Operation Gratitude (Van Nuys, Ca)

Self

[airedale]

Operation Gratitude is on the way to accomplishing it's goal this Memorial Day weekend. They are preparing and sending 10,000 individual packages to soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. It's all being done by volunteers. So far this weekend they've sent a little 8,200 individual care packages this weekend. They will be working again tomorrow, Memorial Day, from 10:00 to 4:00.

They can use more volunteers tomorrow and stuff for the troops. The event is taking place at the Army National Guard Center on Victory Blvd west of the 405 between Balboa and White Oak. It's on the south side of the street. For more details go: http://www.opgratitude.org

If you can't volunteer you can drop off things to be sent. Letters to the troops are really wanted. They should be unsealed.

The following is a list of things that they need/want: New DVDs, CDs and players Disposable Cameras AT&T Prepaid Phone Cards Handheld electronic games Puzzle, Word Game and Crossword books Battery Operated Fans, Misty Mates or other cooling products Commercially wrapped individual packets of Trail Mix, Beef Jerky, Nuts, Cookies, Energy Bars, Sunflower Seeds, Candy Ready To Eat Tuna or Chicken Salad kits Boxes of Girl Scout Cookies Packets of Powdered Cold Beverages Commercially sealed Lip Balm Individual packets of moist towelettes Packets of Stationary Novelty Items New Knit Hats and Gloves New T-shirts (sizes Large and Extra Large) Travel Size containers of Foot Powder Tobacco Products Unsealed personal cards and letters

You can donate $$$ via PayPal at the website. They are sending the goodies by US mail to the individual soldiers. All work and material is donated so other than postage overhead is minimal.

If you go to the site there are 63 pictures of the event. There isn't one of me but I spent most of the day there and will be there tomorrow.

They will be doing this again latter this year probably in November. Sign their guestbook and you'll be notified of future events.

[WhistlingPastTheGraveyard]

*ping*

[A Navy Vet]

My wife and I are heading up there in a couple hours to drop off about 250 CD's of With Love and Affection. Click on the graphic from the link for more info.

[airedale]

Thanks your gift is appreciated

[struwwelpeter]

The protected will never know just how sweet the taste of freedom really is.

A Soldier Died Today

He was getting old and paunchy;
And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion,
Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he had fought in,
And the deeds that he had done.
In his exploits with his buddies;
They were heroes, everyone.

And 'tho sometimes, to his neighbors,
His tales became a joke.
All his buddies listened,
For they knew whereof he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer,
For ol' Bob has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer,
For a soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many,
Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary...
Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family,
Quietly going on his way.
And the world won't note his passing,
'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth,
Their bodies lie in state.
While thousands note their passing,
And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories,
From the time that they were young.
But the passing of a soldier,
Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution,
To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise,
And cons his fellow man?

Or the ordinary fellow,
Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his Country...
And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend,
And the style in which he lives,
Are sometimes disproportionate,
To the service he gives.

While the ordinary soldier,
Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal,
And perhaps a pension...small.

It's so easy to forget them,
For it is so long ago,
That our Bob's and Jim's and Johnny's,
Went to battle, but we know.

It was not the politicians,
With their compromise and ploys;
Who won for us the freedom,
That our Country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger,
With your enemies at hand;
Would you really want some cop-out,
With his ever waffling stand?

Or would you want a Soldier,
Who has sworn to defend,
His home, his kin and Country,
And would fight until the end?

He was just a common Soldier,
And his ranks are growing thin.
But his presence should remind us,
We may need his like again.

For when countries are in conflict,
Then we find the Soldier's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles,
That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor,
While he's here to hear the praise.
Then at least let's give him homage,
At the ending of his days.

Perhaps just a simple headline,
In the paper that might say,
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING,
FOR A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

Author Unknown

[A Navy Vet]

Just got back from Operation Gratitude. We only meant to drop off the Troop Tribute CD's, but after watching the 100 or so people working so hard, we dug in also.

I was one of folks stacking the pallets at the end of the assembly line. The line was going so fast, it took 5 of us just to run the boxes over to pallets from where the customs forms were being filled out. My SO was further up on the assembly line filling boxes with goodies.

Hot, fast-paced hard work, and full of joy - that's what was on everyone's face!! Sorry we didn't meet.

[Eastbound]

In memory of all of our uncles and cousins
Our sisters and brothers and friends by the dozens
To mothers and fathers and all of the rest
Who answered the call to a patriot's test

We'll always remember and never forget
Those of our number, the enemy met
Who paid highest dues for our Liberty Nation
The bravest, most loyal from each generation

Eastbound - 5-31-04

[Neil E. Wright]

A Navy Vet (Chairman of the Board of Directors) VetsCoR, with Carolyn Blashek, founder and leader of Operation Gratitude.

±

"The Era of Osama lasted about an hour, from the time the first plane hit the tower to the moment the General Militia of Flight 93 reported for duty."
Toward FREEDOM

[CholeraJoe]

You look good, bud. What are them Army stripes doing on your vest?

[SAMWolf]

They have Sergeant's in the Navy now? ;-)

[markv840]

See THIS thread for more PICTUES. I volunteered this saturday (5/29), it was amazing, evreybody was great, people were working really hard to get those packages ready. I'm looking forward to doing this again.

[Eastbound]

Bump..

[Cinnamon Girl]

Thanks for posting this. I'd like to bring some stuff by to be sent.

[merry10]

You can also bring things to the Reagan Library and then get free admission. They are needing phone cards for the guys at Walter Reed. I dropped some things off at OpGratitude yesterday and could not stay, but the enthusiasm and spirit in that warehouse was AMAZING.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[A Navy Vet]

Those are my father's WWII stripes (79th ID - Belgium, France, Germany campaigns). I wear them in honor of him and the "Greatest Generation". The Navy pins are on the upper left of the vest.

Oh, and I actually do comb my hair occassionaly, lol...just took a break from stacking pacakages on pallets. BTW, the Tribute CD's were gone within minutes. Wish we had brought 1000's!

[A Navy Vet]

I'm so confused, lol. See my post above. Although I get asked at biker and Veteran functions what Army unit I served in, I always get a warm response when I explain what the stripes mean. It is an honor for me to remind people of what those stripes meant.

[CholeraJoe]

Good explanation.

[A Navy Vet]

Neil, I'm sending you a photo of Carolyn on VetsCoR 2. Could you post it here please?

[SAMWolf]

I tank your father for his service