The phrase “We’ve Got Their Six” originated with World War I fighter pilots. They used directions to correspond with hours on the clock, where 12 o’clock was forward and 6 o’clock was behind. This phrase means “We’ve got your back”. It highlights loyalty and cooperation, letting someone know that you will be around to help them in any way you can.

GFWC Pennsylvania’s President’s Project, Operation We’ve Got Their Six, encourages members to support our military personnel and veterans through programs involving education, volunteering, and donation.

Assist your local VA Hospital or Facility

To locate a veteran’s facility in your local area, go to https://www.VA.gov/find-locations. Once you select a facility, look for the “In The Spotlight” section to find the link for Volunteer or Donate.  Follow the link to find volunteer opportunities and donation suggestions. 

Suggestions from the VA website:

• Donate to the VA Food Bank, for local veterans facing food insecurity.
• Collect and donate women’s clothing, for the women’s health program.
• Put together “Mommy & Me” bags for distribution to women Veterans who recently gave birth.
• Donate backpacks for homeless veterans.
• Plan and hold an appreciation tea or arts & crafts event for women veterans.
• Collect and donate greeting cards for the veterans or volunteer services to use or distribute.
• Put together and donate “Glam Bags” containing personal and comfort care items for women veterans.

Educate Club members about Post-Traumatic Stress (PTS)

• Invite a healthcare or support-group professional to your Club meeting to share information about the symptoms of PTS and ways to interact with or help a friend or family member who may be exhibiting warning signs.
• Partner with a local veteran’s group to sponsor or plan a recreation project.

Sewing Projects

• Donate Dignity Clothing Protectors, a sewing project, that transforms a button-down shirt into a bib. It allows a man or woman living in a veteran’s facility to have dignity at the dining table. Directions can be found on the GFWC Pennsylvania website.
• Donate fabric or quilt blocks to the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Check out www.qovf.org to find one of twenty chapter locations in our state.
• Donate Lap Robes or Lap Blankets, for clients living in a Community Living Center.

Support Active Military Personnel and their Families

There are currently over 1.3 million active members of the military and approximately 15% are deployed overseas.

• Donate to the USO’s Bob Hope Legacy Reading Program, which allows service members to read to their children from around the world.
• Support the USO’s Holiday Adopt-a-Family Program.
• Donate funds for, or send a care package to a deployed serviceman or servicewoman.

Let’s get busy so that our military and veterans will know that as GFWC clubwomen “We’ve Got Their Six!”