News and Updates

March: 2008 Windhover Foundation celebrates it's first anniversary! Windhover Foundation's director, Dede Laugesen, hosts a rosary workshop with the Young Ladies of St. Peter Claver at Cure d'Ars parish in Denver. Close to 100 rosaries are tied or being tied as a result of the workshop. On Divine Mercy Sunday, Father Bob Jeager of St. Peter's in Monument, Colo. blessed hundreds of rosaries which were then shipped to Marine Chaplain Hannigan to give to Marines about to deploy from California, and also to an air force captain who is now serving a second tour of duty in Iraq.

He wrote to us, " I'm not sure if you remember me, but I ordered a few rosaries from you late last summer.  I'm stationed in the Middle East, but I'll be headed home in a couple of months.  I was wondering if you could do another favor for me.  Today at morning Mass, a gentleman who just lost his nephew in an auto accident was admiring my rosary (it's the one I took with me when I visited Abraham's house in Iraq) and asked where I had gotten it.  I told him about your company and said that I would see if I could get some more rosaries sent out here.  Everyone I gave rosaries to last summer was very appreciative.  Would you be able to send me some more so that I could distribute them among some of the folks at the chapel here?  I'd appreciate anything you'd be able to send.

The Knights of Columbus council and assembly from St. Peter's also votes to support our mission with a monetary donation and goes the distance at helping to gather Dear Soldier letters.

February: 2008 Windhover Foundation supplied rosaries to a soldier who was deploying from Fitzsimmons. His mother had given him a rosary she had obtained when Dede Laugesen spoke at Cabrini parish. He gave it to his fiance' who was deployed to Afghanistan. But, before deploying himself, he wanted another rosary, so his mom gave us a call and we sent a bunch of packets for him and for his fellow soldiers.

He writes: "dear maddam,
my name is SPC ryan nickerson and my mother beverly
nickerson had contacted you about getting the
rosearies. i would just like to say thank you very
much its VERY VERY appreciated, i really cant say how
much this is appreciated. my unit is leaving for iraq
friday and im going to be handing out the rest of the
roasaries. I also want to thank all the people for the
dear soldier cards. They made me realize again what it
is we are fighting for. So i just wanted to say
thanks a again and god bless
sincerly
SPC Nickerson
324th psyop Co (Tac)"

Leave a Little Room Foundation generously supports the printing of more Dear Soldier letters. Thank you! More rosary work shops are hosted at various locations. Rosaries continue to pour in from volunteers.

January: 2008 Windhover Foundation relocates from Boulder, Colo. to Monument, Colo. Our new home parish is St. Peter's. Windhover Foundation's director, Dede Laugesen, and a few dedicated volunteer assistants return several times to Spirit of Christ parish in Arvada. More than 80 rosaries are hand-tied and more Dear Soldier letters are collected.

December: 2007 Windhover Foundation begins to fill up the calendar for Spring 2008 confirmation classes who want to tie the rosaries as a service project. Children's versions of the rosaries are sent to soldier's families for Christmas. Donors give generously to help support the cost of the rosaries, the classes, the letters and the shipments. Thanks to everyone who has donated both time and money. More than 1,000 rosaries have been tied this year! We couldn't do it without you!

November: 2007 Windhover Foundation recognizes Veteran's Day with prayers and thanksgiving for every soldier who puts their life on the line in defense of freedom and in so doing protects innocent human life and helps to bring about a peaceful existence for all of mankind. Windhover Foundation continues to gather letters for the soldiers and rosaries from dedicated volunteers who pick up kits and drop off finished rosaries at various parishes—thanks especially to the kind people of Sacred Heart of Mary in Boulder. The Foundation finished off November with a rosary tying night for the youth at Sacred Heart of Mary which has been a HUGE supporter of our efforts. Every teenager (more than 60) brought home their own rosary that night. A thanksgiving gift to the people who have given so much throughout the year! Thanks for supporting our mission!

October: 2007 Windhover Foundation's director, Dede Laugesen, helped assemble care packages with the St Francis Cabrini Military Family Support Group in Littleton, Colo. and spoke to the participants about the Dear Soldier Letter campaign. Foundation volunteers also taught two eigth-grade classes at St. Vincent De Paul Catholic School in Denver, Colo. how to tie the rosaries. More than 50 rosaries were hand-tied for the soldiers. Students then brought home Dear Soldier letters to write and return.

September: 2007 Rosaries are sent to and air force captain stationed in Iraq and are given to the base commander of Menwith Hill in the U.K. Windhover Foundation also teams up with The Rosary Project to offer a BOGO rosary packet deal. Now, it is easy for civilians to obtain one of these durable, guaranteed for life rosaries from The Rosary Project, Inc., and also provide the means for a complete rosary packet to be mailed to an active Marine, airman, soldier or sailor.

August: 2007 Windhover Foundation donates rosaries to FOCUS chapter at United States Air Force Academy; begins discussions with FOCUS chapters at other universities in order to bring rosaries to students and raise awareness of our troops need for their prayers.

July: 2007 Windhover Foundation meets with the Archbishop Fulton Sheen Foundation to discuss ways the groups can work together to bring prayer to the frontlines.

June: 2007 Windhover Foundation attends the biggest Flag day celebration in Colorado for a day of fun and festivities. Numerous letters were written to the soldiers!

May: 2007 Windhover Foundation sends hundreds of rosaries to soldiers in Iraq, sailors and airmen in Kuwait and Marines deploying from Twentynine Palms, CA.

April: 2007 Windhover Foundation teaches several volunteer groups of confirmation students to hand-tie rosaries. Many become regular rosary builders. Thank you Spirit of Christ parish in Arvada and St. Mary's in Denver for more than 100 rosaries tied! Dede Laugesen travels to Birmingham, Alabama to raise support and recognition for the efforts of Windhover Foundation from EWTN.

March: 2007 Windhover Foundation gathers hundreds of Dear Soldier letters at Pure By Choice conference in Denver and is featured in the Denver Catholic Register. Trained volunteer rosary makers take-home kits and return finished rosaries at several parishes in the Archdiocese of Denver. Hundreds of rosaries are being made in preparation for sending to soldiers on the frontlines.

March: 2007 Windhover Foundation is founded to help bring Catholic prayer and American support to soldiers, their families and the military chaplains who serve their spiritual needs.

Windhover Foundation
PO Box 543
Monument, CO 80132
1-800-511-1514
info@WindhoverFoundation.org