Christmas For Our Troops In Kirkuk

McLynnan | 9/25/04 | Self

[McLynnan]

Although I rarely post (no time!), I email frequently with our contact in Kirkuk and try to stay in touch with PatriciaRuth. "C" in Kirkuk and I have been discussing the upcoming holidays, and what a tough time of year it is for our troops who are so far from home. I told him while there was nothing I could do to bridge the miles between them and their families, maybe I could provide things that would help give the desert that nice Christmas-y feeling. He gave me a very modest list, but it’s more than I can handle on my own. HELP!!! After talking with Patty, she generously loaned me her ping list so I could see if anybody is interested in contributing. Since she’s on overload with her other troop work, I offered to start this thread and try to get things organized.

Would any of you like to get involved? I know our Kirkuk troops would appreciate anything we can do. Here’s what C has asked for:

“We could use two trees with the ornaments and lights, wall decorations and more lights for around the rooms, stockings for 82 personnel and some gift wrap. Music CD's would be good, candy canes, Christmas cards and if possible a Santa suit.

I think that would be good. We are good on calling cards as I have stock-piled enough for all that need it.

Please include a list of contributors in an email to me so that I can honor them properly. Thanks for all your support!! I know that the men and women we have serving over here will greatly appreciate this generous on-taking”.

The Christmas cards need to be sent soon so they have time to address and send them back home. Ditto for the gift wrap. Would any of you with sewing skills be willing to stitch up some stockings?

[McLynnan]

The thanks goes to everybody on this and other threads who are so generous in their response. Honestly, all of you did the hard work on this thread, and I can't tell you how much I appreciate it. Patriciaruth is in a league all her own when it comes to dedicating her time and resources!

[ican'tbelieveit]

Well, our hope is they at least get a smile. Some of the stuff I sent in them is a little silly. But that is what stockings are, for the most part, fun.

[potlatch]

Great McLynnan! Glad I was able to help. Tell them to take some pictures at Christmas time for us to see!! Carol

[LakeLady]

icbi wrote..."And, I hope this next week goes well also. I have been kind of down all day today, can't quite place what is causing it."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi icbi,
Are you feeling better than the you were on Monday? I sure hope so.

I have an idea that might get your juices flowing and get your mind off next week. Now that the Troop Projects will be winding down soon, why don't we get everyone together on a specified night and have a FReeper wrap party?

We could honor patriciaruth and McLean and any others, of whom I'm not aware, who have been so instrumental and have worked so hard to coordinate these projects. All those who participated in the projects can break their arms patting themselves on the back (LOL) and share any funny stories about their contributions. But most of all, we could come together as a group to honor our brave troops who are so far from their loved ones protecting us during the holidays.

Do think this is a plausible idea? Let me know if you'd like to try it. I went through the thread and made a ping list that I think includes everyone's name. We could use that to reach the group.

LakeLady

[ican'tbelieveit]

I am feeling better. Think I am having a little MSG overdose, I think. That can really mess with me. Got to where I couldn't eat much of anything.

I would love to get together... I am assuming online?

[LakeLady]

Oops! Did I forget to say online? DUH! Yes, me thinks that would be easier. LOL I'll ping everyone and we'll see if we can get some people who are good with graphics to jazz it up a bit. I guess it would be best to wait until after Tuesday and then we can celebrate two successes!

I'm so glad you're feeling better. It sounds as if you were having what I call a royal case of the black ass. You don't really know what's bothering you, just that something is. Mine always pass eventually.

[McLynnan]

I'll definitely ask him to take pictures. There are some good looking guys in that unit, and all the ladies on this thread deserve a look at them!

[potlatch]

Ya, we'll like that for sure!!

[ican'tbelieveit]

Cali, we found $1 DVD's

I bought 20 of them... should finish filling up your stockings?

Little Lord Fountleroy
Oliver Twist
Bela Lugosi Meets Brooklyn Gorilla
The Three Musketeers
Shirley Temple Shorts
Who Killed Doc Robbin
White Fang to the Rescue
Li'l Abner
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Jungle Book (1942)
David Copperfield
Mr. Robinson Crusoe
Seven Alone
Abbot & Costello Africa Screams
The Jackie Robinson Story
Heidi
The Borrowers
The Big Cat
Million Dollar Kid
The Return of Rin Tin Tin

Let me know if these work, will get them sent off (to you if you like). And, if you need more, there were a few more titles I didn't pick up.

