The North Branch American Legion and O'Fudge Deli have joined together in accepting the challenge to gather donations for Operation Landstuhl.

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany is a stop on the journey home for most of the severely wounded Americans fighting in the war on terrorism.

In an article in the American Legion Vision, a current events publication, Paul A. Morin, the American Legion National commander, JoAnn Cronin, the American Legion Auxiliary National president and Earl Rutkfsky, Sons of the American Legion National commander make note that many of the wounded arrive at Landstuhl without clothes.

Apparently the clothes of these men and women are often cut off by medics and corpsmen as they are evacuated from the battlefield.

The wounded soldiers also lack other items while they stay at the hospital.

The American Legion wants them to do more than survive. "America can never repay the debt it owes these heroes, but it can certainly improve their quality of life," the commander said.

In the article, the authors note that "much attention has been given to substandard conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, but little is being done to help improve the plight of our heroes at Landstuhl."

Last month, Morin and Cronin had the honor of visiting this facility. "Patients there don't ask for much. Some are even eager to return to their old units so they could fight alongside their buddies. Sadly, some of these wounded warriors had broken television sets in their rooms. Others lack comfort items such as DVDs, MP-3s or even magazines. They do receive a small clothing allowance, but when you arrive with nothing it doesn't go very far."

The challenge

A challenge has been made to the entire American Legion family and anyone else who wants to help - to raise $50,000 by the close of the Legion's 89th National Convention on Aug. 30 to ensure that these men and women are given the comfort items that they want.

In North Branch, American Legion Post #85 will participate in Operation Landstuhl.

The Legion and O'Fudge Deli will accept donations for this project. O'Fudge Deli has been participating in Tanger Outlet Center's "Support the Troops" project and will now have a canister for donations for the Operation Landstuhl.

You may also send your donations to the American Legion, P.O. Box 87, North Branch, MN 55056 or stop by the American Legion Hall with your donation.

The Salute to Troops was a campaign that ran from June 29-July 8 during which shoppers at Tanger Outlet Center could drop off cards and letters for the troops. All of the cards and letters from Tanger Outlets nationwide will be shipped to US military installations around the world. Tanger also had a 6x12 foot card mural that people signed that will also be shipped with the shoppers cards and letters.