HELLO MY NAME IS BERNARD MOORE AND TO BE FRANKLY HONEST ADOPT A SOLDIER HAS BEEN AWESOME WORKING WITH ME AND MANY OTHERS HERE AT THE PRINCE HOME IN MANTENO IL. SUE WACKERLIN IS AMAZING LOVING AND CARING WHEN IT COMES TO US VETERANS ADOPT A SOLDIER DOES MUCH FOR MILITARY VETERANS AND IM PROUD TO BE A APART OF THE LEGACY.
I was truly fortunate in crossing paths with Sue and Adopt A Soldier while serving in Illinois. The spectrum of things this organization has done and is willing to do is honestly beyond any words. Things I have personally witnessed Adopt a Soldier do:
Organized a 22 mile hike with coordination through multiple towns to have police, EMT, busses and more to raise aware for veteran suicides. One of the best executed events I have ever been to and absolutely helped raise awareness and bring the community together.
Conducted coining ceremonies for those men and women who enlisted in the military as a way to welcome families into the veteran circle and allow them to see their loved one be recognized.
Sent hundreds of care packages to those military members forward deployed. These gifts were truly heartfelt and made an impact especially while forward during the holiday periods.
Beyond welcoming and supportive to those parents who had not experienced military before and offered them genuine care and advice.
I cannot say enough about what this organization has done and continues to do. I have never experienced a more genuine and caring organization.
We met Sue with Adopt A Soldier when my husband Scott and I were at our lowest point. We lived at a homeless facility for Veterans in Danville with our two boys.
We reached out one day in need of diapers for our youngest. Adopt a Soldier brought us diapers, toys for the boys, clothes for them, along with household necessities for us. A few months later we were surprised with car seats for our boys.
We are so blessed to have crossed paths with Sue and Adopt a Soldier. Without Adopt a Soldier, my husband wouldn’t be where he is today. Thank you for helping us, helping him when we needed it.
We met Sue in 2014, when my son was coined at the American Legion in Peotone. We had NO experience with the military at that point. My son was a nuclear machinist on an aircraft carrier, and Sue was a wealth of information, and became our connection to resources and communities of support as needed.
We've participated in assembling Christmas care packages through the years, and in ruck marches, and in fundraisers for the Adopt-a-Soldier program, and we've gotten to know her better through her selflessness and the time she devotes to others. She always said to let her know if we needed anything!
2 years ago I reached out to Sue for help as my son's wife was on an EKMO machine and had less than a 2% chance of survival. At the same time, his newborn son (born 2 months early) was in the NICU at another hospital. We were concerned about his responsibilities to his family vs his responsibilities to the Navy at the time. I have tears in my eyes recalling the day Sue met my husband and I at a local store, where we held hands and she led us in prayer standing right there in the middle of the parking lot. She gave us a backpack (care package) filled with gift cards, snacks, personal items, and just about everything needed for our son to spend the next 6-8 weeks of his life travelling back and forth between hospitals and a nearby hotel rooms. She also contacted his Navy chaplain, who sat with him in the waiting room at Northwestern in Chicago, and provided us with the names of other resources at Great Lakes. She said there was plenty more where that came from, and to just let her know when we need it.
I've always been a believer in the power of prayer, but the miracle that we witnessed in 2021 made believers out of many. My son is no longer in the Navy. He now takes care of his wife and son, who are alive and well. I'm convinced that Sue was put in our lives for a reason, and I can't say enough about the good she's done through Adopt-a-Soldier. She's one of a kind!
With compassion and dignity for others, Adopt A Soldier works to meet the needs of veterans. Active duty, retired, and their families are met with understanding, patience and kindness, as this passionate team of dedicated folks assist to make life a bit better for the military men/women. Sue and her team make it happen by providing a bed to a vet who slept on the floor for 8 years; or giving a young girl a bicycle whose veteran father cried with joy because he could not; or the older adult who just needed winter boots to make the walk to the grocery store a little warmer. No judgement, only help and time to love on someone who gave to their country. Adopt a Soldier is the real deal. Whether it’s your time, talents or treasure, Sue turns a little into a miracle for others. Consider donating or walking with her team on this journey of serving others.
Wonderful organization that has sent numerous care packages to my husband's unit while they were deployed. (Over multiple deployments as well!) Truly dedicated to the needs of service members past and present!!
Adopt A Soldier is hands down my favorite charity to support. I wear my red every Friday but it goes beyond that.. they really do so much to support the troops AND their families through the many hardships that go unnoticed to most people. Sue is truly a blessing to so many soldiers and so many military families.
This is a good charity. It helped my brother out when he was deployed to Afghanistan. When he came home they had a big parade for him and his friends who served with him. Sue and Pat are amazing women who do a lot for the organization. They do a lot for veterans, deployed soldiers and returning soldiers.
Ive seen the help they give our Service members and their families. I am impressed by the compassion,concern and dedication a.a.s has to all our military personnel.
So supportive of our veterans and their families! I love this organization and Sue Wackerlin fit all she does!!
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Very interesting stories! Living with my husband Allen who was a "ground pounder", as they were called, in the jungles of Viet Nam all I can say is Thank you for your service and apologize for the wrongs they were all dealt when they came home. We are now active in the "Adopt A Soldier" program which focuses on never letting this happen to our servicemen again, going or coming home!! Sue Wackerlin and the program do an awesome job making sure they feel our gratitude and appreciation for their sacrifices!! God Bless our Military and the USA!!
