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WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 25, 2008) - Some troops recovering from
injuries at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and their
families will receive the gift of music July 5, when they are
presented with Gibson guitars.
"Soldiers' Angels," a group that supports troops in various ways
such sending as care packages, has partnered with the famous guitar
manufacturer to provide guitars for wounded musicians, said Jeff
Bader, husband of the organization's founder, Patti
Patton-Bader.
"We will be presenting a minimum of 20 donated guitars to
wounded, guitar-playing soldiers, and one to each of the seven
local Fisher Houses for anyone to play," he said.
Fisher Houses, run by the Fisher House Foundation, provide free
or low-cost lodging to veterans and military families receiving
treatment at military medical centers.
Both Soldiers' Angels the the Fisher House Foundation are
supporters of America Supports You, a Defense Department program
that connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their
families serving at home and abroad.
Bader said the group hopes to also present guitars to wounded
troops at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and
at Walter Reed Army Medical Center here at some later point.
Bader, a musician, said the guitars can bring more than the joy
of music.
"Being a guitar player makes this new program and the gifts to
our soldiers something very special," he said. "Music truly has a
healing power, and guitar-playing soldiers who have suffered from
traumatic brain injury have improved their short-term memory
capabilities by remembering songs they used to play."
He recalled a conversation with a military wife whose husband
had suffered just such an injury, which caused severe short-term
memory loss.
"The guitar I gave him helped him, because he remembered an
entire song, and that gave him the confidence that he could get
better," he said.
Soldiers' Angels and Fisher House volunteers, as well as
representatives and instructors from Gibson, will attend the July 5
event at Brooke Army Medical Center, which will culminate in a
barbecue for about 1,200 wounded servicemembers and their families
at the Fisher Houses' "quad" area.
"The band Angels and Airwaves has donated [its] time to play an
acoustic show for everyone," Bader said. "We will additionally have
games, coloring books, prizes, clowns and balloon sculptures [and
other activities] for the kids.
"Afterward, we are transporting any soldiers and their family
members who would like to attend the Vans Warped Tour at the
Verizon Center in San Antonio," he added. The Warped Tour,
sponsored by BMX and skateboard shoe manufacturer Vans, is a music
and extreme sports festival.
Servicemembers and their families arriving from the BAMC event
will be admitted at no charge and will watch the show from a
specially built viewing area near the stage, Bader said.
Editor's Note: To find out about more individuals,
groups and organizations that are helping support the troops,
visit www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. America
Supports You directly connects military members to the support of
the America people and offers a tool to the general public in their
quest to find meaningful ways to support the military
community.
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