Wishes Granted 2011
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November
Arizona Diamondbacks Recognize W4OH
The Arizona Diamondbacks Baseball Organization hosted a Celebrity Golf Outing on Veterans Day (11-11-11) to honor military heroes. Wish for Our Heroes was one of the charities recognized at the after dinner reception for its aid to deserving military personnel and their families. Accepting the financial contribution on behalf of Wish for Our Heroes was Gary Alexander, the Coordinator of Wish for Our Heroes Southwest Region. Two military families needing assistance were identified in conjunction with the Diamondbacks’ charitable donation and are presently benefiting from those awards.
On behalf of the designated recipients, Wish for Our Heroes would like to thank the Arizona Diamondbacks for their support and generosity.
“America Remembers – A Musical Tribute”
On November 13, 2011, the debut performance of “America Remembers – A Musical Tribute” was held at the Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. Over 300 people attended the live two hour concert. The Arizona Diamondbacks sponsored the concert with Wish for Our Heroes being the sole benefiting charity. As a result, 100% of the donations received in conjunction with the concert will be going to deserving military personnel and their families.
Music from the first half of the 20th Century was provided by a seven person band, with vocals by the “Uptown Angels.” The concert ended with a patriotic finale that included the Color Guard from American Legion Post 39 of Gilbert, Arizona. Gary Alexander, Wish for Our Heroes Southwest Region Coordinator, both produced the concert and was a member of the band.
The goal is starting next year to perform “America Remembers” concerts once a month throughout the Phoenix area and the State of Arizona.
Wish for Our Heroes would like to thank the Arizona Diamondbacks, Love of Christ Lutheran Church and all of the other organizations and volunteers that supported the show.
Wish For Our Heroes was honored to sponsor and attend the 205th Infantry Brigade’s Harvest Fest/Family Day on November 5th. We started the morning with granting a wish for SFC Brian Lee. Then we headed off to the festivities. There were outdoor activities, including a demonstration by the Camp Atterbury Fire Department with the “jaws of life”. Inside the children enjoyed the bounce house, build a bear, pumpkin painting, cake walk, and various arcade games. The adults participated in the “Minute-To-Win-It” competitions and the pie eating competition. Everyone enjoyed a day of great fun and food! Thanks 205th! You guys rock!
September
14-yr old boy receives wish in honor of father killed in Afghanistan
SFC Charles Adkins
On April 16, 2011, SFC Charles Adkins of the 101st Airborne Division, Fort Campbell, KY, was killed in action by a suicide bomber during a deployment to Afghanistan. SFC Adkins paid the ultimate sacrifice and left behind his wife, Sarah, and 5 children. Before SFC Adkins was killed, he ordered a 1995 Jeep Wrangler YJ from eBay and had it shipped to his home. His intention was to have a father/son project rebuilding the jeep with his oldest son, Garrhett, age 14.
The finished Jeep
SSG Jason (Jay) Axelson, had never met the Adkins family, but heard about the circumstances and discovered he lived in the same neighborhood as the Adkins family. In fact, he lived on a connecting street. As a father of four, the story greatly pulled at Axelson’s heart strings, and since he considered himself mechanically-inclined, he immediately volunteered to take the lead restoring the jeep in honor of SFC Adkins.
When funds were needed to purchase parts for the jeep, word spread quickly around Ft Campbell. A soldier’s wife sent the story to Wish For Our Heroes, a national military charity that grants wishes for active-duty military members and their families. The organization immediately began raising funds, and the joined forces raised over $10,000 for the cause.
Jeff Wells, Jay Axelson (who built the Jeep), and Shaun Raines of Savannah, GA.
After months of work, with every spare minute Jay had spent in the garage rebuilding, we were prepared to reveal the result of Jay’s hard work, a product of the community and so many people that got behind this cause in honor of SFC Adkins. The event was scheduled for September 10, 2011 during Riverfest in Clarksville, TN just before the Collin Raye concert. Ironically, we later came to find out that Chuck (SFC Adkins) had proposed to his wife, Sarah, during the Collin Raye song “Love Me”.
Gear box made out of an ammo can
Unfortunately, the concert was cancelled due to storms that moved in, but the rain did not stop Jay and Wish For Our Heroes from presenting the wish to the Adkins family. Supporters that had heard about this story traveled from Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Kentucky and Tennessee to see this event, and all wanted to see SFC Adkins’ memory honored as planned. So, a smaller, more intimate meeting was arranged that included Collin Raye, Mayor Kim McMillan, Jay Axelson (who rebuilt the Jeep), Wish For Our Heroes and the Adkins family. Unfortunately, Garrhett came down with a high fever and was not able to join us, but his mother, siblings, cousins and grandparents (Chuck’s parents) were all present for the special event.
