The Forty & Eight  Charitable Veterans Since 1920

501(c)(19) non profit, tax exempt

40&8 National Headquarters; 777 N. Meridian Street; Indianapolis, IN 46204-1170

317 634-1804 ~ Voiturenationale@msn.com ~ www.fortyandeight.org

MEDIA RELEASE

Contact: M. Anich, 402 884-2428; publiciste408@cox.net

 40&8 Veterans Help War Wounded at VA Poly-Trauma Centers

INDIANAPOLIS  December 4, 2006   Representatives of the Forty & Eight national veterans’ organization, on November 21, 2006, presented a check for $10,000.00 to Dr. Michael J. Kussman, Undersecretary for Health, U. S. Department of Veterans Affairs, to aid war-wounded American troops undergoing treatment and rehabilitation at VA Poly-Trauma Medical Centers.

PHOTO (from left)  VA Undersecretary for Health, Dr. Michael J. Kussman, MD, with Forty & Eight national officers David Rabius, Tom Stockmal and Terry Sims.

More than half of all Americans wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan have blast-related injuries that require treatment that spans multiple medical disciplines and require extensive rehabilitation.  Such "poly-trauma" injuries are treated at four VA Poly-Trauma Centers located in Palo Alto, CA; Minneapolis, MN; Tampa, FL; and Richmond, VA.  These Poly-Trauma Centers help smooth patient transition from near-term military medical care to long-term rehabilitative VA care.

The Forty & Eight's Poly-Trauma Fund was established by the organization's 2006 Chef de Chemin de Fer (national commander) Thomas Stockmal of Fairbanks, Alaska.  The fund provides aid-and-comfort items for patients in the four Poly-Trauma Centers.

“These are true heroes," said Stockmal.  "All Americans owe them a debt of gratitude."

The Forty & Eight’s Poly-Trauma Fund functions in concert with the VA's Volunteer Service’s  project “Seamless Transition”. 

Founded in 1920, the Forty & Eight is a charitable honor society of American wartime veterans.  Its many programs include; Nurses Training, Child Welfare, Flags for First Graders, Carvelle  Disease Center support and program support for American troops returning from overseas.

The organization's current 2007 Chef de Chemin de Fer (national commander) is Terry Sims of Hudson, Indiana.  The Forty & Eight's national headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, is managed by Correspondant National (Adjutant) David Rabius of Indianapolis.

For more information about the Forty & Eight, please visit the Forty & Eight Online Media Kit at http://fortyandeight.org/national_media_kit.htm

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