What is Operation Meatball

OPERATION MEATBALL is a non-profit dedicated to honoring and remembering the veterans of World War II through life-enrichment programs and connecting them with the children of today - whose responsibility it is to carry on their legacy.

Our love for WWII veterans started in 2005 when we participated in the 60th anniversary of Iwo Jima held in Fredericksburg, Texas. A few years later, our family traveled to Normandy and took part in the anniversary of the D-Day Invasion. The veteran friendships we formed there left a lasting, deep impression on us.

On December 7th, 2017, (Pearl Harbor Day), Operation Meatball was officially formed into a non-profit organization with the specific mission to honor our veterans and connect them with the children of today.

Over the last several years, we have traveled hundreds of thousands of miles, met many, many wonderful veterans (including Korean War and Vietnam), collected hundreds of stories, hosted events for the veterans in our local area, made house visits to veterans unable to travel, attended military reunions and events, volunteered with Honor Flight, greeted at the WWII Memorial, and recorded 3 CDS of music for the veterans. Operation Meatball has reached thousands of WWII veterans, kept up with regular handwritten correspondence with hundreds, and preserved the stories and values of countless of these national treasures. The richness of our experience is almost indescribable.

In summer of 2022, Operation Meatball introduced a brand-new outreach program called “Bridge to History: Connecting Our Future to the Past,” an international education program to give school children a hands-on experience and understanding of WWII that will help set the tone for a life full of responsibility, patriotism, gratitude, and an understanding of God’s hand in the history of our country.

Activities of Operation Meatball

USO Entertainment Events

We host USO style events for veterans, providing food, fellowship, entertainment such as singing, dancing, and games, and/or a motivational speaker or film. These bi-annual events are held all around the United States and serve to bring veterans together, involve them with all ages within the local community, and bring recognition to their service

Visit

Visiting veterans in care facilities or in their own homes is a significant part of Operation Meatball. Taking them out to meals and local events reminds them they are valued members of the community with important contributions to make. It also gives them the opportunity to share important memories in a comfortable setting.

Veteran Oral Histories

Taking down the veteran's oral histories is an important part to the Operation Meatball mission. The video, audio, and written interviews capture the veteran’s life and war-time experiences, but also include personal reflections from their childhood, family life, and how the war affected their future careers. This is vital to understanding the individual, preserving their place in history, and educating future generations.

Creating Music

Music is a well known connector. It brings back long-forgotten memories. Sweet ones, sad ones. It reminds them of days far in the past, their old girlfriends recordings of music from the war era of our veteran members, with the purpose of gifting the cds to the veterans, free of charge. This brings encouragement to the veterans, stimulating positive memories from the past and introducing their music to modern generations.

Education

The OperationMeatball.com blog, facebook, and instagram are a means of communicating the stories of the veterans, teaching the history of the war through compelling personal anecdotes of the veterans, raising awareness of this valuable part of our community which we are losing, and connecting the older generation to the younger generation.

Mail Call

While most communication today is conducted via text or the internet, regularly writing physical letters to veterans for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, other special events, and just simply to stay in touch keeps them connected, reminds them of their value, and brings back fond memories of the “Mail Call” they received while in the service.