*Cards for troops program to stop in Barstow- MAF "Honoring Heroes Holiday" Tour Barstow Article*

BARSTOW — A cross-country trek collecting cards to send to troops who will be overseas for the holidays will stop in Barstow on Wednesday afternoon.

The Honoring Heroes at the Holidays Tour, sponsored by Move America Forward, a pro-troop organization, will pull its flag-painted tour bus into the Barstow Outlets at 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Catherine Moy, the executive director of the group, said the group will set up places for people to make cards and collect cards. The group will then deliver the cards to Iraq in the middle of December.

“Just a note from back here, a handmade card from a child, it makes them cry,” Moy said.

“That someone cares about you really makes things so much better when you’re in the war zone.”

In the first two stops on the tour, which started in Northern California, Moy said the group collected more than 2,000 cards. It hopes to gather 100,000 before heading to Iraq. Ryan Gill, who is riding the bus on its 20-day, 40-city trip across America, said the tour’s popularity has grown as they travel from city to city. Moy said Barstow was picked as a stop in part because of its location — the tour’s next stop is in Las Vegas — but also because of Barstow’s connection to the military.

“I think it’s a pretty patriotic place,” she said. “A lot of people want to do something for our heroes during the holidays, but they don’t know what to do.”

The tour started on Tuesday in Stockton, made a stop in Fresno and will stop in Bakersfield on Wednesday before coming to Barstow. Moy said Move America Forward has a somber ceremony planned for Dec. 16 at Ground Zero in New York, the last stop of the group’s tour.

Contact the writer:
(760) 256-4121 or aaron_aupperlee@link.freedom.com

Honoring Heroes at the Holidays Tour stop at Barstow Outlets
Wednesday, Nov. 28, 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
2552 Mercantile Way
Make or drop off holiday cards for troops serving overseas

There aren’t.

“but also because of Barstow’s connection to the military”

The only connection being that it’s a pretty close drive to Irwin. All Barstow has to offer are liquor stores and fast food, only one of which will benefit our soldiers. While a trainee can get booze cheaper on base, the drive-through Burger King is usually a 45-minute wait.

"Barstow Station"....from Wiki:

In Barstow ... The Barstow Station mini-mall on Main Street a popular stop for travellers on I-15. Gift shops, fast food, and the The Highway Stations office are located here. The dining section consists of three side-by-side rail-road cars—a reference to Barstow's railroad heritage. In September 1986, the McDonald's at the Barstow Station was destroyed by fire when a tourist pulled up to drive thru window and his car caught fire. In 1997, the McDonald's at the Barstow Station got national attention when a gunman opened fire, shooting several people, killing a nine year old girl.

Right now the tour is in Barstow and there are a couple of dozen or more Patriotic Troop supporters making cards for the troops and bringing handfuls of them they collected from all over town.

They are excited to see the Heroes Tour in their town, and enjoying the speakers quite enthusiastically

I hope those on this thread that trashed this patriotic area on this thread come out when the Tour passes through your state.

It was a treat to join the Caravan for the Bakersfield Rally today and after a scenic drive, also catch the Barstow Rally.

Update: I was the last rally attendee to leave the Barstow site. As I was about to drive off, a woman pulled up 10 minutes after the Caravan had headed off towards Las Vegas. She had gotten there as quickly as possible, coming directly from work. She saw the story in the local paper (I didn’t think to ask which one at the moment).

She had some cards for our troops too! She said she would send them in using the MAF address on the Web site.

P.S. That Diana Nagy can S I N G ! WooHOOO! What a great patriotic troupe all of you, supporting our troops.

Thanks all of you, for all you are doing!

THANK YOU TROOPS AND VETS and MERRY CHRISTMAS.

I have some news:

Molette67 collected over 50 pounds of goods and had the kids in her local school sign cards and she sent it to Afghanistan and Iraq yesterday.

She is going to whoop me for telling you all this (she doesn't like the spot light), but I am proud of her and I thank her for thanking our Troops.

Great job Molette67 and God Bless you and yours!

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