Surprise woman gives back to military Care packages are part of effort

Arizona republic ^ | Dec. 2, 2003 | Michael Kiefer

[armywife2]

Editor's note: Each week, The Arizona Republic will bring you the stories of the Arizona men and women who went to fight in Iraq, and the stories of those they left behind.

In 1995, Arlyn McClaughry's husband, Mark, was in the Army, stationed in Kuwait, when he got a letter from schoolchildren who had "adopted" him.

[armywife2]

Wanted to share how again people can adopt a military member through www.operationmilitarypride.org

[SandRat]

Military Pride BUMP and PING

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thank you. This is so cool. *g*
Good for the Arizona Republic, too.
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In 1995, Arlyn McClaughry's husband, Mark, was in the Army, stationed in Kuwait, when he got a letter from schoolchildren who had "adopted" him.

McClaughry was touched and inspired.

"I wanted to give something back," she says, so she and a group of military wives started Operation Military Pride, a Web site support group and message board that evolved into a clearinghouse for care packages to soldiers overseas...

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Look what she did:

McClaughry claims 5,000 members on the message board and more than a million packages mailed a year.
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www.operationmilitarypride.org

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Here's another, fun way to thank the troops ~ call the 800#, record a 30 sec. Christmas message ('letter', song, poem, prayer) to be broadcast over SoldierRadio.com, no postage required (or uncertain Iraq mail delivery).

[blackie]

Thank you ~ Bump!

[dakine]

Don't forget the YEAST...bump

[TruthNtegrity]

I hope everybody records a message for our troops to hear!

But OTOH, I want to sorta "warn" you about some names and addresses you might receive. From an organization I will not name (but will tell it to you if you are really interested and FReepmail me) I received the name and address of a soldier to send a holiday package to.

THEN I received an email from them that the information had been received in August, and they didn't know how current the address might be. I happened to recognize the address, and my lurker friend's nephew had the same address, and they shut down that entire "staging area" in Kuwait in October. There is absolutely not one Marine there. There might be other soldiers, but the Marines are stateside!!!

So, although it's late to offer this suggestion, I suggest that you write to your soldier FIRST and then if you receive a response back, then send a package, knowing it will really get to the person you intended.

I also have the name of a Chaplain in Baghdad who will happily distribute packages and the contents to soldiers, sailors (yes, SEALS are in-country) and airmen, if you don't have the address to send a package to, and you'd really like to!!

Remember, Dec. 11th is the last day to send Priority Mail or First Class.

In the meantime, pray that DHL starts flying in and out of Baghdad Airport. They were the plane that was shot at last week, and they are refusing to fly, saying that "it's too dangerous". Five days of mail sits in Baghdad right now. PRAY!

[freeangel]

Thankful for the military BUMP!

[armywife2]

OMP keep a very updated database and we get sign ups daily from Military .. Those are usually what is handed out that day. We also keep in touch with the Military members .. Since I would hate to have anyone get a package returned. I am curious to know who that was you got the name from ..

Anyway I agree sometimes a letter is a nice touch if you want to get their wants and needs.

We do have many that send their wants and needs pack on the welcome letter we send them to verify address.

[armywife2]

Thanks I am going to send that out in the Operation military pride newsletter.

[blackie]

Be Well ~ Be Armed ~ Be Safe ~ Molon Labe!

[Britton J Wingfield]

Brewer's yeast?

[dakine]

They will already have fruitjuice and sugar in the field, just a little yeast to get it started...

[Britton J Wingfield]

That's what I did when I was in the gulf :)

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[McGavin999]

Is that 5 days of mail going OUT or going IN?

[VOA]

good cause bump!

[VOA]

another bump

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks, TNt!

[TruthNtegrity]

Unfortunately, it's stopped both ways. What is sitting in Baghdad, isn't going out, and mail that's ready to be brought in, isn't.

I've begun to pray that Airborne, or FedEx or someone else will pick up the contract.

It is totally demoralizing to our troops for mail to not reach them, and for their mail to not get out.

I understand DHL's problem - they got an engine shot off, if I remember correctly, but safely made a quick turnaround to base. Why can't they do what they did when AF1 was coming in?......keep a one-mile perimeter around the base which keeps anything from hitting a plane on takeoff or landing?

[VOA]

bump