Care package fundraiser surpasses $1 million

A fundraiser organized to collect sponsorships for care packages for the tens of thousands of U.S. soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan for this 4th of July has generated more than $1 million – the final total could even reach $1.2 million, according to organizers.

WND columnist Melanie Morgan and commentator Michelle Malkin of Move America Forward, the nation's largest grass-roots pro-troop organization, assembled the sponsorship campaign and aired a "From the Front Lines" Web-a-thon at Ustream.tv this week.

On her website, Morgan confirmed, "the telethon exceeded my wildest expectations. I thought that if we were really lucky, really good, caught some major breaks – we might raise $400,000 – tops.

Melanie Morgan and Michelle Malkin during fundraising for soldiers' care packages

"Instead, the final tally on the electronic tote board was $1,055,719," she wrote.

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"The response was so overwhelming that our website could not keep up with the orders. When all is said and done, I am guessing that Move America Forward will have collected about $1.2 million. People are still donating because UStream.tv re-broadcast the stream, and radio stations across the country were broadcasting or re-broadcasting in various markets," she said.

"Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham personally donated $15,000 each, and Rush Limbaugh pledged a personal check, Mark Levin donated, Michelle Malkin and Coulter cash flowed into our account. Mark Williams from WROR in Albany, New York flew into California to be our 'relief pitcher' and his wife Holly ran the sound board and produced while we were on-the-air," Morgan wrote.

"Thank you America, and the good Lord above. Thank you Michelle Malkin, Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Laura Ingraham, Dr. Laura, Monica Crowley and so many more, including the awesome John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting, and the fabulous comedian and serious patriot Jackie Mason," she wrote. "Thank you to the entire blogging community and folks at HotAir.com, Michelle Malkin.com, the Media Research Center, Human Events, WorldNetDaily, NewsMax and all the others in the on-line publishing world," she said.

Of course, the real story is that hundreds of thousands of generous Americans participated in a New Media venture that has never before been done. They did it for one reason: love and support for the United States military, our troops and our heroes," she said.

Donation board reflecting contributions of more than $1 million

She quoted from an e-mail from Malkin, who got a note from an active duty soldier serving in the U.S. military:

As an active duty Navy Master Chief with 27 years so far in the service, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to you and the entire staff of moveamericaforward for the event you held last night. It was truly inspirational to me. The political climate in our country the past few years, and the media's criminal bias had me convinced that I had certainly wasted my adult life hoping the country would get it. I have renewed hope that perhaps we will get it before our country is destroyed from within. Very respectfully, Ronald Dykeman.

Morgan recently had highlighted some comments from other members of the military.

I wanted to thank you on behalf of all my guys for the package you sent. Out here at Patrol Base Yusufiyah, we don't have a lot of amenities that are found on the larger Forward Operating Bases, so these packages are invaluable. We get mail here about twice a week and it's quite an event. All care packages are opened in front of everyone, and the guys grab what they want or need. … Our battalion has seen numerous deployments since 9/11 that include two tours to Afghanistan, two tours to Iraq, and some companies also deployed to Djibouti, Africa, and Kuwait for security missions. Through it all we muster on, thanks to the kindness of folks back home such as yourselves. – Sgt. 1st Class Kirk Kuebbing

I just wanted you to know that I recently received the package of coffee, cookies, beef jerky and Gatorade that you sent. Thank you very much! Be assured that the contents were distributed to all the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines that are assigned to and passing through this camp in Kuwait. As I say to people all the time, words could never adequately express the appreciation for all the support we continually receive from great Americans such as yourself. That support makes it easier for us to do what we do on a daily basis – regardless of what the press is saying about the war or our president. – Master Sgt. Dave Button

The care packages are including cookies, coffee, Gatorade, beef jerky and other items in the on-going effort also supported by Nancy Reagan, Gen. Petraeus, Lt. Col. Oliver North and Dr. Laura Schlessinger.

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