New Support-The-Troops Fund Seeks Money

[leftchick]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050804/ap_on_re_us/grants_for_troops_1

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Herrgott was joined by several prominent former politicians to launch the Minnesotans' Military Appreciation Fund, which aims to provide cash grants to the families of troops killed or wounded in Afghanistan and Iraq.

"This is a citizens' effort to say thank you," said Herrgott, whose son, Army Pfc. Edward Herrgott, was shot dead by a sniper in Baghdad in July 2003. "This would have been nice at the time two years ago, to know I had something like this and knowing I wouldn't have to worry about getting a paycheck every day."

Eugene Sit, the fund's co-chairman, said it is the first of its kind in the nation, although the New York-based Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund is raising money to build a recovery training center in San Antonio for severely wounded members of the military.

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Unsolicited contributions after initial media reports have brought in another $100,000, organizers said. Donation boxes have been placed in banks statewide, the Boy Scouts are mobilizing to collect donations, and a fundraising walk and dinner are planned for the fall.