(x-posted to BYKYC, courtesy of Wired Blog and Project Valour-IT, computer memory)
Today is Veterans’ Day. Which means you’ve got a ready-made excuse to reach into your wallets, and give to charities that help out wounded warriors. My personal favorite: Project Valour-IT, which has given out more than 1600 voice-activated laptops to veterans with hand injuries and other traumas.
It may not seem like the biggest deal. But, for some injured soldiers, it is an absolute life-saver.
Captain Chuck Ziegenfuss woke up in a military hospital in the summer of ’05, unable to use his hands after being hit by an IED — and feeling humiliated, broken. “Being fed, bathed, taken care of like an infant” not exactly a fitting role for a tank company commander (and blogger) who’s used to being the one who helps others. It sure as hell wasn’t a role that I wanted,” he noted.
But that began to change, when the Soldiers’ Angels charity provided him with a laptop, and a buddy got him voice-controlled software to operate it. Suddenly, he was able to connect to the outside world. He was able to take up his blog again, too. And from that, he was able to muster the self-esteem and internal strength to begin his recovery.
In loving memory of Gramps:
Devilish Southern Belle
What a great idea! I never even knew such a thing existed.