Seahawks to Recognize Veterans and Families
at Military Appreciation Game Day
This Veteran’s Day weekend the Seattle Seahawks will feature the VA Puget Sound
Fisher House as part of Military Appreciation Game Day.
The Fisher House is a home away from home for veterans and military families
while their loved one is receiving long-term specialized care for combat
injuries, illness or disease.
The Seattle Seahawks generously provided space to the Fisher House in Touchdown
City, and Seahawks Coach Mike Holmgren is featured in a public service announcement
that will be shown in Qwest Field and on local TV and radio stations. “The Seahawks are proud to recognize the sacrifice of our men and women in military
service, our veterans and their families. Fisher House helps to ensure families of wounded or sick veterans can be close
by when they are needed the most,” said Mike Flood, Seahawks Vice President
Community Relations”
Triwest Healthcare Alliance, the administrator of Tricare in the western United
States and long-time supporter of Fisher House has challenged the local community
to raise more than $100,000 this weekend. Triwest will match every dollar given up to $100,000. “We are reminded daily of the huge cost of freedom. At TriWest we feel it is our duty to support those who paid and are paying the
price for our freedoms,” said David McIntyre, CEO Triwest Healthcare Alliance. “We have tremendous respect and admiration for those who serve in our armed forces. It is out of this respect that we are so proud to bring a Fisher House to Seattle
to help veterans’ families in their time of need.”
Qwest communications is kicking off this community challenge with a gift of $5,000
to be donated during the third quarter of the game.
Ooorah Moms a local chapter supporting mothers of Marines, Local Mothers’ and
volunteers from O’Dea High School will be on hand at Touchdown City to support
the Fisher House. The students from O’Dea are participating in honor of Kevin Shea, an O’Dea alumni
killed in Iraq. Kevin’s brother Dan Shea, is Vice President of the Friends of the VA Puget Sound
Fisher House will be on hand to accept the Qwest donation. (More on Dan Shea’s story is attached)
About the VA Puget Sound Fisher House
· Last year, 17,105 veterans and newly returning soldiers traveled from Alaska,
Oregon, Idaho and Eastern Washington to receive their care at the Seattle
division of the US Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care
System. Most came because of the specialized care and treatment offered
for complex and traumatic combat injuries, spinal cord injuries, rehabilitation
and limb loss prevention or comprehensive cancer care and blind rehabilitation.
· More than 14,000 lodging nights were provided locally to veterans and their families.
Without lodging on the medical center campus, families must find hotel
accommodations in the community for extended periods of time and often
at their own expense.
· In 2005, more than 20 newly returning soldiers and their families would have
benefited from a local Fisher House due to the nature of their injuries
and the length of their hospital stays.
· Fisher Houses are built to meet this need allowing veterans' family members to
be close in the most stressful times--treatment of serious injury, disease
or illness. Supported by the Fisher House Foundation and the Fisher Family,
thirty-five Fisher Houses have been built at VA medical centers and military
hospitals; fifteen additional houses are being planned across the country
including one at the Seattle division of VA Puget Sound.
Veteran’s Day Editorial Dan Shea
My brother, Lt. Col. Kevin Shea (USMC), was killed during a rocket attack in
Falluja, Iraq on September 14, 2004. I still vividly remember answering the phone call in my kitchen and the voice
of the Marine chaplain on the end of line informing me that my brother had
been killed. In that exact moment, my life and the life of my family changed forever.
The family members of over 3,000 soldiers and Marines killed in Iraq and Afghanistan
have experienced that same phone call. It is a devastating blow and it captivates most of the news stories. But lost sometimes in the headlines is the over 21,000 veterans that have been
critically wounded. Their families have experienced a life-changing phone call as well. These families must get over the initial shock and rush to the aid of their
injured loved ones who face a future of medical and emotional challenges.
The number of wounded with catastrophic injuries is increasing. The most severe combat injuries include brain injuries, spinal injuries and
amputated limbs. The average stay in a military or VA hospital for a combat injury is close to
two months. One of the biggest challenges for the families of an injured service member
is lodging because many of the military and VA Hospitals are not equipped
to provide long term lodging to family members. Without lodging, the families are left to fend for themselves, often at their
own expense.
The presence of loving family members is essential for the rehabilitation of
a wounded service member and the Fisher House Foundation is an organization
committed to providing that presence. The Fisher House Foundation was established
in 1990 by Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher to provide lodging to families of
injured service members and veterans. Since 1990, the Fisher Foundation has
built over 35 “Fisher Houses” and saved families over $70 million in lodging
expenses. Due to the growing need caused by our recent conflicts, the Fisher Foundation
is looking to build more Fisher Houses where the need is most urgent.
One such place is Seattle. Increasing numbers of seriously injured are being treated at Seattle’s VA Puget
Sound Health Care System. Since 2001, more than 4,645 injured service members have been treated there. Most have traveled to the VA Puget Sound because of the specialized care offered
for complex and traumatic combat injuries.
Because of Seattle’s need, the Fisher Foundation has committed funds to build
a Fisher House at the VA Puget Sound. The local non-profit “Friends of the VA Puget Sound Fisher House” was recently
formed to raise $2 million in community donations to augment construction
costs and seed an endowment that will support the Fisher House. Construction on the VA Puget Sound Fisher House should begin in April 2007.
While remembering our war dead like my brother this Veterans’ Day, we should
also not forget our fallen warriors who have survived but need our support. This Veterans Day, do something that demonstrates an appreciation for our veterans
and their families. Honor their service and support them locally by contributing to the “Friends
of the VA Puget Sound Fisher House.”
Dan Shea is a Seattle lawyer and the Vice President of the Friends of the VA
Puget Sound Fisher House.
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