00

Care Package Assembly & Holiday Care Signing -1PM

The community is invited to stop by and put together a holiday care package for our Heroes. We we also be accepting donations for care package items. For a complete listing of suggested items, please see the post on the right hand side of this blog titled "Care Package Sampling".

GHC would like to take this opportunity to thank all of it's members for the countless hours of endless support. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our HEROES.

Proudly,

Your GHC

Weekly Hero News

"Dear GHC, I received your care package today and I just want to thank you for the care and respect that is put into each package. I can't tell you how much it is appreciated. It reminds us that we are remembered back home and it encourages us to do our job safely. Thank you for tucking in the little American Flag, though small, I know it represents the greatest country in the world!" Your Friend, Mike
___________________

"To Everyone in the Gorge Heroes Club: Thank you all so much for everything in each of the packages. It must take a long time to prepare everything to be able to send it to us! Thank you especially for all of the handmade cards. I have kept them all and they are now on display in my dorm room as decorations! I really enjoy being here in Japan. I have had the opportunity to learn the language and to get off base and go exploring! It snowed a little on Tuesday, Nov. 3, but just a dusting. It is supposed to snow again next week, but the American weather reporters are the same as in the states; they guess more than they are accurate! God Bless all," Airman Lee

HR's Delta Kappa Adopts GHC

The local Hood River Delta Kappa Chapter of the Epsilon Sigma Alpha International recently announces their support to the Gorge Heroes Club as their local hero for our many efforts in supporting our local military and their families.

Congratulations to all our GHC members for all your hard work!

Many thanks to the Delta Kappa Chapter. We accept this recognition with great pride!

We look forward to your Chapter's help in supporting our Heroes at many of our planned events like our community spaghetti feed Saturday, November 21st at the Hood River National Guard Armory.

To view the complete article that appeared in the November 7th edition of the Hood River News, please click here:

http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/zz133/GorgeHeroesClub/DELTAADOPTS2.jpg

Proudly,

Your GHC

GHC Members Preparing For The Holidays

Roberta Clayton, a GHC member and mother of Army surgeon Mary Deighton, is pictured at work making 100 Christmas stockings for our Heroes holiday boxes. Meanwhile, GHC member Daphne Blanchard, the mother of two soldiers, is working to make an equal number of Christmas cards that community members will sign during a special care package assembly Saturday, November 21st. We want all of our Heroes to know that we are "busy as bees" preparing to send goodies that will brighten up your holiday season. These boxes are being sent with love from grateful citizens of the Gorge.

As preparations are taking place GHC will be posting pictures of our members working hard to bring joy to you, our Heroes this holiday season!

Proudly,

Your GHC

Weekly Hero News

The GHC would like to welcome two new Hereos. Army SFC Anthony Fortune , who is stationed in Afghanistan. His proud parents are Richard and Vanessa Fortune of The Dalles. And, Army Spec. Dagoberto Rivera from Hood River. We would like to thank you both for your dedication and commitment in serving our nation.

Proudly,
Your GHC

Hood River County Honors All Who Served - Veteran's Day 2009

Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Tony LaCorte told more than 200 people who attended Hood River annual Veterans Day Ceremony that, "You (vets) are the threads that tightly bind the fabric of freedom for our nation."

Community members of all ages arrived at Anderson's Tribute Center on Nov. 11 to pay tribute to all of the Heroes who have served in the Armed Forces and the Heroes now on active duty at home or abroad. At front and center were our National Guard soldiers who provided the Color Guard for the observance and performed the rifle salute. Retired Air Force Colonel Lynn Guenther, who acted as master of ceremonies, urged the audience to support the GHC's efforts to make sure that all military personnel from this area know that they matter to the folks back home!!!

Memorial displays of local Veteran's.

Lynn Guenther, USAF Colonel, retired & Jack Trumball as he read the names of local Heroes who have passed and their names will be placed on memorial bricks at Overlook Park in Hood River.
Hood River County's Scout groups came to help park cars and escort visitor's to their seats.

Color Guard - Oregon Army National Guard - Hood River

Sgt First Class Gary Norris representing the American Legion makes a special presentation to Elizabeth Putnam and WWII Veteran. Please click on her name for a complete story that appeared about her accomplishments in a recent edition of the Hood River News.

