Victoria’s Secret Helps National Guard
MilitaryConnection.com is in awe of our Citizen Soldiers who are there to help in times of disaster, such as assisting victims of Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath. We all need a little help from our friends, and Victoria’s Secret proved to be a company with more to offer than just lingerie and beautiful women. Victoria’s Secret was there to help the New York National Guard so that they could complete their mission, and help those affected by the damage from Hurricane Sandy. We commend Victoria’s Secret, and salute our Citizen Soldiers who are there, 24/7.
Soldiers with the New York Army National Guard’s 69th Infantry regiment found themselves in a precarious situation after Hurricane Sandy struck. Like the people they were trying to assist, they were without electricity or hot water, stuck in the city, and supplies were quickly running out.
But for a change, the guardsmen, who are usually the angels that help others, had a guardian angel of their own-Victoria’s Secret! The company, which was scheduled to have its annual fashion show at the New York Army National Guard’s armory in Manhattan, had eight 500-kilowatt generators with them. Happy to put the generators to good use, Victoria’s Secret was able to once again provide the soldiers with power and hot water. Then the Guardian Angel made sure that the solders’ communication systems were up and running, despite the local cell towers being down. Victoria’s Secret’s producer Dave Shapiro had leased a T1 line, which he generously allowed the armory to use.
The National Guard is extremely versatile, enabling troops to respond to domestic emergencies, combat missions, and reconstruction missions, with speed, strength and efficiency. “We just had one of our patrols come back, and they were just in one of the worst-hit areas of Staten Island, helping to distribute food, water, some much-needed clothing and blankets, especially because the weather is getting much colder out here,” said Air Force Captain Ryan Abbott of the New York Air National Guard’s 152nd Air Operations Group. Whether the call is from a state governor or the president of the United States, Guard Soldiers are always ready, and always there.
Since the National Guard is state-funded, their armories are usually just bare-bones storage facilities. Once again, the National Guard had to turn to the Victoria’s Secret crew—this time to borrow their fork lift to process the tractor-trailers full of emergency supplies delivered by FEMA. Thanks to Victoria’s Secret, the soldiers were able to repackage and distribute the supplies to those in need. Members of the New York National Guard continue to distribute critically needed fuel throughout the New York City area, as residents and local authorities continue with cleanup and recovery efforts.
