Afghanistan & Ukraine Humanitarian Efforts (7/13)

Good Shepherd Supports Our Service Members (GS-SOS) has invited LTC (Ret) U.S. Army Green Beret Perry Blackburn, founder of AFGfree.org, an Afghanistan war veteran and brother-in-law of Deacon Mark Westendorf, to once again speak to our ministry and all of our parishioners. Perry recently spent seven weeks in Ukraine. He will review their efforts in Afghanistan and talk about their expansion of humanitarian efforts into the Sudan, Iraq and Ukraine. He’ll also talk about his personal efforts in advising and assisting the Ukrainian military with boots on the ground evacuating people in a war zone, and training others in military operations and rescue.

Perry started a nonprofit veteran network, AFGfree.org, which is committed to rendering aid to the people who fought beside U.S. soldiers as interpreters, journalists, American citizens, and support persons to the coalition forces who put their lives in danger to fight the global war on terrorism. Perry is committed to helping gain safe passage to resettlement for our Afghan partners left behind. With the help of Good Shepherd’s GS-SOS ministry’s donation, the network has been able to stave off starvation for many partner families that are hunted by the Taliban for their association with the United States.

Perry spoke at a GS-SOS meeting in February of this year and was well received. The GS-SOS ministry is opening up the opportunity for everyone in the parish to hear directly from Perry, who served in Afghanistan for 22 months, and has been in frequent contact with people in need on the ground in Afghanistan. And, as we said above, Perry recently returned from seven weeks in Ukraine. He will have much to tell us about Ukraine and its people. He will be available for questions after his presentation.

Everyone is invited to this opportunity!

Date: Wednesday, July 13, 2022
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Church | No reservations are required.
Questions? Email Nancy Niehaus, or Deacon Mark Westendorf at or call the parish office at 513-489-8815 with questions.