"Combat Wounded Veterans"
Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #1
Committees

Operation Gift Cards Committee
MEMBERS: Al Meadows (Chairman) , Burke Ross, Sam Paulone, Hank Komornik, Pat Pepe, Edward Michaud, Robert Rachuba, Tom Evans, Michael Anderson, James Breakwod Jr. and Robert Grega. Also volunteers Nancy Meadows, Donna Cashman, David Meadows, Carolyn Christmann, and Pete Nichio.
Operation Gift Cards was started to:
* Thank our wounded or injured troops (personally when possible) for their service to their country and for their sacrifice for freedom.
* Present all visited wounded or injured patients in Walter Reed and Bethesda Military Hospitals with 3 to 6 "Thank You" kits, each including a $20 gift certificate enclosed in a specially designed thank you card (with group photo) from the sponsoring chapter, post, or detachment.
* Inform the patients about the free programs the sponsoring organization has developed that help our troops, our veterans, and their families.
* Provide a means for veterans organizations, other groups and individuals to donate items from the "Wish List" of both Family Medical Assistance Program and the Bethesda Fisher Houses
and present them to the patients or mentioned groups.es.
Since October 2005, during 65 monthly/bi-monthly visits, (with 53 units of Connecticut veterans' organizations joining OGC) the Operation Gift Cards' monthly visits have presented 10,005 Thank You Kits which contained $200,100 in gift cards to our wounded. An additional $119,700 in other gift certificates and special group product donations (Girl Scout cokies, corporategift certificates, etc.) have been delivered to the Soldier Family Assistance Center, the Fisher Houses, the Malogne House, the Navy Lodge, the Red Cross, and the Bethesda Casualty Affairs Office, along with over $50,000 worth items on the "wish list" for both the wounded troops and their families.
Additional information
Honor US Wounded In Iraq and Afghanistan Committee
MEMBERS: Al Meadows (Chairman) , Burke Ross, Hank Komornik, and Larry Hoffa .
The Honor US Wounded In Iraq and Afghanistan Committee has been formed to identify U. S. servicemen and women awarded Purple Hearts for wounds received in either Iraq or Afghanistan and to present them with a Certificate of Appreciation. Additional information
Operation Care Packages
MEMBERS: Burke Ross (Chairman) , Tom Evans, Larry Hoffa, Joe Wargo, Pat Pepe, John Doherty, Burke Ross, Hank Komornik, Dennis Tuohy, Frank Burleigh and Al Meadows
The Operation Care Packages Committee has been formed to sent thank you messagers from the public and veterans written on posters of support and to send care packages to Connecticut servicemen and women in Iraq or Afghanistan. Care packages (also included $1.000 in phone cards) have been sent to 41 units. Additional information
The Hospital Visitation Committee
MEMBERS: Burke Ross (Chairman) , Dick Tonucci, Hank Komornik, Larry Hoffa, Frank Burleigh, and Al Meadows.
The Hospital Visitation Committee has been expaned in order to visit our hospitalized or sick chapter members.
Viola Drive Committee
MEMBERS: Hank Komornik (Chairman) , Jack Schwing, and Pat Pepe
Please call Commander Kormornik at 929-1986 or Adjutant Ross at 929-3115 if you would like to join any of the above mentioned committees or participate in any of their projects.