Families of Fallen Rangers Need Our Help

For those who believe the shutdown isn’t affecting anyone negatively….

This is just a quick post to give this story legs and attention. Please help if you can, and spread the word to others who may be of assistance.

BlackFive:

Several Rangers have Fallen in combat during the shutdown. The Rangers’ families need your help. One such family is the Pattersons.

Due to the government shutdown and the denial of death benefits, PFC Cody Patterson’s family is under severe financial distress. The 75th Ranger Regiment is currently attempting to collect donations through the Ranger Assistance Fund.

Contributions can be made at the RAFs website at http://www.75thraf.org/ by clicking the “Donate Here” button.

Checks can be sent to:

The Ranger Assistance Fund
2733 Summerfield Pl.
Phenix City, AL 36867
– See more at: http://www.blackfive.net/main/2013/10/no-death-gratuity-benefits-for-families-of-fallen-rangers-help-now.html#sthash.921T1JtJ.dpuf

For more about Cody Patterson from the 3-75th, go to the BlackFive post.

NBC News:

In what veterans call an outrageous slight after the ultimate sacrifice, the shuttered federal government is withholding a $100,000 payment normally wired to relatives of fallen soldiers — including the families of five killed in Afghanistan over the weekend.

The payment, known as the death gratuity, is typically sent to families of the fallen within three days to help them cover funeral costs or travel to meet the flag-draped coffins of their loved ones.

“It is upsetting because my husband died for his country, and now his family is left to worry,” said Ashley Peters of Springfield, Mo., whose husband, Jeremy, was a special agent assigned to the Army’s 5th Military Police Battalion and was among the five killed. “My husband always said if something happened to him we would be taken care of.”

“I’m a stay-at-home mom, which is what my husband wanted,” she said. “He wanted me to take care of our son.”

Outrage over the lapse built Tuesday in both parties in Congress, among the relatives of the fallen and among veteran advocacy groups, which characterized it as an unacceptable breach of the country’s obligation to its volunteer military and their families.

Congresswoman Renee Ellmers on the House floor this morning:

[youtube]http://youtu.be/yLd_fAkvTd4[/youtube]

“There is a great injustice being done to our service members and their families. We learned last night that five brave American service members were killed over the weekend in Afghanistan while selflessly protecting our country. Normally the loved ones of these fallen warriors receive assistance in the form of benefits to help them as they make final arrangements for burial and other necessary preparations. Yet as a direct result of the political gridlock here in Washington – and despite legislation passed in the House last week – service members and their families are no longer receiving their benefits. Despite the government shut down, our service members are still expected to go to war and we should be expected to keep our promise to these grieving families. I am working as we speak to right this wrong and I urge all of my colleagues to do the same.”