We would like to express our deepest appreciation to Jay Axelson for his relentless work on this project. Your unwavering efforts put a smile on the entire community of Clarksville and beyond, and you provided a tribute to a very honorable man that will be greatly missed.
Finally, our best wishes to Sarah, Garrhett and the rest of Chuck’s family who have sacrificed more than any should. We know you are planning to pass the jeep to each child, and hope it is a constant reminder of Chuck, as well as the many people who support you.
Mayor Kim McMillan, Jeff Wells, the Adkins family, Collin Raye, Jay Axelson (and other volunteers who rebuilt the Jeep)
PFC Mike Pierce
Wish For Our Heroes recently purchased a round trip airline ticket for PFC Mike Pierce to go home to his wife who is expecting their 3rdchild and is experiencing difficulties with her pregnancy. PFC Pierce is stationed in Korea due to problems with his military pay; PFC Pierce could not afford the airfare to go home on emergency leave. PFC Pierce’s response was “I can’t tell you how weird it is to be woken up in the middle of the night by a strangely happy wife and be told that you guys are now on my list of favorite people! Thank you so much! Thank you so so so so so so so much! You are one of the few people who have even a grasp of how badly we needed this, and you and your organization made this once impossible dream a reality and I can’t show you enough gratitude. Please pass along my supreme gratitude to the committee, hugs and kisses for everyone! You have made our year, and I will never forget this act of amazing generosity. Thank you again.”
SGT Albert Davis
SGT Albert Davis recently contact Wish For Our Heroes for assistance in providing winter clothing for his children. SGT Davis’ family is back in Kansas, where the winters can be extremely cold, while SGT Davis is currently deployed to Iraq. SGT Davis will not be back until next spring. The children are 3 years old and 7 months old and quickly outgrow their clothing. Wish For Our Heroes obliged by providing the Davis family with a gift card in order to purchase clothing for their children. SGT Davis responded by saying “Thank You so much. This means so much to me, and I know it will meet a lot to Courtney. I am so grateful. This gift card will help us out so much.”
SPC Joseph Chandonnet
Wish For Our Heroes helped Mrs. Chandonnet out with a car repair recently. SPC Joseph Chandonnet is currently deployed to Afghanistan. This left Mrs. Chandonnet on her own to figure out what was wrong with their vehicle, which is their only means of transportation. The Chandonnet’s had money saved up but this was not enough to cover the repair bill. Wish For Our Heroes came to the rescue and helped with the repair bills much to Mrs. Chandonnet’s delight.
August
Petty Officer 2nd Class Nathaniel Gibbs
Wish For Our Heroes recently paid for a new hot water heater for PO2 Nathaniel Gibbs and his family. The Gibbs’ water heater exploded and flooded their garage leaving them without any hot water to bath, wash dishes, do laundry, etc. Mrs. Gibbs response to the new hot water heater was “Words cannot explain how Thankful I am for you and your organization. When our water heater went out (flooded our garage) I did not know what to do, until a friend told me about you. I thank you for caring about military families like ours. You answered our prayers and you got back to us so quickly. I could not believe when I filled out the application and heard back from you moments later and then the very next day our new water heater was being installed (such a blessing b/c it leaked again over night after our first clean up). We are so excited to have hot water again- something we took for granted before. The kids are looking forward to bath time tonight 
”
SGT Martin Andrade
Wish For Our Heroes recently assisted SGT Martin Andrade in providing groceries for his family. The Andrade’s have recently experienced extreme financial hardships when they had to travel 2400 miles to have a cyst removed from their 3 year old daughter’s iris. Between the gas and lodging expenses to make this journey possible for their daughter, they had to borrow money from the AER. The AER payments did not allow enough money left over to provide food for the family. Mrs. Andrade expressed her gratitude “thank you sooo much. Now we have lots of food in our house and it makes me feel rich I do not know how to express my feelings by words. I hope you can feel how happy we are. I want to thank you so much, without your support I do not know how we could survive this hardship.”
June
A Trip to Disneyland
June 21, 2011
Our trip to Disneyland was amazing! We had a blast! We started out the 1st day at Breakfast in Park with Minnie Mouse and Friends. It was so neat to see all the characters and the kids were able to get all their autographs. Captain Hook came up behind me and when I turned around he was right in my face! I screamed…the kids thought that was hilarious! Our first ride was the new 3D Star Tours and it was so cool to see the kid’s faces on this ride. They have never been to Disneyland or on a ride like this and were amazed.
