Members from AMVETS Post Visit Wounded Warriors

Five members from the newly reactivated Connecticut AMVETS Derby/Shelton Post 43 participated in Operation Gift Cards and represented 4 co-sponsors while delivering over $12,000 in post exchange gift cards, corporate donations, and wish list items to wounded troops at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland on June 4, 2012. Three members are Operation Enduring Freedom and/or Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, and the sixth AMVET is from AMVETS Brooklyn Connecticut Post 47. 

The six AMVETS delivered thank you kits on behalf of the AMVETS State Headquarters, the Fairfield Fire Department, Daughters of the American Revolution Simsbury Chapter, and the Milford Knights of Columbus. Each co-sponsor donated $1,000 in post exchange gift cards for the trip.

For the past two years the Connecticut AMVETS have been the largest supporter of Operation Gift Cards.

Since October 2005, the Operation Gift Cards’ 83 monthly/bimonthly visits have presented 14,025 thank you kits that contained $280,500 in post exchange gift cards to our wounded troops and their families. An additional $234,996 in other gift certificates and special group product donations (Girl Scout cookies, corporate gift certificates, etc.) have been delivered to the Soldier Family Assistance Center, the Fisher Houses, Building 62, the Navy Lodge, the Red Cross, and the Casualty Affairs Office, along with over $50,000 worth items on the “wish list” for both the wounded troops and their families (approx. $565,500 total).

Photo: Left to right: Brian O'Rourke, Kevin McMahon*, Matt McDonald*, Al Meadows, Bob Steers*, and Commander Steve Frank represent four June co-sponsors of Operation Gift Cards. 

*OEF and/or OIF veterans