California based rip-hop hybrids the Kottonmouth Kings have donated over $3,000 from this year’s successful Strange Noize Tour to the wounded soldiers of Ward 57. The group banded together with Doug Cox, owner of the national street marketing company Poster Giant, along with designers Alex Lewis and Eoin Doherty of the Mazui Foundation to create a one-of-a-kind tour poster that was sold on this year’s Strange Noize Tour.

“No matter what your political views are, everyone can appreciate the fact that the wounded soldiers are our brothers and sisters that need our help. We owe it them to pick up the torch and make sure that these soldiers have what they need,” says Kottonmouth Kings frontman Brad X. “The donation we made to Ward 57 this year is only a fraction of is needed financially to continue giving these soldiers the best possible care. Let’s make sure that none of these soldiers are ever forgotten. We are asking everyone to pitch in and make a donation through Ward 57’s website, because even a couple dollars can make a huge difference if we all band together in times of need.”

The proceeds from the sale of the poster went directly to the Ward 57 and will go towards the purchase of such items such as amputee wheelchairs, medical equipment, DVD players, TVs, movies, music, washing machines and other items needed to bring the best quality of life possible to the country’s wounded soldiers. The partnership brought together two groups of people who might have opposing political, religious or social views, but put personal barriers aside to help those in need. A limited number of the posters are still available to purchase online at www.operationward57.org.

Deborah Semer (Operation Ward 57) and Doug Cox (posterGIANT)

It’s September 11th, again. Seven years and countless lives saved and destroyed. It’s a lot to think about, maybe even too much. But we all have a choice. We can hurt, we can do nothing, or we can help. That is what Operation Ward 57 is about…making a choice to help.  Doing what we can do to help our most severely injured soldiers who made a choice to serve. Right and wrong are not the issues here – only helping. They are our neighbors and they are coming home mutilated and torn apart.

A SPECIAL SALUTE TO THE MUSICIANS ON THE “STRANGE NOIZE” TOUR, SUBURBAN NOIZE RECORDS, POSTER GIANT AND THE MAZUI FOUNDATIONWHO RAISED $3,000 FOR OPERATION WARD 57!

Now in its second year, a diverse group of people joined forces to promote Operation Ward 57. People who might find themselves in opposition politically, religiously or socially, contributed to accomplish fundraising goals and help those in need beyond their personal barriers for the sake of fellow humans. Doug Cox, owner of the national street marketing company Poster Giant teamed up with talented designers Alex Lewis and Eoin Doherty of the Mazui Foundation in Seattle to create a one-of-a-kind tour poster for Suburban Noize Records Summer Tour 2008.

The Southern California based Suburban Noize Records and their artists on the “Strange Noize” Tour brought the message of Operation Ward 57 to thousands of young people around the country. Before each show at the meet-n-greet, DJ Product from the band Hed PE talked about our young men and women who have lost a limb and encouraged concert goers to buy a poster and get the artists’ autographs. Brother J of X Clan wore the Ward 57 jersey onstage every night!

When asked about the poster design inspiration, Alex Lewis said,

“The primary element of our design is based on the official insignia for Walter Reed Medical Hospital. The staff with wings and serpents wrapped around it is known as the Caduceus, an old symbol that has come to be used in medicine with variations. The original Walter Reed insignia shows this symbol on the front of the shield. We moved it to open up the space on the shield and created a little more wicked looking snakes for purposes of a rock poster. We also replaced what was formerly the helmet of Minerva, who was the Goddess of Wisdom and the Patroness of Medicine, with an old style Army medical hat. First used in WWII, crosses were hand painted in a variety of ways to identify medics on the battlefield. The color of the shield is a deep red know as sanguine representing blood. The mountains at the bottom of the poster are a reference to the current military involvement in the middle east.”

Check out more photos on our website www.operationward57.org. There are a limited number of posters available to purchase through our website. Purchase your poster here. A poster with all of the artists’ signatures will be given to Ward 57 and one will be auctioned off to the public. Stay tuned for details! Thank you to all who have done something to help America’s soldiers who have lost a limb or more. Whether you have purchased a Tshirt or donated money or told your friends about Ward 57 “the amputee ward” at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, you made a choice to help

Suburban Noize Records and its artists on the Strange Noize Tour including (HED) P.E., KOTTONMOUTH KINGS, and the SUBNOIZE SOULJAZ, featuring Big B and The Dirtball, are joining the effort to help America’s wounded warriors. They understand the power they have to help young soldiers returning from a hardcore situation; having their bodies blown apart in the name of war. Huntington Beach, California’s (HED) P.E. has taken the lead with the fundraising promotion by pledging to wear the jerseys at each show. “The effort to fundraise for Ward 57 is non-political. They just want to help injured soldiers, who are all basically kids, to acquire the things they need to help them recover from their injuries,” says (HED) P.E. frontman Jared Gomes. “(HED) P.E. is on a mission to enlighten the youth about global affairs and individual responsibility.”

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