The Wichita Mountains Post of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) donated three checks to Wounded Warrior families and families at Fort Sill Army Post, as well as Sheppard and Altus Air Force Bases, in ceremonies Dec.19.

Jeff Kindshuh, 2012 Wichita Mountain Post SAME Vice President, presented a $1,500 check from the Wichita Mountains Post to the Altus AFB, First Sergeants Council at their 7 am meeting this week for support of two selected airmen. The First Sergeants Council expressed great appreciation for the support this holiday season of our military personnel. “Please pass along my gratitude and thanks to your organization. I know these Airmen, and they are both working through some unique challenges in their personal lives. We truly appreciate all of your support!” stated CMSgt Fish.

Ten families spread around the three bases will be receiving a total donation of $12,500 over the next week. Any donations received after the last check is written will be donated directly to the Wounded Warrior’s program at Fort Sill.

Rick West, 2012 Wichita Mountain Post SAME President, presented a check to Ms. Brenda Spencer-Ragland, Director of Fort Sill Morale Welfare and Recreation, for dispensation. Half of the funds will go toward support of Wounded Warrior families and the other half to families of uniformed soldiers with specialized or un-met needs. CPT Michael Carroll, Commander of the Warrior in Transition Unit (WTU), has also been involved in the WMP SAME Post’s efforts to provide assistance to local Wounded Warriors. The donations are meant to give back to those who have or are currently serving to protect our freedom

At Sheppard, Wichita Mountains SAME Post secretary Melissa Guillory, Post programs coordinator Billy Tramel and 366th Training Squadron electrical flight chief Master Sgt. Derrell Guillory presented a $3,000 check to Master Sgt. John Van Pelt, 366th TRS first sergeant and Sheppard First Sergeant’s Group treasurer, who will distribute the funds to Sheppard families.

“This is not only a great opportunity to express our appreciation for those who risk all to serve our country but an opportunity to join our other Post members in making a positive difference on a scale larger than ordinarily attainable through strictly individual efforts,” said Rick West, current Post President.

Every year a vote decides the special project for the year. Then the members challenge each other and the donations start pouring in. In 2012, Post members far exceeded any donations they have had in the past.

“I think it is great for the First Sergeants Group to be able to partner with an organization which shares the same goals that we do and be able to reach out to our Airmen here at Sheppard AFB,” Van Pelt said.

“As donations started coming in, it just started to snowball and we ended up with much more than we ever thought possible! Our members really care about supporting our military folks and wanted to give something back,” Mrs. Guillory said.

The Wichita Mountains Post and SAME mission is to promote and facilitate engineering support for national security by developing and enhancing relationships and competencies among uniformed services, public and private-sector engineers and related professionals, and by developing future engineers through outreach and mentoring.

The Posts’ members also volunteer their time to foster and expose students to engineering thru programs like, Engineer for a Day, Future Cities and Math Counts.

They also sponsor a golf tournament every October to garner funds for their scholarship program. They gave out one scholarship this year totaling $1,000 and sponsored another student to attend the Navy Seabee Summer camp to learn more about engineering thru the military.

To learn more about the local Post of SAME or to become a member, go to http://wichita.same.org/.