Welcome to Homefront Hugs USA

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AP Photo by S.Veder-1974

  • Where Freedom Means Sacrifice and Freedom Endures. 
  • Where we honor the greatest generation: our World War II Veterans to which this site is dedicated... in memory of my Jewish  grandfather who fled Hitler and helped prosecute the Nazis at the Nuremburg trials.  
  • Where we also honor and dedicate this site and our missions to Gulf War veteran Steve Schmidt of Charlevoix, forever friend, a dedicated USAF pilot who succeeded against all odds with the help of his incredible mother Claire . We salute Steve and his  mother every day as we keep our missions going strong. Steve's dedication and perserverance to fulfill his dreams inspire us daily...due so much to his mother and mentor Claire. (Read "Claire's Gift" to learn more about her story.)
  • Where we honor CW5 Dennis R.Bryson of the US Coast Guard who helped inspire our missions at Homefront Hugs  by helping us remember the Coast Guard and their sacrifices abroad and here during hurricanes and natural disasters.   
  • Where each and every serviceman and woman has served us with honor - no matter what decisions our leaders make.  
  • Where Americans will never forget 9-11-2001 . 

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  • Join us today to thank all our troops and veterans and their loved ones without conditions.

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We salute all our veterans, troops and families every day - our children
sleep safe at night because of your sacrifices.
 
  
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" No honor without peace" a famous politican said...?
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 You, our heroes, have already earned the honor and respect as have your fallen
 and wounded brothers and sisters . 
You can rest assured that everyone who claims to support our
heroes, from the right, from the left, from the oceans to the shore,
without condition, knows and believes :
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 Freedom Endures. Honor is Yours. 
We are here to thank those who serve and YES ! Our wounded can be reached through us in Operation Healing Angel... despite the news and media reports. 
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April 16, 2008

We really could use everyone's help this spring and summer.

Your country needs you. Let us remember our generations from World War II and let us emulate them. They knew the support needed to be there on the homefront as well- without wavering. We are a public charity you can trust. No one receives a salary here. But we badly need donations to keep our missions afloat...regular donations until this war ends and as we care for our wounded.

 Stand united by supporting our troops without conditions.

Five and a half years ago ,  Homefront Hugs was founded as a small group of volunteers in tribute to our troops being deployed to Afghanistan  to make sure 9-11 never happened again, that the dismal Vietnam homecomings never happened again....with the help and support of many 9-11 families.  We hoped one day we might close our doors, the war would end, and we could just have one huge homecoming celebration for our heroes just like in World War II.  Yet as you well know, our work continues and the biggest work with our wounded coming home and offering comfort and support to our veterans and families of the fallen...

We now are a legitimate 501-3c non-profit organization with integrity-incorporated as of July 2007 which was generously arranged by a wonderful local law firm dedicated to our veterans and families. Our work has never stopped as more troops were deployed all over the world including Iraq. We give tribute to those who served without question in every war - with honor and courage .  We must never forget the sacrifices.

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***How can you help say thanks to those who serve ?

Join us at Homefront Hugs USA.  You can do as little or as much as you want from the comfort of your own home.  

Donate funds for postage and requested supplies
 
 You can easily donate to us for postage ( just 8.95 for each box we send no matter how heavy) or for necessary items ( we'll do the shopping)  through any Regions Bank or Paypal or sending a check to our address below...or we have plenty of ideas right on this page. You choose. We are a public charity and we welcome prayers too...everything helps. God bless you all.  Anything and everything matters for us as we embark upon the new year with needs abundent for those who serve. You can rest assured nbone of us even collect a salary. Every penny goes to our missions and troops.This April, we are $300 short again and could not ship some of the care packages we needed to get to our troops. Somehow we need Americans to realize even a $5 donation is wonderful and every little bit helps...- these are our fellow country men and women willing to lay down their lives for our freedoms- our sons and daughters, friends and neighbors .Please donate today. Gather your loose change...send just a dollar. Imagine if everyone just sent a dollar !WOW- the miracles and needs we could meet for our wounded troops and our deployed !
 

