A very special thank you to Major Dan Kearney (pictured here with his wife Laura) for fundraising on behalf of Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund in support of his participation in the Boston Tough Mudder. We are so honored to have Major Kearney as a part of our Team!
Rangers Lead The Way!
Wounded Army Ranger SFC Cory Remsburg came home to Gilbert, Arizona this week to a well-deserved hero’s welcome after years of rehabilitation for injuries sustained in Afghanistan. Mary Regan, pictured here with Cory, Craig and Annie Remsburg, was one of the honored guests at the celebration.
SFC Cory Remsburg is a true American hero and an inspiration. Through programs like our Wounded Ranger Assistance Program and our Ranger Recovery Program, Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund has been able to support Cory and his incredible family throughout his entire recovery and rehabilitation efforts.
As long as our Special Operations Rangers and their families are in this global war on terrorism, we will be there to support them.
“All Gave Some and Some Gave All.”
On this Memorial Day weekend we honor the life of Sgt. James J. Regan and ALL of the men and women in our Armed Forces who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the freedom that our Nation cherishes. We will never forget these brave soldiers who have given their lives for our country and may we never forget the soldiers who continue to fight for our freedom every day.
In the words of President John F. Kennedy – “Every generation of Americans must be expected to do their part to maintain freedom for their country and freedom for those associated with it…there is no final victory in a difficult and dangerous world.”
We would also like to thank you, our Patriotic supporters. Your continued support of the Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund helps to ease some of the tremendous burden that our Special Operations Rangers and their families bare.
God Bless America!
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Thank you BTIG for including us in your 11th Annual Commissions for Charity Day on Wall Street on May 14th!! And thank you so much to everyone in the financial industry who were able support us with your commissions today! Every bit of the funds we raise goes towards helping our U.S. Army Rangers and their families who need our help so we truly appreciate it!
RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!
Celebrity Traders to Join BTIG Commissions for Charity Day
NEW YORK, April 15, 2013 — BTIG LLC, a global financial services firm specializing in institutional trading and related brokerage services, will host its 11th Commissions for Charity Day on May 14, 2013. The annual Charity Day will once again feature celebrity “guest-traders” on BTIG’s trading floors across the country to help raise money for a variety of children’s charities.
Since it began hosting its Commissions for Charity Day in 2003, BTIG has raised close to $25 million and has donated those proceeds to over 350 nonprofit organizations. This year’s annual event will support many organizations that deal with important children’s issues including:
Among the celebrities that are expected to join BTIG this year are the following: Michael Strahan, Tom Coughlin, Victor Cruz, Justin Tuck, Eli Manning, Phil Simms, Joe Girardi, Mark Teixeira, Joe Torre, Reggie Jackson, Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez, Nick Manchego, Victor Cruz, Lynn Swann, Petra Nemcova, Jeremy Roenick, Jim Boeheim, Steve Schrippa, Miss America Mallory Hagan, Kaitlin Monte, Hannah Storm and Michael J. Fox.
“We’re proud that our clients and employees have this opportunity to work together with our celebrity traders and other special guests to make such a profound impact on so many peoples’ lives,” said Steven Starker, Co-Founder of BTIG. “The excitement surrounding this year’s event is a strong indication that we will have another successful day. We look forward to being able to support a number of charities that are important to our clients and celebrity guests.”
About BTIG
BTIG LLC is a premier institutional brokerage and fund services company. BTIG continues to build its global franchise around a broad and experienced group of professionals who are leaders and experts in their respective fields. Founded in 2002, BTIG, including through its affiliates, employs more than 400 professionals in five different countries. BTIG serves customers worldwide and offers services in: Equity Trading, Fixed Income, Futures Trading, Convertible Securities, Equity Derivatives, Foreign Exchange, Prime Brokerage, Outsource Trading, Direct Market Access, Capital Markets, Equity Research and Corporate Access. BTIG has ten domestic offices: New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Greenwich, Red Bank, Atlanta and Orinda. The firm also has four overseas affiliates: London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney.
A special thank you to the NorthFace Endurance Challenge Series for selecting Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund as your local non-profit partner for the event at Bear Mountain State Park May 4-5th. The event was terrific and we were honored to be a part of it. We are already looking forward to next year!
Congratulations again to all of our Team Army Ranger runners! You all did an amazing job and we were proud to have you represent Army Ranger Lead The Way Fund! Well-Done!