[califamily4W]

I can't believe it, icant'tbelieveit! You are the answer to my prayers (got so excited when reading your post my daughters all came running in).
Had planned to burn 20 (that's an exact number) copies of new releases to finish my 45 but I was told, that'd be a big no no...gosh what was I thinking, duh.
And just thought in the car about an hour ago...ok I'll call the local radio station and see if they can donate something...let me say it again YOU are the answer to my prayers FRiend...thank you!
Your dvds not only match perfectly with those I've collected so far, the number 20 is the exact shortage for a... wrap it up! WhooHoo! Freepmail on the way.
Cali

[ican'tbelieveit]

Funny how those things work out. I was just commenting last night I hoped I didn't have to get out today. But the dog was driving me nuts (he is itchy). So we went to get him some new shampoo. Just happened across those dvds on the way out.

[patriciaruth]

ping

[McLynnan]

Good morning all! A few people have asked if their packages arrived in Kirkuk yet. I had email from the unit this morning that I wanted to share with all of you who sent things weeks ago, but have no clue if they got there. The unit is very busy, but will be going through all of your goodies in a few weeks, and you will probably get an acknowledgment once they get things sorted out. When I receive pictures I'll arrange to post them on this thread. I don't have a site to store photos for posting, so if anybody wants to volunteer to let me send them in email and post them, I'd really appreciate it.

From Kirkuk:
**I haven’t begun the Christmas thing yet. I have all the boxes stored up and will be doing all of that after Thanksgiving. We have received such overwhelming support from all of you that I’m sure nothing is lacking. I will be sure to take plenty of photo’s and send them out to all.**

[Abigail Adams]

Thanks for the ping! I just sent my package earlier this week with a Christmas CD and a packet of Christmas cards. Thanks for heading up this effort! I hope it will make their holidays a bit brighter. It would be great to see photos!

[asgardshill]

Are you going to need any more popcorn and candy for your stockings? I've got about 25 bags of microwave regular and caramel popcorn, 5 pounds of beef jerky, and 10 pounds of various candy (some meltable but it might be cool enough to ship it now).

[asgardshill]

Oh, the beef jerky is in 10 oz paks. I've also got 3 cases of Power Bars (12 ea) if they'll fit.

[TontoKowalski]

I'm just seeing this thread, and my wife and I were talking the other day about what a good lesson for our son it would be to do something like this for our troops. God bless y'all for setting an example and providing a way to do it.

I see y'all have started a while ago. Is there a way we can order online and have it sent to a unit in need? I'd imagine it would be faster that way, and might let us make up lost time. It won't be nearly as nice as those homemade stockings and goodies are, but it would be something.

I've tried to figure out which unit needs what, but I can't follow the thread too well. Iraq, Afghanistan, heck... anywhere that gets mail... if you can FReepmail me the details/contact, we can contribute to our troops, too.

Warmest regards, Tonto

[Abigail Adams]

You might want to Freepmail "McLynnan" for more info.

Thanks for joining us in supporting our troops!

[patriciaruth]

It is too late to order online to have things sent to the troops directly and be sure they arrive by Christmas, as those are not priority mailed.

If you order online and have things sent to me and they reach me before the end of this month, then I can priority mail them to the soldiers and they probably will make it on time.

I have a new unit that would like movies, and they will be able watch both DVD and VHS as arjay just sent them DVD/VCR combo unit which should get there before any movies you select do.

You can pick up bargains or previewed movies locally and mail them to me. Or you can order from Amazon and if you don't live in WA you won't pay sales taxes, and if you get over $25 worth, you won't have to pay shipping, if you opt for super saver shipping.

If you do this this weekend, they should make it to me in time.

I'll FReepmail you my address.

Pick well made movies that you yourself would enjoy watching more than once. Avoid anti-American, anti-military themes. They would enjoy a wide variety now as we haven't sent any movies to this particular unit -- the "Silent Warriors", Military Intelligence at Kirkuk. There are probably more than a thousand troops at Kirkuk, this is just one of two units we are in touch with there.

If you need suggestions or you want advice about a particular one, let me know, as I've previewed a great many while screening them, plus my husband and I are avid movie fans as well as being troop supporters.

Let me know what you'd like to do.

Cheers!
Patty

P.S. We've sent Stargate and Stargate SG-l first and second season to several bases, but not this one unit.

[patriciaruth]

Christmas cards and letters for our Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan

This thread is still active.