Honoring the Deployed on National Day of the Deployed

Today, we pause to honor the courage, resilience, and sacrifice of deployed Service Members who selflessly serve far from home. Observed annually on October 26th, National Day of the Deployed originated from Soldiers' Angels and was established to recognize those who leave behind family and the comforts of home to protect our freedoms.

This holiday began in 2006, when Soldiers’ Angel volunteer Shelle Michaels Aberle approached the governor in her home state of North Dakota (Governor John Hoeven) with a request for a proclamation and special day to honor Active Duty men and women serving outside the U.S. October 26 was chosen because it was the birthday of her cousin, U.S. Army Lt. Col. David Hosna, who was actively serving in Iraq. Governor Hoeven was the first to recognize the Day of the Deployed, and the first units honored by this proclamation were NDARNG 1-188th ADA SECFOR and JLENS deployed to Afghanistan.

The movement gained momentum and eventually became recognized nationwide. Learn more about the holiday here.

Through Soldiers' Angels' campaigns and ongoing support, this day encourages all Americans to take a moment to show gratitude, send words of support, and consider ways to give back. Whether through writing a letter, making a donation, or simply sharing a message of thanks, each gesture reinforces the strength and unity those on the homefront share for the men and women serving far from home.

Join us today in spreading the word and honoring our deployed heroes. Together, let’s make sure they know they’re not forgotten.

Here are 3 easy ways you can support Service Members for National Day of the Deployed:

1. If you're not already, join Soldiers' Angels as an Angel volunteer and support a deployed Service Member with letters, care packages, homemade baked goods, and more. 
2. If you don't have the time to volunteer, donate to Soldiers' Angels to help us continue our ongoing efforts to ensure our deployed Service Members are supported, uplifted, and remembered all year long. 
3. Spread the word! Right-click on the graphic below and save to your computer. Then share the graphic on your social channels or via email to spread the word to your friends and family. Share your gratitude for our deployed Service Members in your post, and encourage others to do the same.
4. Comment with your thanks! Visit our posts on Facebook, Linked In, Instagram, or X and comment with a message of gratitude for our deployed men and women! Let's make sure they know exactly how grateful we are for their service!

Disaster Relief Update

We asked, and you delivered! After last week’s urgent call for help, hundreds of items arrived from our Amazon registry. Thanks to your incredible support, we packed disaster relief boxes filled with air mattresses, blankets, clothing, and winter gear. These boxes have been shipped to the VAs in greatest need: Asheville VA, Augusta VA, Orlando VA, and Bay Pines VA.

While some VAs are close to being fully operational, the hardest-hit facilities still face immense challenges. The Asheville VA, for instance, is currently running on generator power and requires 11 tanker trucks daily to supply enough water for their facility and Community Living Center. To further meet their water needs, they have even begun drilling wells on-site.

Beyond the VA facilities, many Asheville Veterans remain in areas accessible only by Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTVs). Nurses and clinicians from Asheville VA are traveling via UTVs to reach these Veterans at home, providing critical supplies, medications, and support items, including items from Soldiers' Angels.

Thank you all for your swift support in ensuring Veterans in the hardest-hit areas received the help they needed! We’re truly grateful for your dedication to supporting those on the ground who are tirelessly serving Veterans.

At this time, our most urgent need is for cash donations. Your contributions will allow us to continue shipping disaster relief boxes and purchase additional urgently needed items for VAs in impacted areas.

LAST CALL TO REGISTER VETERANS FOR VETERANS DAY CARDS!!

Veterans Day is fast approaching, and our Angel volunteers are gearing up to show their appreciation! Join us in honoring those who have served by registering Veterans to receive personalized, heartfelt cards of thanks. It's a simple yet powerful way to remind Veterans that their service is valued and remembered. Help us spread gratitude this Veterans Day by signing up today and making a meaningful impact in the lives of those who served!

If you are already an Angel, please submit the card request via your Angel Dashboard. If you are not an Angel, click the button below to start your request!

Join Us in Supporting Our Heroes: Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities for 2025!

Soldiers' Angels is seeking corporate and organizational sponsors for its Military and Veteran Food Distribution program in 2025. These events provide crucial food assistance to struggling Veteran and Military families across the country. Sponsorship opportunities allow companies to make a direct impact on the lives of those who have served our nation. If you have connections with companies that may be interested, please share this incredible opportunity with their leadership and encourage them to support this meaningful cause.

In the News: ‘We can never do enough’: Navy Federal crafts blankets for veterans in need

Navy Federal Credit Union employees recently teamed up with Soldiers' Angels to handcraft over 100 blankets for Veterans experiencing homelessness. This heartfelt initiative provided Veterans with warmth and comfort as winter approaches, and it highlighted the power of community support. Navy Federal’s efforts reflect a shared mission to honor and support those who’ve served, reminding us all that, while we may never be able to do enough, together we can make a real difference in the lives of our Veterans.

Read the full article for more details: The Winchester Star.

Speaking of care packages... 🎃👻 Check out these SPOOKY packages heading out to support our deployed Service Members this Halloween, all thanks to our amazing Angel volunteers!