The Mologne House Courtyard Program - Why We Did It.

As we have gone about our work in the Mologne House Courtyard, several people have asked us a simple question: Why did you do it? Why all the work, with the time and money involved, focused on a single program? We always knew the answer, but often we just didn't know how to say it.

The best answers are in the photos.

This the Upper Patio area before work began in October. Some Yellow Ribbon Fund volunteers saw this sight and just thought that there was "something" that needed to be done.

This is the Upper Patio -- almost finished in late December. What a difference! We knew that our Yellow Ribbon Fund "Mologne House Courtyard Program Management Team" could do "something," and we did it very well.

This photo shows the Work In Progress on the Lower Left Patio, from the Breezeway under Mologne House, looking up toward the Upper Patio. If you look closely, you can see what inspires us every single day.

This is a close up of the THANK YOU! sign in the third photo, in between the two patios.

We do not know who put it up, but it is signed by many people and it is addressed to each of the branches of our armed forces. This "Thank You!" sign on our work site inspires us every single day.

THAT IS WHY WE DID IT.

This simple sign describes our motivation more eloquently than anything we can say.

We want to say "Thank You" not only to the wounded warriors who are at Walter Reed, but to all those who serve.

We say thanks not only for ourselves, but for all Americans, and for everyone else who benefits from their bravery.

Helping Step by Step

These are three of the first 4" x 8" paving stones that will be placed on the Walk of Appreciation, which will carry our "Thank You" theme throughout the Mologne House Courtyard.

We honor all wounded warriors - by service branch, and by unit, as generally as shown on this 8" x 8" paving stone.

We honor all wounded warriors, not only generally but also by naming those who have gone through Walter Reed, as shown on this 4" x 8" paving stone:

We want to give everyone who wants to offer their thanks to our wounded warriors the chance to do so through these paving stones. Please go to our Mologne House Courtyard Program section to learn more about the Program and to our Blog to learn more about our progress.

We want you to join us in a concrete, tangible expression of appreciation. See How You Can Help.

It is our greatest hope that simple beginnings such as these expressions of thanks will help pave the way for these brave men and women when they return to their communities.

We want to give particular emphasis and recognition to organizations in the local communities throughout our country whose men and women have been through Walter Reed Army Medical Center or the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda. If you are active in a Rotary Club, a Kiwanis Club, a local Chamber of Commerce, or similar organization and your club wants to honor a local hero who has been through these hospitals, please let us know. If your high school, college, fraternity, or club has a similar local hero whom you want to recognize, please let us know.