HeroBracelets.org was started for two reasons. First, we wanted to pay our respects and honor the members of the Armed Forces that had fallen in the conflict around the world. During the 2004 election, we saw politics get in the way of respect when the act of reading the names of those killed in action became a political tool to be used or repressed. We felt this was just wrong. We believe, that as Americans, we should all show our respect and honor those who have lost their lives in service to their country. This isn’t about politics. Whatever one’s political convictions or views on the Iraq war, or any war, respecting those who are in the fight should come first.
The second reason was money. We saw how little most of these families got, as little as $12,000 in death benefit. We decided that there must be a way to both honor these men and women and help get more money to their families.
So in early December, 2004, we launched the HeroBracelets.org website. Within two weeks, our grass roots family was inundated with orders and were unable to keep up, with as many as 1600 orders in a single day. We were fortunate to have many friends and neighbors help by volunteering to come to the office to fill the orders. It took some time, but we invested in new technology to improve the ordering and customization systems to greatly improve our ability to properly fulfill your orders.
Over the last eight years, we’ve heard from literally thousands of HeroBracelet wearers and we’ve been fortunate enough to meet many of you. My wife and I traveled to the Pentagon and met wounded warriors and Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta. You’ve sent us questions, ideas, photos and stories from cities all around the world, from the battlefields in the Middle East to towns around America. It has been an honor to talk to so many of you. You’ve sent many suggestions that we have worked hard to fulfill. We’ve added several new styles of bracelets and tags, as well as making custom bracelets and tags for deployed Military Personnel, Purple Heart Recipients and those lost in Vietnam. We’ve also extended HeroBracelets to all Military Personnel involved in all conflicts, past and present.
HeroBracelets.org donates 2.00 from the sale of every HeroBracelet to Soldier charities. At this writing over $200,000.00 has been given to charities supporting the military. In early 2010 we opened our funding to organizations beyond the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund and Military Order of The Purple Heart. Now there are over a dozen approved military family non-profit organizations such as Gold Star Moms and Packages From Home that you personally have the opportunity to fund with each HeroBracelet purchase.
HeroBracelets.org is located in Austin, Texas. Christopher and Loree Greta operate HeroBracelets while continuing day jobs. HeroBracelets.org donates $2 from the sale of each bracelet to your choice of over a dozen approved military family support organizations.
The staff, friends and volunteers at HeroBracelets.org want to thank you for your support. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email us at any time at orders@herobracelets.org. Customers like you are our top priority and we strive to answer your emails and questions in a very timely manner.
Thank you for your support.