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive it via email- just email/contact us with subject "news" and we'll make sure you receive our newsletter full of ideas, projects we have completed, and letters or news from the families and troops serving us with honor. 

  • Choose a project or come up with your own and send it to us to send on... and do what little or however much you can with a friend, alone or make it a family affair! Students can get volunteer credit with parental approval, receive letters of reference and volunteer cards are available to all. We also welcome our elderly- our seniors who we think are some of our most vital and positive volunteers we have ...join us in any way that is good for you.
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  • Operation Healing Angel I for our Wounded : YES- you can contact the wounded through us...Spend 5 minutes and write a card or letter...for a wounded hero ! We need you. We welcome volunteers from around the world especially our British, Australian and Canadian allies ! Or spend an hour or less gathering more volunteers for us or stuffing boxes or treat bags for our wounded, their nurses or doctors . They are so grateful and pleased to be remembered ! See their photos below.
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  • Operation Healing Angel II for our Wounded - Adopt a duck today and bring a smile and some comfort to a wounded hero or their nurses or doctors or family! Just ask - we'll explain.
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  • These ducks are fundraisers now again during Spring with spring decorations and also bring messages from you...We can guarantee the smiles and each duck has a message from you and your email on its belly. The troops in the hospitals and MASH units just love these as well as injured children who are treated and have become unfortunate victims in this war...This is also a super project for the kids as you can see the ones from the Christmas holidays below...and we have a whole list of projects for kids if nothing here interests you here - just ask. You can adopt 3 ducks to be sent over for $10. Choose your message and it will also help us get needed items to the troops ! Thanks so much. Remember too, this is sometimes the very first volunteer organization your child may join with his or her own very OWN volunteer card.
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  • Operation United Warriors -help us support a group of special warriors in the middle of the sandbox literally....until they all come home...for more info...go to our "Care Packages" page...
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  • Homefront Hugs Business or Family Sponsorship: Donate funds for postage with different levels of sponsorship  or a one time donation. If you are an individual, business or family consider donating an amount regularly to help us with postage to send supplies . We have four levels of sponsorship which also give you recognition in our monthly newlsetter and website.  If you are interested in becoming a sponsor and that includes being listed and advertising on our site, please contact us with subject: "sponsorship".
  • If advertising is not your interest, we still would like to list you on our Homefront Hugs Wall of Thanks ...with your permission, as well as a message from you to those who serve.
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  • Homefront Welcome Home Hugs :Put together some Homefront Hugs and welcome our troops home at your local airport - we even have the banners.stickers and materials for you to do this in your hometown! Do this as a team or with a few friends...
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  • Homefront Hugs for Kids :Check out the links of interest and freedom contest for kids and get the children involved. It is never to early for a child to learn to volunteer and all the benefits spiritually and emotionally of giving back to others in our communities  and learning to be proud of our country and the heroes who make the sacrifices for us to live in peace and freedom. 
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  • Homefront Hugs Hero Adoptions: Our newest program, you can adopt a soldier,sailor,airman or needy veteran for a minimum of 6 months.  Two packages a month of any size are required as strict adherence to our confidentiality rules/OPSEC.
  •  Address, phone number,and email (or letter) of why you wish to adopt is part of the application.If you are ready to adopt, contact us with the word "adoption ", include the above and a valid email address . Please allow 7- 10 days to be assigned your hero. This will be an experience you will surely find rewarding. 
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  • - We need you so please let others know about this as well !
  • And if you are a hero in need of adoption...Just ask or call us.
  • Send us your address and needs and wants....and know we follow OPSEC to the tee.
  • Don't be shy. We want to thank you. 
  • We will get you taken care of as well as any of your buddies asap.
  • Send an email with word " adopt me/us " and any needs or things you miss to bring you an hug from home. Don't be shy !
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  • Sign a special guestbook online and say a prayer  in tribute to our fallen heroes from 9-11 and our troops who have paid the ultimate sacrfice in honor of Veterans' Day and every day as we give tribute to their memory daily.

                              Click here: United in Tears at Homefront Hugs USA

 

Our commitment to all volunteers: Every volunteer, young and old, receives a registered volunteer card and a certificate as well for your group or school or church or synagogue or business or....neighborhood, etc,etc,etc,...just join us and you will be joining some of the best volunteers and volunteer teams in the world where it comes from the heart with no conditions !

