Posted on 11/14/2005 7:37:37 AM PST by mosquitobite
ANY SOLDIER
As the Veterans Day weekend wraps up, a letter-to-the-editor published in today's Nevada Appeal tells about a wonderful program called "Any Soldier" in which all of us across the country can do something a little more substantive than slapping a "I Support Our Troops" bumper sticker on the backs of our cars.
http:\\www.anysoldier.com is a Website with a huge database of troop names and units where one may read their messages and choose whomever you would like to adopt," Jessi Winchester notes. "The contact person for each unit has agreed to accept mail and packages for distribution to those in their unit who get little or no mail. Adopting a unit is such a small thing to do and can bring such happiness - especially with the holidays just around the corner.
"Our brave military men and women can't run to the store for items needed to make their lives easier, but we can. They need medicated foot powder, baby wipes (to get the sand off their FACES!), lip balm, hand lotion, toothbrushes, moisturizing soap, body wash, shampoo, room deodorizers (they sleep several to a room in nasty temperatures), Crystal Lite powdered lemonade mix (to mix with their water) Little Debby snack cakes (nothing that will melt), protein or breakfast bars, trail mix, crackers, microwave popcorn, canned tuna (a frequent request), gum, black socks, phone cards, games of any kind, paperback books, magazines (sports, physical fitness, cars), rechargeable batteries (and charger), DVDs (most units try to have a movie night to help the troops forget where they are), post cards to decorate their walls (anything green - no sand!) and remind them of home - and the ultimate luxury ... pillows. Be sure to include your name and return address as many recipients will write back."
Although the website is known as "Any Soldier," once there you can choose to "adopt" a soldier, a Marine, an airman, a sailor or a Coast Guardsman.
Folks, let's make this Veterans Day weekend more than just a three-day holiday. And let's make "support" for our troops something more than a cheap slogan. Do what our family is doing today: Adopting a trooper and heading down to the local drug store to fill up a care package. Just go to www.anysoldier.com for additional information and a list of potential "adoptees."
And, pssssst. Spread the word.
Chuck Muth Citizen Outreach
Also, I hope no one expects them to write back. They're busy saving their own lives & ours!!
Thank for posting... will do our part!
PING!
ping
Well said, Mosquito...I'm dang tired of hearing the anti-Bush and anti-American stories in the media right now...I've had it! It's just gotten so old. I need a break....always enjoy writing and sending care packages to our brave troops.
Thanks for this posting! :)
I picked one with the same last name. Hopefully it'll feel more "personal" (last name is not common!)
I adopted a soldier last Christmas through another adopt-a-soldier program. I committed to writing once a week and sending a care package once a month. I only had the soldier's name, nothing else.
I received two letters from him--one in answer to my pleas for the types of items he would like to which he said anything I wanted to send and another when he returned in which he thanked me. He also sent a great Iraqi Freedom flag that expressed thanks for my support.
I didn't expect him to become a penpal, but, boy, I wished he could have just jotted down his size, food he likes, music, etc. I think it is great when the programs specifically outline what is wanted or needed.
Don't get me wrong, it was a good experience and a small thing to do. I actually probably got more out of it since my letters became a sort of therapy. I joked I felt like Jack Nicholson writing to his adopted child in Finding Schmidt. My poor soldier probably learned more than he ever wanted to know about my life.
ping
Thanks for posting this.
I for one would like to see more FReepers sending mail to the troops.
"Any Soldier" is a great site. Once you start reading about the troops, you want to adopt ALL of them!
A lot of troop support was diverted after Hurricane Katrina.
They still need us, in fact more than ever.
We boxed 15,000 care packages this past weekend at Operation Gratitude. They are labelled and ready to ship.
Please, everyone, don't worry about getting a response. Just do it!
bttt
And don't forget Christmas if time is too short for the paper work to be processed before Thanksgiving.
Try contacting the military hospitals. As long as the soldier/airman is not badly hurt, they'll be over joyed to get away. We've been told not to talk about there injuries unless they bring it up.
Also, we've been told they feel more comfortable with a buddy coming with them.
PING and bump!
No matter where I am if I see a service man or woman in uniform I always thank them. Sometimes it makes me cry!
BUMP!!
You got it!
I had a name and asked what he wanted. My soldier was very specific. He asked for a spare pair of boots because it was rainy and his never dried out. He told me what kind and what size. I sent them, along with a bunch of other stuff, including spare socks. I got a few emails from him later.
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