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May was national Military Appreciation Month. Keeping this in mind, RosArt decided to support our Veterans for Memorial Day 2004, by accepting an invitation from one of our clients to host a web site on a pro bono basis honoring our military men and women who have been injured in the war in Afghanistan, Iraq, and other active military theaters.

CAUSE (Comfort for America's Uniformed Services Elite), a nonprofit organization created by some West Point graduates and their wives to support soldiers who have been wounded or injured in the war on terrorism. You can check them out on their new website at www.cause-usa.org.

The troops from Iraq and Afghanistan being admitted to military hospitals have suffered terrible injuries. For many of them, the healing process will be a long hard journey of extensive medical treatments and challenging physical therapy sessions. CAUSE wants to make this healing and recuperation process just a little bit easier by providing the troops with comfort and recreational items and, perhaps most important, by giving them tangible evidence that the sacrifice they have made while serving their country is recognized and appreciated.

CAUSE started out as an informal network, basically a bunch of West Point classmates and their friends and families pitching in to buy things for patients at Walter Reed...things like clothes for those who were medevaced out in hospital gowns, electric shavers for those who can't use razors because they are on blood thinners, PDAs for those who can't speak. CAUSE has also provided TV combos and game systems for the wards; supplied CD players and portable DVD players for those who are bedridden, started a lending library of books, books on tapes, CDs, DVDs, and video games; delivered gift packs during the holidays; and they are fixing up one of the waiting rooms to make it nicer for family members when they visit.

While CAUSE is pleased with what they have accomplished to date, they have just scratched the surface. More than 3000 troops have been wounded or injured since hostilities began and a recent article in the "New York Times Magazine" estimates the U.S. could have 1500 more wounded by the summer of 2004. To deal with these increasing numbers, CAUSE had to get better organized and raise more money.

With three veterans on staff at RosArt we are proud that we are able, in a small way, to recognize the men and women of the armed services. CAUSE is now formally incorporated in the state of Virginia and this article is their first fundraising effort. RosArt hopes you will consider supporting CAUSE...you can donate online at www.cause-usa.org or mail a check to CAUSE, PO Box 218, Herndon, VA 20172. Since CAUSE is run by volunteers, your contribution will be used to provide items for the soldiers, not to pay salaries or overhead. Donations to CAUSE are 100% tax deductible.

Please help spread the word about CAUSE by forwarding this e-mail to everyone you know. If your company, organization, or your neighborhood school would like to support CAUSE, email CAUSE president Debbie Wenner by CLICKING HERE .

CAUSE thanks you in advance for whatever support you might give.

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