ASK ALI program

Are you a veteran or deployed hero - or dependent keeping the home fires burning ?

OPSEC and confidentiality are strictly adhered to as required by law. Ali  is a crisis intervention counselor having worked in the military herself as a counselor and education specialist, and now sharing some of her time answering daily letters and providing referrals and resources when needed . Though you will not have daily sessions with her, she can help you to help yourself and make sure you and your family are in a safe place and know where the help is. We recognize the challenges you have as families and in coping with 3rd and 4th deployments and the marriages that are under a great deal of stress- and we are here to help. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. CALL OR WRITE. You are not alone 

 
Life is short...as my best friend Steve always said,
" savor" - no regrets. 
Listen to your angels. Be true to yourself
and know we are a grateful nation.

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Read our latest freedom tribute to an amazing woman, mother of a veteran :

Claire's Gift

We wish everyone a wonderful spring and summer season as it begins....and hope you remember those who sacrifice every day so we can enjoy our lives and spend time with our loved ones.

If you wish to sign up- email us with subject "news".  You can also read it online here under "Newsletter" .

A Special Welcome back to our Hurlburt Special Operations Air Field heroes who just returned -  to some very loving arms and a very grateful community ! We hope everyone has a wonderful  peacefulspring and summer    and a blessed Passover. Please do consider joining us this season from home, for just a little while, to thank our troops .  Our support goes on long past the holiday seasons and WE NEED YOU if you can spare a bit a of time.**Have

 
Sincerely in peace, 
**
Alessandra Kellermann
 
President and Founder
Homefront Hugs USA,Inc.
1449 Tiger Lake Drive
Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563
412-498-3855
 
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" Be the change you wish to see in this world..."

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( Ed Kellermann- Co-President with Mom above)

THANK YOU VOLUNTEERS !

 We are in the news....our first national award...thanks to all of our incredible volunteers:

http://www.gulfbreezenews.com/news/2007/0628/Front_Page/004.html

 

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Thanks so much to all the wonderful students at Oriole Beach Elementary and Gulf Breeze Middle School who helped to reach out to our families of deployed heroes this holiday season. You are all heroes too...some of you have even adopted a hero to send care packages to all year ! WOW !
Being a volunteer makes you very special Americans and God is proud of you too ! 

 

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Our newly adopted largest combat hospital in Iraq is thrilled we have them hugged ! Join us in keeping their morale high. The poster behind them was made by all of the 2nd grade classes at Oriole Beach Elementary School of Gulf Breeze,Florida. Support them by adopting your own duck with a personalized message to send to a wounded hero ! Send a smile and a Homefront hug in style ! 

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These ducks are anxiously waiting to be adopted.

Go to the Healing Angels page for more info...

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Despite the news reports, you can help and write our wounded...and here is how... You are needed.  

Read their latest email and join us please !: 

Homefront Hugs,

Thank you very much for sending all of the wonderful care packages filled with coffee, snacks, and supportive letters. I want you to know that the troops here really appreciate it. We have many wounded that come through the hospital and I want you to know they receive the cards you make and the goods you send. Your support is appreciated and needed.

Alessandra always leaves a note that says, "Let us know if you need anything." One thing we could really use is a coffee grinder!! We receive all the wonderful Starbucks coffee beans, but have no way of grinding the beans. If we could get a coffee bean grinder that would be awesome!!!! Oh, and possibly some sort of basket or something to put all the candy in? Thank you!!!!

Thank you Homefront Hugs!!!!

Very Respectfully,

Kristina M. Decot, SrA, USAF
Chaplain Assistant
AFTH Chapel

 

 

You CAN write ANY WOUNDED HERO  at:

Operation Healing Angel

Homefront Hugs USA

1449 Tiger Lake Drive

Gulf Breeze, Florida 32563 

We'll make sure it gets to our heroes and send it on...to our heroes and their healing angel caregivers...to American combat hospitals in the sandbox and medical centers worldwide which truly need your support.

