Real Warriors -Real Battles - Real Strength

Resources for Vets at Real Warriors

Yesterday I spoke with a very nice Marine at a service center for Veterans in the nearby town of Hyannis.  I had called to ask advice on the correct protocols for a donation idea of mine, and ended up finding out a great deal about the wonderful services this center provides for our Veterans on Cape Cod.

There are between 70 and 200 homeless Veterans on Cape Cod.  This Service Center runs two homes for homeless Vets now, and is building a third in the fall of 2016.

Currently they have enough quilts, but they exist on donations and some funding through the V.A.  If you like the idea of helping Vets, but do not quilt, this is an organization that can use your cash donations.

They provide 16 beds in their Hyannis house, allowing 16 homeless Vets to remain in a bed for up to two years, while the center gives them support with counseling, filing for benefits, assistance with PTSD issues, a safe haven to get back on their feet.  The second house is located in Mashpee, MA, another Cape Cod town, and the third house will be built in Dennis, Ma, which is the town next to mine.  Please help the Cape's homeless Veterans with donations if you can.

Cape and Islands Veterans Center
247 Stevens Street
Suite E
Hyannis, Massachusetts 02601

1-508-778-1590

Veterans Outreach

Thank you.

I have a new sewing machine that will be involved with the quilts.  It is a 1908 White Family Rotary treadle head machine.  I am in the process of cleaning it up and getting it to sew again.  It will represent the U.S. Army Reserves, which was founded in 1908.  My father served in the Army Reserves for a time after returning from Germany in the U.S. Army Infantry.

I hope to be treadling this machine soon.

Writing letters to Service Personnel is a wonderful way to contribute - 

Here is a link to Operation Gratitude and their letter writing information  HERE

USA.gov also has information about finding Military Members, or writing letters and sending Care packages at the link HERE

Movies About Veterans

According to Good Day "Manly Minute" in Sacramento, the following movies are accurate for the experiences of Veterans:


1978 Coming Home - no longer on YOUTUbe, but rentable

1978 The Deer Hunter (not available online except to purchase)  Amazon

1989 Born on The Fourth Of July (not available online except to RENT or purchase)

1958 It's Always Fair Weather (not available online except to purchase)  Amazon

1982 Rambo First Blood  (not available online except to RENT or purchase)

American Flag Timeline
Flag of The United States

I have a flag that has 42 stars.  It would have been made in 1889, or is a replica of an 1889 flag.  There were 42 states and 42 stars for 243 days of 1889-1890, but the 43rd star was added July 3, 1890, making the official version of the flag a 43 star flag and not a 42 star flag.

The flag I have is in poor condition, as it seems mice got to it.  It was with my grandfather's things.  Rather, my mother had some of her father's things and this was one of them.  My grandfather, Chester T. Fickett, was in WWII, and the Battle of the Bulge, and I do not where he may have gotten this flag. According to the the regulations regarding the flag, I should burn it if it is not in respectful condition.  I have temporarily framed it, while deciding whether or not it needs to be burned.

Pop-pop's Flag

Mission

The Mission Moves Forward

Where my quilts will be going:

To Deputy Chief of Police in Yarmouth, Massachusetts, Stephen G. Xiarhos

Deputy Chief Xiarhos lost his son Nick to the fighting in Afghanistan.  Nick was a Marine, and ever since his death, in addition to his official duties with our local police department, Deputy Chief Xiarhos has been a dedicated advocate for active-duty service personnel and veterans from all branches of the military.

He told me, if I get the quilts to him, he will get them to veterans.  He gave me a few options - veterans that are homeless, veterans in nursing homes, veterans in V.A. hospitals, to Gold Star Families, or, that the quilts could be raffled off as part of his "Big Nick's Ride For The Fallen" (2015) which is held every July, with the proceeds going to our local high school's scholarship fund.

2016 Big Nick's Ride For The Fallen
2017 Big Nick's Ride For The Fallen

Nick was a good friend of my son's, and as such, my father knew all about Nick and his Sacrifice.

Thank you, Deputy Chief Xiarhos, I hope to have these quilts to you quickly.

UPDATE: June 13, 2016 Quilts 2 and 3 are received by Deputy Chief Stephen G. Xiarhos for presenting to Veterans of his choice. Thank you!! Deputy Chief Xiarhos!