Mission of helping wounded soldiers expands

Operation Second Chance will bring wounded soldiers to Damascus for Soldier Appreciation Day

Just last week, Operation Second Chance donated 55 Easter baskets to soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and their families on Easter Sunday. The baskets contained candy and each one carried an inspirational quote.

‘‘That was fun,” McGrew said. ‘‘It was the second year we have done that. We took them to patients and the children of patients that we knew there.”

McGrew also takes veterans to sporting events regularly. Last Thursday, she took three wounded veterans to Oriole Park at Camden Yards to watch the Baltimore Orioles play. Last month, she arranged for 12 veterans to meet World Wrestling Entertainment wrestler Mick ‘‘Mankind” Foley at the Red Rock Canyon Grill in Silver Spring.

Operation Second Chance is helping sponsor the second annual Soldier Appreciation Day at Damascus American Legion Post 171 on Saturday. More than 40 wounded servicemen and servicewomen and their families from Walter Reed will attend the event. The community is invited to attend as well.

‘‘These are our wounded warriors who not only put their lives on the line, but made great sacrifices,” said George Bolling, past post commander. ‘‘We are veterans and we want to honor them the way they should be honored.”

The Browningsville Cornet Band will perform patriotic music in the morning during Soldier Appreciation Day. The event also will feature an auction to raise funds for Operation Second Chance.

McGrew began traveling to Walter Reed to help wounded soldiers with friends Debbie and Alaina Sacramo of Poolesville in November 2004. Gaithersburg resident Sue Harrington joined them that December.

The women visited the soldiers and bought groceries, clothing and other essentials for wounded soldiers and their families.

Their mission grew so big that the four women decided they needed to file for nonprofit status.

Operation Second Chance Inc. was officially created in March 2005. They formed a staff with Debbie Sacramo as secretary, Alaina Sacramo as Web site designer and Harrington as treasurer. Harrington left the organization last month.

In 2005, Silver Spring resident Shelley Harlow joined the organization as a military personnel contact. The board filled out in 2006 with four more people joining the organization.

‘‘I love my board members,” McGrew said. ‘‘To have them have the same passion and commitment to help the soldiers is wonderful.”

Operation Second Chance also has six active volunteers that help the organizations carry out its mission.

The support of the Damascus community has been incredible, McGrew said.

‘‘It doesn’t surprise me that the Damascus community supports a worthwhile cause,” she said. ‘‘It is a close-knit community and something they believe in.”

If You Go

The community is invited to attend Soldier Appreciation Day to support wounded soldiers on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Damascus American Legion Post 171, 10201 Lewis Drive in Damascus.