We cannot release our addresses of the medical hospitals in the war zone that have asked for our support due to security but we'll make sure your cards and help get to our heroes . Thanks for understanding...and caring. We have been entrusted with these assignments because we have supported our wounded now for a long time and with OPSEC intact. Special Thanks to the TEMPLE BETH SHALOM this month for their incredible boxes of needed items they sent as their PASSOVER gift. SHALOM, my friends.

 Just read all about it:

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Thank you to the Etheredge Family of Gulf Breeze !

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Remembering Charlie- our friend and hero...

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Ed Kellermann, age 4 in photo, thanks our heroes !

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Go Forward With Courage

When you are in doubt, be still, and wait;
when doubt no longer exists for you, then go forward with courage.
So long as mists envelop you, be still;
be still until the sunlight pours through and dispels the mists
-- as it surely will.
Then act with courage.


Chief White Eagle (1800's to 1914)

 

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 Thanks to some wonderful fellow University of Michigan Alumni who help us out every time we need packages sent  and more ! Go Blue !

A Thousand Thanks to our countless Michigan families and school kids who helped with our Homefront Hurricane Lunchbox Hugs and our smiles for our troops and

WWII veteran Charlie !

Congralutions to Michigan this week ! GO WOLVERINES !

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Special Thanks to the Oriole Beach Elementary 2nd Graders who made some wonderful posters on their Discover America day for our wounded and their doctors and nurses : Operation Healing Angel !

We were also in the News....in the Eglin Air Force Base Newspaper...AIM HIGH !

EGLIN DISPATCH reports on Homefront Hugs for our Wounded

To join the fun and bring a smile and support:

Click here: OPERATION HEALING ANGEL FOR OUR WOUNDED TROOPS

 
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Both mother and daughter above have been deployed and adopted by the same wonderful volunteers.... 

 

 
 
 

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Click here: United in Tears at Homefront Hugs USA

Sign our special guestbook today if you have lost a loved one to this war or on 9-11 and remember this country stands with you...and never forgets.

Sign this guest book if you wish to express sympathy and support as our families of the fallen also read this and when you care- and thank them- and say it out loud- it matters. 

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 Sign up for the monthly newsletter by emailing

HomefrontHugsUSA@aol.com with subject "news".

To link to us, please use this banner :

http://homefronthugs.com/
Homefront Hugs USA : A Resource Site for Troops and Families;
Support Without Conditions- Where No Hero Is Forgotten
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" There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle.
The other is as though everything is a miracle. "
 Albert Einstein

  

 

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Homefront Hugs USA and its programs does not endorse any political party or candidate. We are here strictly to provide support and comfort to our service members,veterans and their families, regardless of political or religious affiliation.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or politics in accordance with our United States constitution and in honor of our troops and veterans worldwide who come from all walks of life to serve our country with honor, great personal sacrifice and courage.

  2001 Trademark and Copyright- All rights reserved - Homefront Hugs USA, Inc.


501-3c  Non-Profit Organization 2007

Special thanks to a fantastic law firm dedicated to our veterans and their needs helping Homefront Hugs USA pro bono to achieve non-profit status :

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A local Pensacola law firm, Aylstock, Witkin, Overholtz & Kreis, PLLC, whose Justice Attorneys specialize in Pensacola personal injury and Gulf Breeze personal injury cases, has lended its hand to seeking Justice for Military Veterans in making Veterans Benefits claims and Veterans Disability claims.  Check out their website at www.awkolaw.com.   

" Savor life for it is fleeting. Honor our troops by making the best out of your life." 

 Sandria Schmidt

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To contact us: info@HomefrontHugs.com

 

Homefront Hugs USA and its programs does not endorse any political party or candidate. We are here strictly to provide support and comfort to our service members,veterans and their families, regardless of political or religious affiliation.  We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or politics in accordance with our United States constitution and in honor of our troops and veterans worldwide who come from all walks of life to serve our country with honor, great personal sacrifice and courage.

  2007 Trademark and Copyright- All rights reserved - Homefront Hugs USA


501-3c  Non-Profit Organization 2007

( what you do with us for our heroes can be tax deductible too !)