Guest speaker Retired Air Force Master Sgt. Tony LaCorte

Rifle Salute - Oregon Army National Guard - Hood River

Proudly,

Your GHC

THANKS Klickitat County Repuplican Party & Jim Herman and Associates

GHC received a $1,000 check this week from the Klickitat County Republican Party to use in our troop support efforts. We are very grateful for the donation and it will be put to good use since we have an expensive month with the shipping of holiday packages to deployed military personnel and sponsorship of the National Guard dinner at the Hood River Armory.

Vergie Fuwell, a CPA with Jim Herman and Associates of White Salmon has prepared our paperwork for 501(c)3 filing with the IRS and those documents were sent on their way last week. Fuwell donated her time and talents to our cause and we are extremely appreciative of the generous gift. Jim is the brother of the late Brenda Herman, who co-founded GHC, and a Vietnam veteran who has been very supportive of the mission that we undertake!!!! Thank you very much Vergie and Jim.

DAKINE Support GHC's Veteran's Project

A huge thanks goes out to DAKINE for their generous donation of 10 backpacks to GHC's Homeless Veteran's Program. During the year, GHC members visit homeless Veteran's throughout the Gorge area. We are currently seeking care package items for 13 Veterans, 10 males and 3 females. Please see a previous blog post for a listing of needed care package items.

If you, your group or organization would like to find out more about helping our Heroes, please contact us at: gorgehereoesclub@yahoo.com

Your help and support for our Heroes is GREATLY appreciated!

Proudly,

Your GHC

GHC Is Gearing Up For Winter & The Holiday's

-----NOVEMBER UPDATE-----

With winter nipping at our heels, your GHC is heading into the season of "most need". Winter brings on new challenges and more needs for our Heroes and local homeless Veteran's.

Here is a list of GHC's most urgent need items. Can you, your company, group or organization help?

Homeless Veteran's List - Needed by December 15th:

Heavy Socks - 13 pairs

Men's Size Large & Extra Large Winter Coats - 13 total

Blankets - 4 blankets donated, 9 still needed

Calling Cards - 13 needed

C & D Cell Batteries - 13 packages needed

Canned Food - Ready made: Stews, Tuna Fish, Spam, etc

Winter Gloves, Scarves & Hats - 125 Donated, Need 210

Backpacks - 10 donated, 3 still needed

Monthly Care Package Items Needed: (Items in RED are URGENT NEED for our November 21st Holiday Packaging, 1PM @ Hood River National Guard Armory)

Hygiene Wipes - 120 packages

Individual Drink Mixes - 60 packages

Granola Bars - 60 boxes

Breakfast Bars - 60 boxes

Christmas Themed Coffee Mugs - 40

Christmas Stockings - Need 5 yards of holiday material and help sewing.

Female related items - 9 females, hygiene products, etc

Ziploc Bags, all sizes - 50 boxes

Tissue Paper - 20 to 30 Packages

Chocolate Candy and Sugar Free Candy - 50-100 Bags

Ongoing-

65 large fabric drawstring bags. (16"x16", or close to this size) - Ongoing need for material, cording and sewers.

Infant baby girl clothes. One of our Heroes wives is expecting a new bundle of joy in January and is requesting help with clothing.

Fabric table covers and table skirts. We need these for when we have functions.

GHC would like to thank the Hood River News for doing an article on GHC's upcoming events. You can read the entire article by visiting this link: http://www.hoodrivernews.com/News%20stories/2009/083_heros_club_holidays.htm

If you can help, please contact GHC at:

gorgeheroesclub@yahoo.com

Proudly,

Your GHC

GHC Support Bands Are Here

Show your support for our Heroes with a GHC Support Brands. The bands come in adult and child sizes. Colors available are: Desert Camo, Pink Camo, Blue, Purple and Yellow.

Prices are $3.00 each if purchased locally and $4.00 each for those orders we need to ship. We will ship within the continental USA and to all US military locations. You can order the bands directly from the link on the left side of our blog or for local distribution, contact us directly at: gorgeheroesclub@yahoo.com

Looking for bulk orders for your group or organization? Please contact us directly for shipping costs.

What a great way to show your support of our Heroes!