Women in Women in the Militarythe Military

Way Back When...Way Back When...

• Ever since Biblical times, women have (sometimes secretly) been a part of the armed forces

• The acient God of War, Athena, was a girl too!

In the USAIn the USA

• Even after the Women’s Rights movents, women couldn’t fully participate in wars

• In World War I and II, women only officially participated in the wars by being nurses or sending over supplies

NowNow

• Now, women make up about 20% of military forces!

So What?So What?

• In the war in the Middle East, there are many soldiers who don’t have enough supplies. We are going to make fleece blankets to send to the troops through Soldier’s Angels

Soldier’s AngelsSoldier’s Angels• Soldiers' Angels was started by a self-described ordinary mother of two

American soldiers, Patti Patton-Bader.  Her eldest son, Staff Sergeant Brandon, deployed to Iraq from 2003-2004, and her youngest was deployed in 2008.

• In the summer of his 2003 deployment, Brandon expressed concern that some soldiers in his unit did not receive any mail or support from home. Being a loving and caring mother, Patti decided not to allow a situation like that to continue. She quickly contacted a handful of friends and extended family and asked if they would support a soldier or two. Within just a few months, Soldiers' Angels went from a mother sending a few extra care packages and letters, to an Internet community with thousands of Angels worldwide.  With more and more merchants donating services, money and items for packages, Soldiers' Angels reorganized as a 501(c)(3) non-profit in 2004.

• Soldiers' Angels currently supports tens of thousands of American military personnel stationed wherever we raise our nation's flag.   Today, Soldiers' Angels works around the world to address military-related needs ranging from deployed support to wounded care, to remembrance of the fallen and a wide variety assistance for military families. 

How To Make Our BlanketsHow To Make Our Blankets

• Step1- Lie first 2 yards of fleece face down on the floor or hard surface. Place second fleece fabric on top of first, facing up.

• Step2- Measure two inches down on all four sides of the fabric. Lie masking tape two inches down from edges.

• Step3- Every one inch, trim down to masking tape.

• Step4- Starting on any side, tie matching strips from opposite sheets of fabric. Complete all four sides, and you have your completed fleece blanket.