Morale & Comfort Items Supply of adapted (for amputee) and non-adapted T-shirts, blankets, and morale items for patients, family members, staff and VIPs delivered weekly to patients by volunteers. Our shirts are our main primary program. With a donation, you are supporting our program of distribution of shirts to patients and family members. With a donation of $20 or more, you will receive the very same shirt (s) that we distribute for free to wounded warriors and their loved ones.

Patient Visits This is a difficult and painful time. We welcome in a respectful and low-key manner, new & current patients & family members in their rooms, giving them a shirt and any other items needed.

DVD & Video Game Library Hundreds of top movies in DVD format are available for patients and family members. New personal DVD players and full size DVD players are also available for patient and family member use. The newest games in multiple formats, XBOX 360, Wii, Playstation and the gaming systems to play them on are available for patients and family members to use in their rooms.

Family & Children’s Needs A constant supply of new toys, art supplies, board games, CD’s, and furniture are available for children and families.

Storage and Supplies Bookshelves, storage furniture, microwaves, and office supplies for patient/nursing areas and other items.

Service Animal Support - Provide financial and material support for veterans and their service dog in order to help restore their physical and emotional independence. Services include assisting with covering costs of vests, food, training, transportation, vet bills, etc. This program also partners with several non-governmental agencies to help find and place disabled veterans with service animals.

One of the main goals of Operation Ward 57 has been to provide continued support to our Heroes recovering in the hospital as well as continue that support once they leave and go home for as long as they and their families need us. We also want to continue to give our Heroes a “sense of purpose” and “we still need you” mentality. Our role has been to provide additional support through advocacy, education and promotion of their circumstances.

In order for us to be able to meet this need more effectively we have formed a team of volunteer wounded Heroes to serve as caseworkers/mentors to offer much needed support, compassion and motivation to those who are currently struggling with their injuries both seen and unseen. These wounded Heroes have healed from their own difficult injuries and have learned to cope with issues like PTSD, TBI, medical issues and more and can provide peer support and guidance to those who need it.

Goals for this program are:
. Wounded Hero Mentors & Case Management
. Wounded Hero Motivational Speakers
. Youth Motivational Speakers
. Advocacy & Education

Operation Ward 57 arranges excursions to events, concerts and sporting events in the local area as well as around the country. These events feature a meet-n-greet with the artist and a special seating area. Recent events include 3 Doors Down, Alice in Chains, Collective Soul rock concerts, Rodney Atkins country music concert and Mixed Martial Arts competitions. If a wounded warrior wants to attend a show anywhere in the country, we will arrange entrance for them (subject to availability).

Holidays can be particularly difficult for patients who are unable to leave the wards. Operation Ward 57 creates morale and spirit boosting events and gifts for patients and staff. With your support, we were able to provide live music with rock band, Cinder Road directly in the Ward for the first time in Walter Reed’s recent history. Flowers, bagels, pizza, hot catered meals, gift bags and more are provided throughout the year.

Active duty service members who work on the ward, have volunteered, or served as a combat medic and then deploy, are not forgotten. Substantial care packages are sent not only for that staff, but also for them to give to others, allowing them to continue to personally provide moral and spirit boosting help for their fellow soldiers. In addition we provide homecoming and deployment parties and activities to help ease their transitions.

www.pebforum.com – We promote this site started by Board Member Jason Perry that provides information on the US Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, National Guard and Reserve MEB and PEB. This site is dedicated to helping America’s Wounded Warriors navigate all phases of the Physical Disability Evaluation System, including the Medical Evaluation Board, the Physical Evaluation Board, Physical Disability Board of Review, Board for Correction of Military Records, and more.