Laptops For Wounded Warriors Goes Global
I’ve recently had the pleasure of getting to know a great American patriot by the name of George Samek. George is a Vietnam Veteran. He recently had the idea of raising a few dollars to purchase a few laptops for wounded troops. The project evolved into something even beyond what he thought it would become. Not long after starting the project, he had enough money to purchase more than 25 laptops.
Instead of just shipping off the laptops to the abyss of the postal service, Samek got together a band of patriotic misfits to deliver them in person on September 11, 2009. Hear this great warrior talk about this experience from WECT:
And not only is his idea gaining recognition here, it’s going international. The Canada Free Press recently the Laptops for Wounded Warriors program.
For some of America’s wounded warriors who have risked all in the defence of freedom, the recovery may be swift. For others who have lost precious limbs or endured near death burns at the hands of terrorists and insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, their challenging recovery may span months, to years, to a lifetime. The donated laptops serve not only as a window to the world but will also enable America’s wounded warriors to do something most take for granted—and that is to be able to say “goodnight” to their loved ones and keep in close touch with their families who often live in different states.
After contacting Walter Reed, Samek learned that laptops are the one item that the wounded warriors really wanted and truly needed and he began seeking donations to fulfill this need. As a veteran, his heart lies with America’s armed forces and for years he has been apart of the troop support organization, The Gathering of Eagles. “As a simple old soldier I wish to say thanks to each of you for joining in to make this happen,” Samek said, “I work for smiles from my military and those smiles become a good reason for them to know they know we care and they are not alone.”
The mighty band of patriots at Walter Reed included Captain Larry Bailey, Chairman of The Gathering of Eagles. Among the remarkable special mothers who attended, were Gold Star Mother, Muriel Pederson whose son, Sgt Ken Pederson USMC was killed in action in Vietnam and Gold Star Mother, Debbie Lee whose son, Marc Alan Lee, US Navy was the first Navy SEAL killed in Iraq.
To donate to this most worthy endeavor please contact samek.george@gmail.com or send your donation to:
Gathering of Eagles/George Samek
1105 Copas Road
Shallotte, NC 28470
Among those who have donated laptops were Band of Brother and currently deployed fellow soldier Chad Longell, The Band of Mothers, Electric Motor and Contracting in Chesapeake Virginia, and Muriel Pederson, Gold Star Mother. A special thanks to the efforts of GOE Chairman Capt Larry Bailey, the Concerned Citizens of Chocowinity North Carolina (donated 14 laptops) and Best Buy, North Carolina. Donations were also received from many other troop supporters across America and Canada.
CWO George Samek US Army Retired
September 21st, 2009 at 9:45 pmThis laptop mission has started a wave of public support for our brave Wounded Warriors. The Gathering of Eagles will present laptop computers to Wounded Warriors at Fort Bragg and the Marine Base in Jacksonville NC before the years end
Marine & Army Gold Star Mothers will present in the name of our military KIAs.
As required funding is received we will march on towards Brooks Military Burn Center in Texas.
Please consider a donation for a purchase a loptop..each one is purchased from Best Buy. tuned by the Geek Sqd and a web cam is donated..The cost of a Toshiba laptop is $325.00..a very small price to pay to comfort our wounded.
My deepest thanks and respects to each of you who have made this mission a success.
George & Jamie Samek
Gathering of Eagles NC
Dan Maloney
September 22nd, 2009 at 8:48 amGeorge Samek is a natural wonder of the veteran community!
Jack Cameron
September 22nd, 2009 at 5:49 pmI met George Samek on Sept 9th of this year after hearing he’d be accompanying my friend Muriel Pederson in DC. He’s the real thing and he’s doing an outstanding job. Best wishes to him and his endeavors…I’ll be kicking in and I hope you all will too.
Jack Cameron, 5th Marines, RVN 69/70
Jim Holmes - Toothless Dawg
September 22nd, 2009 at 7:51 pmYou’re young and in a hot and dirty location on the other side of the world where basic comforts are far removed. You get hit bad and for the next few days you are being moved and moved again and the flurry of activity over you is unbelievable and you are scared but don’t admit it to anyone. You remember your family, your girlfriend, your boyfriend, the smell of down home such a long time gone. You feel the unbelievable warmth of the bits and pieces of the projectile within. You feel the pain of your limb that is no longer there. You are transported back to the world where you are moved to another medical center and more unknown doctors, interns and more beautiful nurses. You remember your bro’s … and you question, “Are they ok?” You wonder why you can still remember. You ask, “Why me” and think of the future and your bro’s once again. You blame yourself for getting hit. It’s damn hard because you can’t do what you used to take for granted. You feel as if you have erred and somehow have lost control. You sink into a state of depression. What heals you is God, the doctors and those beautiful, fantastic nurses who never give up on you. Then the nurse tells you that you now have access to a laptop computer that enables you to have visual contact with your family … you in your ward, your family in your home. You can see them. Damn they look good. You can hear them tell you how they love you and your mom to say, “Good night baby, sleep tight” or your wife say, “I love you”.
The healing power of family is awesome. To be able and provide laptops that enable you to see and talk to loved ones is a boost to every positive emotion a human can feel. It is healing power for the wounded warrior and healing power for the family. Please consider the good a simple donation can make to those who have signed that blank check with Uncle Sam for our benefit and the benefit of our Country. God bless these veterans, God bless America, and God bless you for supporting them.
Mike Blankenship
September 23rd, 2009 at 11:31 amGeorge has more great ideas in his head each day than Congress has had in our nations history. That may be a little stretch, but it’s not far from the truth.
It was an honor for me to be with so many friends, who i consider family, to present the first, of many laptops to come, to Walter Reed.
Thank you for your service CJ. You are among the best this country has ever produced. Don’t ever forget that.
“America owes a debt to it’s Warriors that it can never repay”