make a real difference! Are you? Operation Military Pride Supports Deployed Troops

American Forces Press Service ^ | Nov 2003 | K.L. Vantran

[armywife2]

Operation Military Pride Supports Deployed Troops By K.L. Vantran American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 17, 2003 – Once the children are off to school, Arlyn McCoaughry logs onto the computer in her Arizona home and begins reading e- mails from service members deployed throughout the world.

As chairperson for Operation Military Pride, http://www.operationmilitarypride.org a non-profit organization that sends letters and care packages to troops deployed overseas, McCoaughry said the items most often requested include baby wipes, junk food, gum, foot powder, gel insoles, magazines and books.

"These are the kinds of things we take for granted, but they obviously need them," said McCoaughry, who started OMP in 1995.

While care packages often contain toiletries, non-perishable food and reading material, OMP has also sent DVD players, video games and consoles. "We try to get them what they ask for," said McCoaughry. "If by playing a video game for a few minutes it seems like they're home and we've raised morale, it's all worth it."

McCoaughry said when her husband was deployed to Kuwait somebody "adopted" him. She said running OMP is her way of "giving something back" to the military.

Although it's almost a full-time job, especially since September 2001, McCoaughry said she loves her work.

Around the holidays, people are really supportive and remember the troops, she said. "But year round, people tend to forget," she added. "They don't realize how low morale can get. I say 'wake up,' we need to support our troops all the time. We need to make sure the men and women are taken care of and know that people back home care about them."

The spouse of an 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper at Fort Bragg, N.C., who asked that her name not be used, agreed. "You can't imagine what effect these packages have on morale," she said. "It's a bright spot in the day for them. There are a lot of single soldiers who don't get a lot of packages from home, so when they get one from Operation Military Pride it really lifts their spirits."

She said her husband's unit was in country only three days when it "lost a soldier." He recently sent her a letter and said that when his unit received packages, the soldiers "were like a bunch of kids at Christmas."

She lauded McCoaughry and the volunteers that keep OMP going. "She's a wonderful lady and it's a wonderful organization."

[armywife2]

Great way to adopt a Military member! You can adopt or sponsor a package to a deployed Military member.

[GraniteStateConservative]

My childhood best friend is in Baghdad if anyone is looking for a name and address to send Christmas cards, etc. to. Just FReepmail me.

[HiJinx]

Ping!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

The USO Canteen Post Office

E-Mail Our Military Links To enter, Click on the Post Office Please stop in the USO Canteen Post Office Daily to E-Mail our Troops.

[armywife2]

Reason I like Operation Military Pride over the USO is
you get a more personal touch. You actually get to email or snail mail with the military member who signed up with Operation military pride. Right now they have over 31,000

USO you do not even know who gets your package. OMP also has some great message boards at

http://messageboards.operationmilitarypride.org/

Have you even looked at the website?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Have you even looked at the website?"

I just added a link to it here.

Will You help keep the Candle Lit for our service men and women?
Can you spare a few moments today to either
e-mail them or learn about sending packages to them for the holidays?
Many of them are away from home for the 1st time.
PLEASE Click on the graphic and help cheer them up.
You will stay right where you are on this thread while you write them.
Thank You
Postmaster
USO Canteen FReeper Style Post Office

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[blackie]

Support Our Deployed Troops ~ Bump!

[CTOCS]

Good Idea...

There are other ways to support as well. On Monday I called United Airlines and donated all of my miles to the troops. I had 734,612 on the books. United will match them mile for mile. Made me feel good about myself all day......

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you for the reminder, armywife2 and Linda ~ and for your service to the country. (^:

 http://www.caringbridge.org/wounded/heroes/

8 Holiday Appeal for Walter Reed Hospital Soldiers ~ JOE GALLOWAY
8 If you know someone who's serving there, write to them; write often; write regularly.
8 Deadline nears to send packages to deployed Soldiers
8 They Won't Be Home For The Holidays: A Quick Guide To Care Packages For Miltary Personnel

---

8 Operation Military Pride Supports Deployed Troops ~ DoD | 11/17/03 | K.L. Vantran

[MEG33]

bttt

[armywife2]

I think sometimes people need a little reminder :)
Mail to the Military can mean so much ..

here is something we got

Want to share a letter that proves how much mail can mean.. .below or at

http://messageboards.operationmilitarypride.org/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=183;t=000094



Dear Mrs. McClaughry:

My name is Julie Bates. I have belonged to your newsletter for sometime now. It kept me sane during my son's deployment. I enjoyed getting the latest updates on military news. I tried to avoid the news while my son was in Iraq.