View the Carr Family wish write-up.
March
A Trip to Disneyland
June 21, 2011
Max and Amber Burgdoerfer met while they were both deployed in Iraq. They married and had their first son shortly after. Amber left the military through the Family Care Plan after six years in the service, but Max is still serving our country as an SFC with the Army at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.
Amber submitted a wish request for a trip with her husband to Brazil. They never took a honeymoon after they married due to their commitment to the military, and were looking forward to some time together. They wished to go to Brazil, where they have friends, and were looking for assistance with airfare. They would be changing bases from Missouri to Colorado the spring of 2011 and hoped to take their trip during their transition from one base to the next. Wish For Our Heroes granted their wish for airfare to Brazil and the Burgdeorfer’s will be traveling during May 2011. After receiving their airfare confirmation, Amber wrote to Wish For Our Heroes, “Oh my gosh!!!! We are so excited! We are very grateful!!!! Thank you!!!!”
W4OH Assists with Medical Care for Infant
March 2, 2011
Married for four years, James and Casandra White recently welcomed their first child into the world, a son, whom they lovingly named Gavin. Due to complications at birth, he was diagnosed with Torticollis and Plagiocephaly, which according to doctors, required a medical helmet to help correct the flattening of his head.
James, an Army SGT, moved his family to Fort Hood last November and has been serving in the military for over five years. Their Tricare coverage has denied their claim to cover the cost of the $3800 helmet, so the family reached out to Wish For Our Heroes. We partnered with Texas/Mexico grocery leader, H-E-B (www.heb.com), which generously donated the entire $3800, to cover the medical expenses for this wish.
Wish For Our Heroes would like to commend H-E-B for their generosity, and for their support in granting this wish. Your assistance provided a medical necessity that this family would have otherwise not been able to afford.
Cassandra, James and Gavin were very appreciative of Wish For Our Heroes’ and H-E-B’s help and commented “thank you again soooo much for all your help with Gavin, we appreciate it so much!!!!”
HOOP DREAMS
March 2, 2011
Army Infantry receives basketball hoops for conditioning
The 125th Infantry in Flint, Michigan, will be deploying the summer of 2011. A wish submitted by Mary Dunkley on the unit’s behalf requested two new portable basketball hoop systems, as the ones they had were falling apart. The unit uses these for recreational purposes, as well as to stay in shape for training. On March 2, 2011, Wish For Our Heroes purchased two new basketball systems for the 125th, along with a new basketballs and a maintenance kit.
Captain Dennis, of the 125th Infantry says “Thank you for your continued support of the military. Your organization is a great asset for the moral of our troops. I will guarantee myself and the rest of the men in HHC/1-125th Infantry will benefit and appreciate the gift of the basketball hoops.”
Wish for Our Heroes being honored at half-time of an Indiana Pacers game.
February
Wish 430 – Click here to view the wish
January
Wish 402 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wishes 425-429 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wishes 409-414 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wishes 405-408 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #403 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #395 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #363 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #361 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #374-375 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #367-374 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #364 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #359 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #356 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #355 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #344-348 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #335-342 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #318 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #315 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #308-314 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #307 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #305 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #304 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #305 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #300-303 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish # 299 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #319-325 – Click here to read about the wish.
Wish #357 & 358 – Click here to read about the wish.
Germany Holiday Wishes – Click here to read about the wish.
Georgia Holiday Wishes – Click here to read about the wish.
Washington Holiday Wishes – Click here to read about the wish.
Texas Holiday Wishes – Click here to read about the wish.
“America Remembers – A Musical Tribute”
On November 13, 2011, the debut performance of “America Remembers – A Musical Tribute” was held at the Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona. Over 300 people attended the live two hour concert. The Arizona Diamondbacks sponsored the concert with Wish for Our Heroes being the sole benefiting charity. As a result, 100% of the donations received in conjunction with the concert will be going to deserving military personnel and their families.
Music from the first half of the 20th Century was provided by a seven person band, with vocals by the “Uptown Angels.” The concert ended with a patriotic finale that included the Color Guard from American Legion Post 39 of Gilbert, Arizona. Gary Alexander, Wish for Our Heroes Southwest Region Coordinator, both produced the concert and was a member of the band.
The goal is starting next year to perform “America Remembers” concerts once a month throughout the Phoenix area and the State of Arizona.
Wish for Our Heroes would like to thank the Arizona Diamondbacks, Love of Christ Lutheran Church and all of the other organizations and volunteers that supported the show.
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