Soldiers' Angels

Pockets of Peace: Words of Encouragement from the Real World To America’s Heroes is a special pocket-sized book of motivational and encouraging quotes, illustrations and photos that is having a profound effect on our military heroes. Written by Patsy Swendson and Richard Schmidt, and inspired by Patsy’s experiences with therapy dogs in military settings, this fortifying and supportive book has been embraced by soldiers across the nation and the need is growing.

Nearly 5,000 copies of Pockets of Peace have already been distributed to wounded and veterans, receiving a very warm reception. Patsy has personally delivered copies to Walter Reed, Bethesda Naval Hospital, Brooke Army Medical Center and the San Antonio VA as part of her pet therapy visits through the Penny’s from Heaven Foundation, and 4,000 copies have been distributed nationwide through Soldiers’ Angels. Patsy reports she can’t keep up with the numbers of people who are benefiting and who could use a copy, saying the soldiers “ate it up” at the Fourth of July picnic at Brooke: “They sat there at the picnic tables with their hamburger in one hand and holding the book open to read in the other.”

Wounded and veterans, including those from the Vietnam War, have reported the book is very uplifting, and demand is rising. Texas Combat Veterans emailed, “Pockets of Peace is a beautiful and comforting booklet. Please let us know where we can get more copies.” Other veterans have told her the book can “save lives” with its message of strength, comfort and courage (see below).

With demand for this powerful book growing, and the fighting heating up in Afghanistan, Patsy and Richard are attempting to fund a second printing of Pockets of Peace to address the increasing number of wounded.  They have also completed a new book of the same length and format especially for deploying soldiers. Each copy of the books will cost $1 to print/reprint, and $10,000 is needed to do a minimum print for both books.  Additional funds are also needed to pay for final graphic design of the new book.

Though known for writing fifty cookbooks, Patsy’s passion has always been pet therapy and she is in the process of setting up a dog therapy program under the auspices of Soldiers’ Angels with support from Therapy Dogs Incorporated (a national therapy dog association) and her pet therapy foundation Penny’s From Heaven. She is seeking legal advice to make sure all arrangements and mutual liabilities of such a project are covered but expects to be rolling things out soon, so keep your eyes open!

If you would like to help sponsor the reprint or print of a Pockets of Peace book ($1 per book, click for sample), or can help develop the exciting new Soldiers’ Angels therapy dog program, please contact Patsy directly at patsyswendson@yahoo.com or 210-273-6471.

"SSG Kimberly," who received a copy of Pockets of Peace, wrote:

I recently returned from combat duty in Serbia. I was medevaced due to a severe wrist fracture, Acute PTSD, severe depression and a Traumatic Brain Injury.

I arrived at BAMC confused and afraid with no family or friends to lean on for support. I can honestly say it was the most trying time of my life as I repeatedly questioned not only my faith, but my ability to face the long recovery ahead of me. There were nights where I wished I just wouldn’t wake up due to the trials of my PTSD. I felt like I was losing my mind and couldn’t relate to anyone, which just confused and depressed me more. It was a vicious cycle that seemed to increase with intensity as each day passed.

As always God intervened and I was led to a book written by Patsy Swendson and Richard Schmidt with the Penny’s from Heaven Foundation. I picked up the book to just look at, and read it cover to cover in one sitting. I couldn’t believe that there were others out there, even civilians, that intimately knew what I was going through. For me it was nothing less than a lifesaver on paper. After I finished the book I cried. It was a good cry, and one that I had needed for months. I can honestly say that day the door for recovery was opened for me. It was just a little crack, but I could finally see the light, and knew that I was worth saving. All from a book.

Since then I have loaned the book to so many other Soldiers that I have lost track of it. The Soldier's response is always the same and never changes. They can’t believe that they’re not alone. The book is returned with tears, with smiles, with hugs, but always with a renewed light in the eyes of the one who has read it. I couldn’t begin to count how many lives the book has changed.

Patsy’s book changed my life and gave me the courage and strength to meet the ghosts of my recovery head on.