I wanted to let you know my son Christopher is back from Iraq safe and sound. I owe that all to the generosity of your organization. When I enrolled Christopher for the support of care packages I would have never imagined it would be the reason he is still with us today. I am not sure if you are a religious person in nature but in my heart I believe your organization has angels sent from God. Let me try an explain why I believe this to be the case.

I just got back from spending three weeks with my son on his return from Iraq. He has been struggling with some emotional turmoil in his life. When he left to help with the war efforts he was engaged. She was his high school sweetheart. In early June she was killed in a car accident. I was the one who had to break the news to Christopher over the phone when he called. He choose to remain with his battery in Iraq and spoke with the Chaplain often. He grew very depressed he expressed to me over the phone until we were cut off due to lack of minutes on his phone card. I prayed for him all a mother could do.

While on my visit with Christopher this last week he shared a moment in his life every mother dreads hearing. He told me that the end of June he was planning on ending his life and planned on doing it the next day while in Iraq. He said he laid in his tent all night and prayed to God for strength and an opportunity to talk with his family one last time. He would have had to wait almost seven days until payday to get a phone card. He said he felt so alone and very homesick. He then told me that next day at mail call he received nine care packages from your organization from caring Americans who did not know him. Packages had phone cards and he was able to call home and talk with his father and me. He said after hearing in our voices how much we missed him he knew he could never take his own life and cause us the grief that comes along with suicide.

I want to thank the sponsors who sent these care packages. The angels names are Robert Aprahamian and Denise Shipley. Their generosity is the reason I have my son here with me today. They will never know how much I appreciate what they have done for my family.

Since I was gone visiting my son I was not able to read my internet mail, upon my return yesterday I saw that there was a donation drive with a match of money. I have prayed to God the whole way home on the plane trying to figure out how to repay your organization and I would like to make the same offer. I could never put an amount on the life of my son but I want to help other young soldiers who maybe going through a rough time like Christopher. I am willing to double any monetary donation sent to Operation military pride on September, 4Th, 2003.

You have my permission to share this letter with your newsletter Mrs. McClaughry. I want everyone who has sent caring support in letters and care packages to soldiers far away from their families to know how much of an impact they may have on the soldiers emotional well-being.


God Bless,
Julie Bates

---

Julz
Proud mother of an Army Soldier.
posted Sat

[VOA]

On Monday I called United Airlines and donated all of my miles to the troops.
I had 734,612 on the books. United will match them mile for mile.
Made me feel good about myself all day......

I think you have permission to pat yourself on the back for a bit longer than that.
And maybe even longer than we can imagine!

[VOA]

The angels names are Robert Aprahamian and Denise Shipley.

And that un-named chaplain.
Bless 'em all, and the young soldier.

[boxerblues]

You can add another atta boy to your pile. This military family thanks you for your support

Mom of 2 soldiers SPC B. in Iraq & Pfc C. in Korea

[VOA]

Ragtime Cowgirl,
thanks again for posts and links.

(Have you checked out post 10? -- WOW!)

[Eagle Eye]

Outstanding!!!

Your gift will be greatly appreciated.

[CTOCS]

I am also of a military family - Father was career Navy, Older brother 2 tour USAF, younger brother career Navy. I was going to be career Navy but I'm a combat disabled Vietnam Vet. My handle, CTOCS was my last held rate, Senior Chief Cryptologic Technican...

But to the point. You're Welcome.......

[VOA]

My handle, CTOCS was my last held rate, Senior Chief Cryptologic Technican...

I know this involves a nasty bit of rounding error, but let me be the first to
dub you:

THE 1.5 MILLION MILE MAN

Hope that's not being too showy for you!