"Our mission is to support the needs of our members of the armed forces of the United States of America deployed in harm's way."
Please Click on the Link Below to View a Moving Video about Fisher House
The Fisher House™ Program
The Fisher House™ program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.
Because members of the military and their families are stationed worldwide and must often travel great distances for specialized medical care, Fisher House™ Foundation donates "comfort homes," built on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers. These homes enable family members to be close to a loved one at the most stressful times - during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.
There is at least one Fisher House™ at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House™ program serves more than 10,000 families, and have made available nearly 2.5 million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990. Please Click Here to visit the Fisher House website.
Please Click on the link below for the Video about the 'Gratitude Campaign'
The Story Behind the Gratitude Campaign
"For the past several years as I've been traveling around the country, I've been approaching soldiers in the airports and thanking them for serving for us. On several occasions I have noticed that it felt a little awkward for both of us. There are several reasons, some of which I am even just now learning as I produce this film and talk to more soldiers. But they have always appreciated being thanked, and I have always felt better having expressed my gratitude.
I started to think that it would be nice if civilians had a gesture or sign that they could use to say 'thank you' quickly and easily without even having to approach. I did some research and found the sign that we are now using.
Is this limited to the military? Not at all. If you look around you I'm sure that you'll find lots of people who are serving their communities, from local to global. If you appreciate their service, give them a sign. Say 'thank you.'" Scott Truitt, Originator of the Idea
Please click on the YouTube link above and to the right to see the video from the gratitudecampaign.org website.
Three Video Clips From Rockin' For the Troops - 2007
CSI NY's Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band Perform For the Troops!
Please click on the link to the right to view a video clip from Rockin' For the Troops - 2007: Kimo Williams performing Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze"
Please click on the link below to view a video clip from Rockin' For the Troops - 2007: Gina Gonzalez performing Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart"
Please click on the link below and to the right to view a video clip from Rockin' For the Troops - 2007: Gina, Gary, the Lt. Dan Band (and the entire audience!) perform "Sweet Home Chicago"
The concert was performed at Cantigny Park in Wheaton, IL on July 21, 2007. These clips are extracted from a DVD recorded and produced by Jim Owiecki of Wheaton Face Productions.
2nd Battalion 24th Marines is a Chicago area Marine Reserve unit that was deployed to the "Triangle of Death" in 2004 - 2005 during a particularly tense time when Iraqis were voting for the first time. The unit earned the nickname "Mad Ghosts" from the Iraqis during their first deployment due to their ability to move quickly and stealthily day or night throughout their area of concentration.
The unit is being deployed back to Iraqi for a second tour and the slideshow to the left are photos taken by Beth A. Piccolo from the USO Great Lakes during Weapons Company's muster/departure from their drill center in Waukegan to 29 Palms, CA for desert training prior to insertion into Iraq.
Here are two links to the Lt. Dan Band website. Click on the photo on the left to see a high resolution video of Lt. Dan Band performing "Baba O'Reilly" (originally done by the Who and CSI NY's theme song) last year in Ontario, Canada.
Click on the photo to the right to see a video from the same show at Casa Rama in Ontario, Canada. The video is the band performing their cover of Led Zepplin's "Rock 'and Roll"
Note: you will need to have broadband and QuickTime software to view these videos.
Two Video Clips From Rockin' For the Troops - 2006
For Memorial Day, 2007 here are two (2) links to videos recently posted on YouTube.
Below and to the left is a song by the South County Band called "The Toughest Job of the War". The song is about what spouses, mothers, fathers and children go through while service members are deployed. The song is based upon Ted Painter's (the singer/songwriter) own family's experience while he was deployed in Iraq serving as an active duty Army officer.
Below and to the right is a link to a song by Rushlow Harris, a country music duo. The song, "Bagpipes Cryin", is based on a poem written by Commander Mark Waddell, as a tribute to the SEALS he lost in the Middle East while in command of the SEAL teams in the area. Tim Rushlow then set the poem to music.
Please double click on the links to view these videos.
In addition here is a link to a website whose focus is on service in VietNam. The work is called "Inside the Wall" Please click here to view this webiste.
Click here (or on the picture to the left) for a moving slide show in honor of our military and their families. Done by Mark Reis, this is entitled "Our Sacrifice."
OSOT~IL on 'Around Town' - WGN News: November 9, 2006
Click on the above video icon to see the first part of a WGN News "Around Town" feature on Operation Support Our Troops ~ Illinois that was aired on November 9, 2006.
Click on the video icon below to see the second clip from the broadcast.
Video Clips from Rockin' For the Troops - July 22, 2006
Click on the video icons to the right to see three different clips from the "Rockin' For the Troops" concert held on July 22, 2006
Video of the Chicago Freedom Walk held on Sept. 10, 2006
Operation Support our Troops - Il., was proud to be a sponsor of the Chicago Freedom Walk to commemorate the lives lost in the attacks of September 11 and show support for our troops. Click on the video icon above to watch the Pentagon Channel's coverage of the Chicago walk.
Slideshow Photos From Rockin' For the Troops Concert
Click on the video icon above to see a clip from Channel 2 News (CBS) regarding "Rockin' For The Troops" concert held on July 22, 2006 in Wheaton, IL.
Click on the video icon above to see a photo slideshow of "Rockin' For The Troops" concert held on July 22, 2006 in Wheaton, IL.
Click on the video icon above to see a musical slideshow of a very unique and special motorcycle
For more detailed photos of this motorcycle, click here for the owner/creator's website.
A Moving Tribute to Our Military and Their Families
Click here for a moving slide show in honor of our military and their families. This was done by Todd Clegg for GCS Distributing.
A Tribute to Our Military For Independence Day
Click Here to view "American Flame", a fine slideshow that honors Independence Day on July 4th and shows the courage and commitment of today's American youth.
Anheuser-Busch 'Thank You' Commercial
Click on the video icon above to view the famous Anheuser-Busch Commercial thanking our troops.
Video Clips From Pentagon Concert - May 5, 2006
Click on the video icon above to see the opening song (Stevie Wonder's "Uptight-Everything's Alright") from Gary Sinise and the Lt Dan Band show that was held at the Pentagon on May 5, 2006.
Click on the video icon above to see "Sweet Home, Chicago" from Gary Sinise and the Lt Dan Band show that was held at the Pentagon on May 5, 2006.
In working to complete our mission we accept donations of the TOP TEN or "Wish List" items but if your schedule doesn't permit shopping and dropping off these items, it is easy to donate in another way: you can donate on an encrypted, secured page via credit card or PayPal by clicking on the donation button to the right. Or you can mail a check directly to OSOT~IL at 1807 S. Washington St. Suite 110, #359 Naperville, IL 60565. Remember: Your donation to Operation Support Our Troops ~ Illinois, Inc. is tax deductible! Please print out and save your receipt. Thank You For Your Generosity!!
