The Unforgiving Minute: A Soldier's Education

by Craig M. Mullaney

  Fisher House Foundation (www.fisherhouse.org)

  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 ten thousand families, and has made available nearly 2.5 million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990. By law, there is no charge for any family to stay at a Fisher House operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs; and Fisher House Foundation uses donations to reimburse the individual Fisher Houses operated by the Army, Navy, and Air Force. No family pays to stay at any Fisher House!

  Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust (www.dav.org)

  The DAV Charitable Service Trust supports physical and psychological rehabilitation programs, meets the special needs of veterans with specific disabilities—such as amputation and blindness—and aids and shelters homeless veterans. The Trust accepts gifts through workplace giving campaigns, including the Combined Federal Campaign and United Way, employee matching gift programs, and similar special giving arrangements, and provides a variety of direct services for America’s disabled veterans.

  The Veterans Northeast Outreach Center (www.northeastveterans.org)

  Headquartered in Evan O’Neill’s hometown, the Outreach Center provides support and advocacy to the over thirty-six thousand veterans in the region who are eligible for care. It provides a continuum of care to veterans and their families, from the very basic food and shelter needs to advocacy, information, referral, career, and education services.