CPT Austin Commons – 50-Mile
Dan Lamonaca – Marathon
Jeff Hussey – Marathon Relay
Katie Bottini – Marathon Relay
Dana Lamonaca – Marathon Relay
Valentina Salkow – Marathon Relay
Lauren McGrath – Marathon Relay
Alexi Caputo – Marathon Relay
Shannon Mertz – Marathon Relay
Bobby Condon – Marathon Relay
Chris Woods – Half-Marathon
Bunker Blake – Half-Marathon
Evan Green- Half-Marathon
Michael Byrne – Half-Marathon
Tim Lawton – Half-Marathon
We just wanted to write to you and thank you for the packages that you have sent to us. It means so much more than just the items inside the boxes. We truly appreciate your incredible generosity and thoughtfulness. We continue to honor James’ memory by taking the fight to the enemy on a daily basis and taking care of our fellow Rangers in all of life’s aspects. Your patriotism will always inspire us as Rangers and the American people to continue to support the war effort for the sake of the men and women who are currently fighting it. Again, thanks does not begin to describe our gratitude for the actions you have taken and are taking to support us and our families. God Speed to you in all that you do.
-The Men of Bco.
I want to personally thank you for your dedication and support. Know that you all are in our thoughts and prayers as we continue the road less taken. Your strength and support, care and kindness directly impacts us all within the Battalion and the Regiment.
May God Bless you in your lives. You all are my heroes and make our efforts so much sweeter.
Thank You!
SFC S. 3/75
On 16 May 2012, I was shot in the head while trying to rescue a wounded Afghan Special Operations Soldier. The Lead the Way Foundation has helped me and my family with lodging, and other expenses when I was in the hospital. They have been there for me and my family every time we have needed them. Please help me give something back to this great organization.
– SSG A.
Cory Remsburg is a hero and an inspiration and Ranger Lead The Way Fund has been honored to have been able to help support Cory and his family throughout his recovery efforts.
We are so proud of you Cory and thrilled for you and your family that you are home for good!
Rangers Lead The Way!
___________
Phoenix, Arizona
WOUNDED ARMY RANGER COMES HOME TO HERO’S WELCOME
GILBERT, AZ – A wounded Gilbert man received a hero’s welcome home Saturday.
U.S. Army Ranger, 30-year-old Cory Remsburg, came home for good after years of rehabilitation for his injuries.
Cory’s family is happy to have him home, and they say they’re really thankful he’s even alive.
His friends, family and fellow veterans gave Cory a warm welcome as he returned.
A crowd was there as his family’s car turned into the flag-lined driveway.
Cory suffered severe brain trauma in an explosion in Afghanistan about four years ago. He lost one of his fellow Rangers in that IED attack.
Now he’s walking and talking again, and happy to be home.
“He’s working hard to try to find that independence. And that’s what we’re here to do. Help him find that,” said Cory’s dad, Craig Remsburg.
He’s become an inspiration to his family and all of the people who came out to thank him for his service. They sang songs, prayed and greeted Cory one by one.
Cory’s parents say he led a very active lifestyle before the attack — he enjoyed running and skydiving when he was home. He was on his 10th combat rotation when he got hurt.
Cory’s parents say they’re sure he’ll find ways to stay active. They think he might even start cycling, since one of his “welcome home” gifts was a new bike.
They know Cory has a long road ahead of him, but they say they’re with him every step of the way.
“He’s dealing with it head on. And you’ve got to be a proud parent, knowing that your kid is down and out, but he’s not letting that stop him,” Craig said.
“We are the blessed ones. We were the ones that got our son back,” said his mother, Annie Remsburg. And never forget that there’s so many that didn’t come home. There’s so many more that are still out there, so don’t forget them.”
I dove headfirst into Department of Defense and Army Regulations as well as Joint Ethics laws when I began working as a Family Readiness Support Assistant. I was surprised and disheartened to discover how severely restricted fiscal activities, particularly fund raising, had become for Family Readiness Groups. FRGs were not only severely restricted but also have no way to ask for help.
Family Readiness Groups are only allowed to raise funds from within their military community. They must compete against each other for prime fund raising opportunities and there is always paperwork involved. Frequently the process is so frustrating that many FRGs make the decision not to fundraise in the military community.
This leaves FRGs with one community in which to fund raise: their unit. How demoralizing to have to raise funds from the people you are serving in order to provide decent morale–boosting activities. A vicious circle; selling blankets, baked goods, jewelry, cups, candy grams…anything to interest the men and women to spend money. So much work for so very little reward.
Then something amazing happened. Something that has brought hope, vitality, and a much-needed moral boost to the men and women here. The unit was approached by a benevolent organization (Lead The Way Fund, Inc.) that wanted to assist the men and their families. After many legal reviews and meetings, support for the FRGs began to arrive.
