Hi, my name is Markus and I am a United Stated Air Force veteran. I served active duty with the 436th Aerial Port Squadron at Dover Air Force Base, Delaware, from 1993 until 1997. The only deployment I was ever involved in was to Zagreb, Croatia, in support of Operation Joint Endeavor in the mid 1990s. Having served during that time frame, I was spared from both Operation Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Wherever I go, people always thank me for my service, but I never thought that I had done anything special. I had served during peace time, and missed both Gulf Wars. I always thought that maybe, just maybe, I might have made a real difference if I had enlisted sooner, or stayed in longer. As our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan continues, I see lots of bumper stickers displaying the same phrase that seems to be frequently used by everyone, and that phrase is “Support Our Troops”. Even I have a magnetic yellow ribbon sticker on my car bearing the phrase “Support Our Troops”, but does it really mean anything? How exactly am I supporting our troops, except only with lip service and good intentions?
Well, I found a REAL way to support our troops, through the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. The Special Operations Warrior Foundation mission is devoted to providing a college education, through grants, to every child who has lost a parent while serving in Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations during an operational or training mission. The forces covered by the Foundation are some 50,000 military special operations and support personnel stationed in units throughout the United States and overseas bases.
To help raise funds for the families of our fallen and wounded Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines, I ran in the 35th annual Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, DC in October 31st, 2010. I am asking for your help with this worthy cause, by sponsoring my marathon run with a donation to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation. I have completed my run, but you can keep giving at any time. Any donation, great and small, will make a difference and will be appreciated. To make a donation, simply click the “Sponsor me now” link next to my picture. Feel free to link or forward this webpage to anyone you know who would be interested in contributing, and to Support Our Troops.
I sincerely thank you for your donation to this cause.
Markus Ismael