Local Vets Take Supplies To D.C.
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
WASHINGTON -Ê"What a great bunch of guys," said Vivian Wilson of Bob Morrison, Mike Barnett and Don Nichols. The three Kosciusko Countians delivered a vanload of supplies to Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Fisher House this morning.
"I want to thank the community and everyone who supported the drive," Wilson said. "We're so grateful, it's so appreciated. We've never had anything hand-delivered before. We've never received this kind of volume before. It's heartwarming to know how much people care."
The Fisher Houses are comfort homes for combat casualties - soldiers, Marines and airmen - and their families. The average length of stay is four months. "Our mission is to support combat casualties while they endure long-term treatment in a home away from home," said Wilson, a Department of Defense employee who has worked at Fisher Houses for 14 years.
The third Washington, D.C.-area Fisher House of 11 suites in 7,000 square feet opened in April. The two others are 6,000 square feet and have eight suites. Stays cost $10 per night. The food and toiletries are free.
"We haven't opened these boxes yet. I'm anxious to see them to provide the soldiers and their families with everything they need," Wilson said.
The wounded come in every day from the fields of Iraq and they are shipped to Baghdad, then to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and then triage at Andrews Air Force Base for evaluation. Amputees come directly from Landstuhl to Walter Reed or Bethesda Naval Medical Center. Walter Reed has the foremost amputee treatment center in the United States.
Currently, Walter Reed has admitted more than 700 combat casualties.
"When they went into Fallujah, they were expecting that number of casualties and they've been arriving steadily," Wilson said.
"None of our funding is appropriated. We rely heavily on donations."
Not all the soldiers and Marines at Walter Reed are considered combat casualties by the Pentagon.
"We get a lot of motor vehicle accidents. Trucks get overturned all the time. We see a lot of cancer, cardio-thoracic diseases and heart problems," she said.
Family members become caregivers, caregivers who are never prepared to see amputations or gunshot wounds, Wilson said.
"We try to take as good care of the families as we do the combat casualties. We couldn't do what we do without the generosity of others."
Wilson said it's a huge challenge to house visiting families. The medical center has rented a 200-room hotel and apartments. The waiting list for a Fisher House suite is very long.
"We predominantly house amputees. They suffer infection after infection. It takes time for the stump to shrink. There are three levels, or intervals, of healing. Then they're outfitted with sophisticated C3 legs, $70,000 titanium limbs; that takes time, too.
"What we see is if families aren't able to be together, they break up. This sets a precedent over all other wars - at no other time has the government been in a position to support families as they have with this war."
The government is issuing "international travel orders" for up to three family members. With an ITO, families airfare is free and all expenses are paid.
Many families meet and socialize at the Fisher Houses.
"They support one another," Wilson said. "They cook together. This week, eight families went out to diner together. And they're able to do these things because they're here."
DC-area organizations offer limousine tours of the Capitol; others offer hand massage, hair styling and manicures for all members of the Fisher House families. Resources are brought in to help benefit and educate the soldiers, to inform them about their future.
"They learn what they're entitled to, how to receive entitlements and connect them with folks that will help them from arrival to departure. The more we educate them, the more information they have, and the better they'll feel about their future and their government," Wilson said.
"We're supported by American Legions throughout the country. The Legions here do the grocery shopping. The local Utility Workers, part of the AFL-CIO, has donated $100,000 toward free airline tickets. All the organizations contribute to a quality stay for our soldiers. These things are paramount to their recovery.
"Family members need to go home, pay bills, take care of kids and come back. There's nothing like family. Family is best medicine."
To make a contribution to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Fisher House, make out a check to: WRAMC, Fisher House. Donations can be sent to: WRAMC, Fisher House, Building 56, 6900 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20307-5001 Attention: Vivian Wilson. [[In-content Ad]]
WASHINGTON -Ê"What a great bunch of guys," said Vivian Wilson of Bob Morrison, Mike Barnett and Don Nichols. The three Kosciusko Countians delivered a vanload of supplies to Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Fisher House this morning.
"I want to thank the community and everyone who supported the drive," Wilson said. "We're so grateful, it's so appreciated. We've never had anything hand-delivered before. We've never received this kind of volume before. It's heartwarming to know how much people care."
The Fisher Houses are comfort homes for combat casualties - soldiers, Marines and airmen - and their families. The average length of stay is four months. "Our mission is to support combat casualties while they endure long-term treatment in a home away from home," said Wilson, a Department of Defense employee who has worked at Fisher Houses for 14 years.
The third Washington, D.C.-area Fisher House of 11 suites in 7,000 square feet opened in April. The two others are 6,000 square feet and have eight suites. Stays cost $10 per night. The food and toiletries are free.
"We haven't opened these boxes yet. I'm anxious to see them to provide the soldiers and their families with everything they need," Wilson said.
The wounded come in every day from the fields of Iraq and they are shipped to Baghdad, then to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany and then triage at Andrews Air Force Base for evaluation. Amputees come directly from Landstuhl to Walter Reed or Bethesda Naval Medical Center. Walter Reed has the foremost amputee treatment center in the United States.
Currently, Walter Reed has admitted more than 700 combat casualties.
"When they went into Fallujah, they were expecting that number of casualties and they've been arriving steadily," Wilson said.
"None of our funding is appropriated. We rely heavily on donations."
Not all the soldiers and Marines at Walter Reed are considered combat casualties by the Pentagon.
"We get a lot of motor vehicle accidents. Trucks get overturned all the time. We see a lot of cancer, cardio-thoracic diseases and heart problems," she said.
Family members become caregivers, caregivers who are never prepared to see amputations or gunshot wounds, Wilson said.
"We try to take as good care of the families as we do the combat casualties. We couldn't do what we do without the generosity of others."
Wilson said it's a huge challenge to house visiting families. The medical center has rented a 200-room hotel and apartments. The waiting list for a Fisher House suite is very long.
"We predominantly house amputees. They suffer infection after infection. It takes time for the stump to shrink. There are three levels, or intervals, of healing. Then they're outfitted with sophisticated C3 legs, $70,000 titanium limbs; that takes time, too.
"What we see is if families aren't able to be together, they break up. This sets a precedent over all other wars - at no other time has the government been in a position to support families as they have with this war."
The government is issuing "international travel orders" for up to three family members. With an ITO, families airfare is free and all expenses are paid.
Many families meet and socialize at the Fisher Houses.
"They support one another," Wilson said. "They cook together. This week, eight families went out to diner together. And they're able to do these things because they're here."
DC-area organizations offer limousine tours of the Capitol; others offer hand massage, hair styling and manicures for all members of the Fisher House families. Resources are brought in to help benefit and educate the soldiers, to inform them about their future.
"They learn what they're entitled to, how to receive entitlements and connect them with folks that will help them from arrival to departure. The more we educate them, the more information they have, and the better they'll feel about their future and their government," Wilson said.
"We're supported by American Legions throughout the country. The Legions here do the grocery shopping. The local Utility Workers, part of the AFL-CIO, has donated $100,000 toward free airline tickets. All the organizations contribute to a quality stay for our soldiers. These things are paramount to their recovery.
"Family members need to go home, pay bills, take care of kids and come back. There's nothing like family. Family is best medicine."
To make a contribution to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center Fisher House, make out a check to: WRAMC, Fisher House. Donations can be sent to: WRAMC, Fisher House, Building 56, 6900 Georgia Ave. NW, Washington DC, 20307-5001 Attention: Vivian Wilson. [[In-content Ad]]