The director goes way above and beyond to personally help in any and every way needed. She sat at the hospital with my veteran grandson after he threatened suicide. She was there for him and always available for him and for our family. Forever grateful for such a dedicated caring person!
This is such an amazing program. Sue does such a wonderful job. She puts so much love and care into everything she does for the troops. You can see that come through with all the soldiers and families this program helps. Our troops make so many sacrifices for us and with this program we can start giving back to those brave men and women.
Adopt a solider is a great non profit! My whole family and I been lucky enough to help volunteer at many different events. It’s a great program to be apart of and I’m glad I can help in any way they need! My kids love helping too!!
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Being part of the 2018 Ruck March (part of medical team) was a great experience. Seeing everyone come together and support each other was amazing. Watching new marine recruits push themselves alongside seasoned vets and the bonds that formed from it was inspiring. Raising money, bringing awareness, and building relationships are very evident with this nonprofit. Wonderful work AAS!!!
Adopt a Soldier is such a wonderful organization. From bringing Christmas to Veterans and their families, helping a Veteran adjust to civilian life, bringing school supplies to a Veterans children, helping a Veteran with PTSD and being there to support them, get the proper medical care or finding a mentor to help to sending Girl Scout Cookies to those deployed. This organization is out in the community raising awareness, raising funds and walking the walk. All monies raised go right back into Adopt A Soldier. Just an amazing group of people who really care!!!
Thank you so much sue for all your help and treating us like family! We are so blessed to have met sue! She went out of her way we thought we were going to have to let our car not get fixed because it wasn’t in our monthly budget and it’s the car we use for my husband who is a disabled veteran to get to and from his v a appointments not to mention we have 5 children and need both cars to fit everyone - sue was not only able to help with that cost but also helped with getting our four kids who are in school all their supplies and backpacks- a big weight was lifted off of our shoulders and I will never forget this! Thanks again sue!
God bless Sue Wackerlin and her family and all at Peotone legion. theses people are unbelievable. Thank you all, merry Christmas timothy
Adopt a Soldier has been a great experience. Not only through my coining, but my three brothers as well. There are so many events that you can participate in annually, and every one is always so welcoming to help with anything. I love being part of a group that cares more about it's Soldiers than anything else.
I honestly can say that this is an awesome group of people, that at every turn tries to help our local vets, current service members, & future recruits. I don't get out as much as I would like to but every time I've attended an event I'm struck at the way they come together, they welcome newcomers or volunteers that can only show up once in a while, and at the selfless way they try to make a change. This is a great charity, if you want join or offer support! ;)
This organization is wonderful! So welcoming! You become part of a family. They are always there for Kory and I and his family. I was new to being part of a military family, and they opened their arms to me and reassured me that everything will be ok. I was aware of Combat PTSD but didn't know how to talk to my own family about the situations I was going through, but this group got me through many rough patches and I'm happier than ever and can't thank them enough! My love and support will always be with this family forever.
I have nothing but praise for this organization. They do a fantastic job in supporting families of the military. I'm very proud to say that I have never been involved In a more worthy cause. Thank you for what you do.
I am a proud mother of 4 children in our United States Army. Two children are veterans and 2 are still serving. I was unaware of this organization until three years ago when my son was coined by AAS and welcomed into the brotherhood of our local American Legion and as a "son" of Adopt a Soldier. I am proud to say my whole family, including my children, have given their time and effort to volunteering for this great non-profit. This group has supported my children and I in many ways during their service to our country and has made an impact on our lives. We are all proud to say we are part of the Adopt a Soldier family and to volunteer with this group is a very big part of our lives.
This organization has helped me in so many ways while my husband was enlisted. Being able to volunteer at different events gave me the feeling that I was able to give back in a small way for all those who serve to make our lives better each day. They provided a amazing homecoming for my husband when he returned from Afghanistan ♡♡ So happy I was able to find an organization that understood my emotions and supported me through everything while being away from my husband.
This group is beyond amazing! They helped us in so many ways possible including making sure that our two little boys had the correct car seats so that they can ride safely in a vehicle. Thank you again everyone for helping us! God bless!
This is an awesome group to be involved with. Everyone truly cares about our soldiers and veterans and their families. While my son was deployed he received care packages and upon his return from deployment I was able to share his homecoming via Facebook for everyone to be a part of. Adopt a Soldier not only supports our soldiers but their families as well.
I work with homeless veterans, and for the two years that I have been here Adopt A Solider has gone above and beyond to make Christmas a special and memorable time for our veterans. They also do other great things throughout the year which are greatly appreciated by not only the veterans, but also the staff here. It warms my heat to see an organization who takes the time to give to others wholeheartedly without a second thought.
Adopt a Soldier is one of the best organizations out there! There was a point in time when I had reached an all time low and had needed some help making my apartment a home while my husband was deployed. Everyone in this organization pulled together for me and helped me furnish my apartment. It was amazing. When I deployed, there was nobody I could count on more than everyone associated with this orgnization. We are all one big family and are always going to be there for anyone who needs help!
Such an awesome organization! They always go above and beyond to help soldiers here at home and overseas. They sent out tons of care packages to me and my unit when. I was deployed in 2012-2013.