Many FRG’s were hesitant to use the resources at first. With guidance, encouragement and assurance, FRGs began to make plans. The FRGs were and are able to plan events such as trips to the zoo, outings for spouses during deployments, trips to soccer and baseball games, many holiday events, welcome home celebrations, volunteer appreciation, and so much more.
I cannot fully convey the importance of these activities in a letter or article. I will tell you that, without the opportunities that are now available, life for families would be much harder. Morale would drop drastically. I wish that you could see the comfort and relief that Lead The Way Fund, Inc. support provides to FRGs and leadership, as I do.
Lead The Way Fund, Inc. support is invaluable to the health of the unit and its families. Their efforts and their desire to serve our nation’s heroes reflect greatly upon them. I thank them from the deepest parts of my being for their unwavering support to the men and women of 2d Ranger Battalion.
Rangers Lead The Way!
-2/75 Family Readiness Assistant
Wounded Army Ranger Joe Kapacziewski’s new memoir “Back In The Fight” (St. Martin’s Press) has hit the bookshelves. The book details his incredible return to combat after having his leg amputated. He is the first soldier in Army history to return to combat after an amputation.
Joe is a true hero and has been a friend to Ranger Lead The Way Fund since its inception. He has run the NYC Marathon on our team and he continues to support our mission of providing assistance to our U.S. Army Rangers and their families.
Please consider supporting him by buying his book, which is now available on Amazon.com.
RANGERS LEAD THE WAY!
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Celebrity Traders to Join BTIG Commissions for Charity Day
NEW YORK, April 15, 2013 — BTIG LLC, a global financial services firm specializing in institutional trading and related brokerage services, will host its 11th Commissions for Charity Day on May 14, 2013. The annual Charity Day will once again feature celebrity “guest-traders” on BTIG’s trading floors across the country to help raise money for a variety of children’s charities.
Since it began hosting its Commissions for Charity Day in 2003, BTIG has raised close to $25 million and has donated those proceeds to over 350 nonprofit organizations. This year’s annual event will support many organizations that deal with important children’s issues including:
Among the celebrities that are expected to join BTIG this year are the following: Michael Strahan, Tom Coughlin, Victor Cruz, Justin Tuck, Eli Manning, Phil Simms, Joe Girardi, Mark Teixeira, Joe Torre, Reggie Jackson, Rex Ryan, Mark Sanchez, Nick Manchego, Victor Cruz, Lynn Swann, Petra Nemcova, Jeremy Roenick, Jim Boeheim, Steve Schrippa, Miss America Mallory Hagan, Kaitlin Monte, Hannah Storm and Michael J. Fox.
“We’re proud that our clients and employees have this opportunity to work together with our celebrity traders and other special guests to make such a profound impact on so many peoples’ lives,” said Steven Starker, Co-Founder of BTIG. “The excitement surrounding this year’s event is a strong indication that we will have another successful day. We look forward to being able to support a number of charities that are important to our clients and celebrity guests.”
About BTIG
BTIG LLC is a premier institutional brokerage and fund services company. BTIG continues to build its global franchise around a broad and experienced group of professionals who are leaders and experts in their respective fields. Founded in 2002, BTIG, including through its affiliates, employs more than 400 professionals in five different countries. BTIG serves customers worldwide and offers services in: Equity Trading, Fixed Income, Futures Trading, Convertible Securities, Equity Derivatives, Foreign Exchange, Prime Brokerage, Outsource Trading, Direct Market Access, Capital Markets, Equity Research and Corporate Access. BTIG has ten domestic offices: New York, San Francisco, Dallas, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Greenwich, Red Bank, Atlanta and Orinda. The firm also has four overseas affiliates: London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Sydney.
Thank you for sending packages to the Rangers deployed to Afghanistan. We received three tremendously large boxes at our location and shared them with all of the Rangers who work here. Many of them are newly assigned to the unit so I took the time to explain who James was and what he meant to our unit. I also explained what your family and organization are doing for Rangers and their families.
Your generosity lets these men know that people at home care, and the timing of these gifts is particularly heartening. Some of our Rangers will be away from home for their first Thanksgiving and Christmas, so these gestures mean a great deal.
As a professional soldier, I admire your family and your willingness to turn your loss into something that helps so many others. Your family represents everything that makes our Nation worth defending and your kindness in spite of great suffering gives me hope for our future.
Please accept my gratitude on behalf of the men of 3d Ranger Battalion in Afghanistan.
3d Battalion Executive Officer D.