Back forces at AV Fair [Southern California] with Troop Postcard

Valley Press on ^ | Sunday, August 13, 2006. | DENNIS ANDERSON

[BenLurkin]

How do we make tangible demonstrations of support for our troops? The question was posed recently at Palmdale Barnes & Noble when author and fighting Marine David Danelo turned out to talk about his book, "Bloodstripes: The Grunt's View of the War in Iraq."

Danelo was at the dais with Marine Jason Howell, a Highland High School grad now in the Sheriff's Department, who fought the hot war in Anbar Province in 2004.

We have an opportunity at the Antelope Valley Fair, which signals the peak of the summer season leading to Labor Day.

"Postcard to the Troops" involves stationing monster-sized postcards near the fair entrance.

Fairgoers can sign the 4- by 8-foot-high cards with messages of support. The large cards will be rolled up in tubes and sent to combat theaters in Iraq and Afghanistan, where key Antelope Valley contact personnel, such as Air Force Maj. David Sell (an AV Kiwanian) will assist in getting the cards out to forward operating bases, dining facilities, company headquarters and line units.

My experience traveling in Iraq and Kuwait was that these messages were displayed in tents and living units like tapestries. Such posters attest to the authentic loyalty and support most of our decent citizens want to share with our soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, Guard, Reserve and Coast Guard who are serving in heat, amid the fright and under fire.

More details in weeks ahead about "Postcard to the Troops," which will be the opportunity for thousands of Antelope Valley fairgoers to show and tell our Joes and Janes how we feel about the dangers, hazards and hardships they are facing for the sake of the rest of us at home.