USVI-On-Line

I came across this good-news story while browsing the net at lunch. It is great to see that these returning vets are able to enjoy diving and STJ.

http://www.onepaper.com/stjohnvi/?v=d&i ... 1223615736

If you see them while they are there -- or anywhere for that matter -- thank them for their service.

JIM

Thanks for posting this!

Now that was an awesome story! And it's so great that restaurants donated meals, also. Thanks for sharing!!

What a great story!! Glad to see the villa owners and restaurants donated.

This is the kind of story that really makes me proud to be an American - there is a similar program that brings vets to northern NH to snow ski- ski areas, hotels, restaurants all donate to make it free for the vets and their families - that what its all about - samoka

That's great! I love to hear stories like this.
Also love the acronym SUDS

From on-stjohn.com blog comments this morning:
http://www.on-stjohn.com/2009/03/04/thu ... suds-vets/
"Hey Gang!
Thanks for your interest in the SUDS Diving Program. We are having a great time down here diving with Low Key!
We appreciate your support. If you are interested in helping out with the SUDS program, please go to our website at SUDSdiving.org, and make a tax deductible donation through pay pal......
John Thompson
President
SUDS Diving"

John is on the left in this photo with one of the SUDS divers. Some of you may recognize John, as he lived here in 2002 and worked at Low Key Watersports. I hope to see anyone who is on-island at the pig roast tomorrow afternoon at the Beach Bar.
- Ruth

I just went to the SUDS web site, www.SUDSdiving.org, and found that they are a non-profit that offers diving lessons to returning, injured vets as a life-long sport that they can participate in even with their disability.

Our friends on STJ are participating by providing housing, meals, diving services and a fund-raiser at the Beach Bar tomorrow night (3/5). I would like to participate and help these returning heros just a little. It is difficult from home, and I can't make much of an impact on my own.

We, on the other hand, can make a great difference as a group. They have a program to sponsor a diver for $1,800.00. If, for example, 18 of us VIOL divers gave the cost of a two-tank dive, we could make a difference in one soldier's life by paying their way.

If you want to join this effort, PM me and we will discuss how we can pull together and teach a soldier how to join us for some bottom time.

Even if you are not a diver you can help too.

JIM

Rented Still Waters Villa, from Anne Marie of Low Key and she had told my wife about this event, SOOOO COOL what a great story.

I met all these guys last night when they came to dinner at Shipwreck. What an amazing group of men who were so
appreciative of all the support that they have received from the St John community. I can tell you first hand that this is a very worthy cause.

Shipwreck Pat

Thanks to the vets and to their St. John friends.
Both have my appreciation.

It's kind of a gloomy rainy day here, but the pig roast is still on and I am looking forward to it.