Soldiers' Angels hosts benefit Friday in Bellingham

MICHELLE NOLAN - FOR THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

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Soldiers' Angels, an international volunteer support organization, has grown to more than 200,000 members in only six years. Its first major local fundraiser, "A Night for Our Heroes," will be Friday, Nov. 13.

The devotion of volunteers such as Julie Morelli, the Washington state leader of Soldiers' Angels, explains why the group has grown so quickly. Morelli says the organization's motto - "May No Soldier Go Unloved" - touched her heart. A resident of Langley, B.C., she likes to say, "There's no border to gratitude."

Question: What is "A Night for Our Heroes?"

Answer: This will be a gala program of dinner, live music and dancing to the 17-member Northern Lights swing band, plus silent and live auctions, with some great prizes and tributes to the military. The cost of $40 per person covers everything, and will help the many programs conducted by Soldiers' Angels. Kathy Bergman of Bellingham is coordinating this event.

Q: What's the music like?

A: The Northern Lights have quite a following, and they're directed by Paul Sorensen, a U.S. Navy veteran from Bellingham. They're donating their time and talent to Soldiers' Angels.

Q: Why do you devote so much time to Soldiers' Angels?

A: I just feel so passionately grateful for the sacrifices our coalition men and women are making in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regardless of how you feel about the wars, they deserve all the help we can provide for them. My daughter Sammi inspired me to join three years ago.

Q: What are some Soldiers' Angels projects?

A: We match deployed soldiers with volunteers who support them with "care packages" each month and weekly letters.

We also provide extra support for those with special needs, plus support for families and veterans at VA hospitals. We support the Fisher houses in Seattle and Fort Lewis, where families of wounded veterans can stay expense-free.

Soldiers' Angels offers something of interest for every volunteer, including support for wounded and fallen heroes, and support for the children of deployed soldiers. To me, this is all about walking the walk of gratitude, and reminding us every day how such brave people are serving in our behalf.

We're proud that Soldiers' Angels recently received the Spirit of Hope Award, named for Bob Hope. He did so much great work to entertain troops on foreign shores.

Q: Discuss your "transitioning" program.

A: We recently sponsored a "Hearts Toward Home" workshop with Bridget Cantrell from Bellingham. This program focuses on healthy transitioning and quality of life for veterans suffering from post traumatic stress disorder and related disorders.

Q: How did Soldiers' Angels start?

A: It all began in 2003, when Patti Patton-Bader, the mother of a soldier deployed to Iraq in the first year of that war, found her son expressing concerns that some of his fellow soldiers did not receive mail or support from home.

This touched her so much that in a few months Soldiers' Angels went from a mother writing a few extra letters to an Internet community with thousands of members.

TO ATTEND

What: "A Night for Our Heroes," a benefit for Soldiers' Angels.

When: Friday, Nov. 13, with 6 p.m. cocktail hour, 7 p.m. dinner, followed by a program and dancing.

Where: Best Western Lakeway Inn, 714 Lakeway Drive.

Admission: $40 per person. People who can't attend but who want to donate to Soldiers' Angels can do so at the Whidbey Island Bank branch at East Bakerview and Hannegan roads.