Heart Of A Marine Foundation helps veterans 'walk tall'

The Heart Of A Marine Foundation, headquartered in Elk Grove Village, and Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital have partnered to assist veterans in “Walking Tall.”

The Heart Of A Marine Foundation “Walking Tall” program will donate 800 ergonomically correct, orthopedic canes to Hines VA annually. The canes will be distributed through health care professionals in the physical therapy and kinesiotherapy departments. The first delivery of 180 canes was made Friday, Sept. 9. The donations to Hines will exceed $30,000 annually.

According to Roy Frank, Gold Star Dad and co-founder of The Heart Of A Marine Foundation, this donation is ongoing. He stated, “This is not a onetime deal. This donation is open-ended and ongoing. When supplies run low, call us. We will bring as many canes as needed. Any amount to help our veterans”.

The Heart Of A Marine Foundation routinely gives away these special canes to any active duty military or veteran in need. “We carry them in our cars, bring them to community events. Anywhere we go, they come with us,” said Georgette Frank, Gold Star Mom and co-founder of The Heart Of A Marine Foundation. “When we see a veteran with a shepherd's hook-style cane, we offer them this option. They can keep their original cane. We simply give them this opportunity to have something else”.

The Walking Tall Program was the first program initiated by The Heart Of A Marine Foundation. To date, over 3,000 canes have been give to military through Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Bethesda Naval Hospital and the Wounded Warrior Camps at Camp Lejeune, N.C., and Camp Pendleton, Calif.

Canes currently provided to veterans have the potential of causing hand blisters and scaring over time. The ergonomically correct canes are contoured to the hand to prevent these injuries, along with providing additional stability. Both left- and right-handed canes are available and have been provided to Hines VA.

The Heart Of A Marine Foundation is a registered 501(c) 3 organization dedicated to serving active duty military, veterans, and their families in memory, honor, and spirit of Marine Lance Corporal Phillip E. Frank, and Elk Grove Village resident, killed in action, April 2004.

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