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Today we are very pleased to present A Certificate of Appreciation from the Department of Defense to Free Republic.This certificate was mailed to patriciaruth in specific appreciation for "Project Silk Scarves".
Patriciaruth and her Merry Band of Patriots (almost all of whom are FReepers) are largely responsible for Project Silk Scarves. However, Patriciaruth feels that this certificate should be shared with all members of FRee Republic who sent letters and care packages to our troops in the field last Christmas either through the projects she coordinated or on their own.
Our story begins in August of 2001. In patriciaruth's words:
"Project Kosovo Care Packages"
"When President Bush went to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo in May of 2001, I was ashamed to see how starved the soldiers were for appreciation from the people of the United States. They were in harm's way and had been given no news coverage or outpouring of gratitude from U.S. citizens as they deserved. So I started the project (Project Kosovo Care Packages) to let them know that they deserved to be remembered and they deserved our support and gratitude."
Patriciaruth appealed to fellow FRiends for help in an article posted on the FR Forum on 8-09-01... Project Kosovo.
The response was terrific. Soon FReepers were sending contributions and donations both to patriciaruth and directly to Kosovo. Patriciaruth wrote:
"Our care packages went to Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo and were received by the 101st Airborne out of Fort Campbell, KY, and the 10th Mountain Division out of Ft. Drum in New York. Many of these soldiers went on to Afghanistan after receiving our care packages."
"Those care packages contained candy, videos, paperbacks, magazines, playing cards, and notes from school children, among other items. We sent over ten thousand pieces of Halloween and Christmas candy and hundreds of candy bars. We also sent over 100 videos and uncounted paperback books."
Some of these videos and paperback books are listed in the update link that patriciaruth posted on the FR Forum:
News From Kosovo 10-23-01
The response from Kosovo was rewarding. Here are some words of patriciaruth from the above link:
 "The Chaplain at Camp Bondsteel in Kosovo has kept me informed about the Care packages that we started sending to our troops before September 11 and continued to send afterwards. He said that the most appreciated gifts were candy bars (Snickers was a big hit) and movie videos."
This is part of a letter received from the Chaplain that Patriciaruth shared in the above link:
"What a great blessing you all are for sending those items...it is a tremendous hit with the soldiers - especially the videos...we are also looking forward to the Halloween stuff...and of course Snickers around here are like gold...I have to be careful and not walk around with the box itself or I will be tackled!"
FReepers who sent donations to patriciaruth included: mawmaw1; tyen; MJY1288.
Some FReepers who sent individual Care Packages to Kosovo were: kitkat; pissed off janitor; 2jedismom; Mama_Bear; Mntgrl@vrwc; Esther2; MadEagle; and Clintons are white trash.
Patriciaruth would also like to mention and thank Hillary's Lovely Legs who organized and sent many Care packages with the support of the Guild. (Note: The Guild will be highlighted at an upcoming date and their contribuions will be expounded on at that time. Additionally, though many FReepers were eager to join patriciaruth's efforts, it is equally important to mention that there are many FReepers who prefer to support the troops privately, and this in no way is to take away from those individuals.)
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Project Silk Scarves 
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"Project Silk Scarves"
Since the feedback from the troops was fantastic and the response from FReepers enthusiastic, patriciaruth decided to do a special Holiday project. She wanted to send Christmas/Hannukkah/Kwanzaa presents for the troops in the field.
After a bit of thought and investigation, patriciaruth decided on Project Silk Scarves. Here is why she chose silk scarves:
"...., when I asked my cousin, now an army Colonel, what the troops might like for holiday presents, he said that the most appreciated gifts during the Gulf War were silk scarves that the troops wore under the LTB (load bearing equipment) to take the friction off the neck, shoulders and back while hiking to prevent chaffing. He suggested black, brown or camouflage for color as they wouldn't show the sweat or dirt so much, and silk because it is lightweight and warm for the coming winter. He recommended 18 x 48 inches."
Patriciaruth then went though "channels", requesting permission from the Army Officer that coordinated bulk mailings. She received this letter of permission:
"Good Afternoon (patriciaruth's real name): Your offer of 200 Silk Scarves is accepted."
"...Per my corresponding with my point of contact in theater...Command would like to distribute them to outlying sites pulling duty on holidays...."
"Please inform me when you are ready to ship the Scarves, and I will provide a Donation Number and the stateside ship to address."
Donations for Christmas.....11-14-01
The above link includes an appeal for help with Project Silk Scarves from FReepers. Here is some of what patriciaruth wrote:
"Now we are at the point where we have obtained enough silk for over 200 scarves and some lovely ladies in the rural town I live in are sewing the scarves, and they should be ready to send in 7-10 days."
"The black silk, high quality for durability, cost almost $2500. Mtngirl@vrwc and I have put it on our credit cards, and are now asking the ping list and anyone else who would like to join us for donations."
"If you would like to have one or more scarves sent in your name with your personal message to one or more soldiers in the field, or would like to join with someone else to send a scarf, then we need to hear from you in the next few days. Each scarf costs: in fabric, hiring seamstresses, and postage, about $15."
On 11-25-01, patriciaruth once again appealed to FReepers and her Merry Band of Patriots.
Holiday FReepmail for Our Troops Needed
She wrote:
"I am hoping that many of you can immediately send me Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanzaa or Happy Holidays cards with personal messages for the soldiers, family photo, child drawings, or other inventive flat/thin decoration with your name for me to include with the scarves. Each scarf will go in a ziplock bag for the soldier to store and keep it dry, and the cards and messages will go in the clear baggies with the decorative part showing. The baggies are 5 x 6 1/2 inches, so the holiday card should not be larger than that if it can't be folded."
"Contributions totalling around $3,000, as I recall, for the silk scarves Christmas project for our troops were made by these FReepers:
mtngrl@vrwc; jtill; 2jedismom; mama_bear; cantfindagoodscreenname; Kathy in Alaska; Kayak; swheats; esther2; materetmagistra; McGavin999; calypgin; OhioWfan; reaganite; Bigg Red; Cool Guy; Pray4USA; dodobird; Bruce Kurtz; MonroeDNA; Lakelady; katnip; JohnHuang2; dixielander; omegatoo; DixieChick2000; LiberteeBell; I be tc; SuziQ; COB1; ncpastor; zeaal; JustAmy; Yehuda; d4now; JulieRNR21; exit 148; deadhead; reborn; Alamo-Girl; potlatch; RottiBiz; bloodmeridian; Texan4W; MJY1288; jwalsh07; AquariusStar22; susangirl; Torie; Miss American Pie."
"And contributions were received from these Lurkers:
Jean in Mo, April in Texas, Dawn in Florida, JL from Texas, Marcia's family in northern CA, a firefighter in MI."
"Here are some other FReepers who helped in the success of Operation Silk Scarves:
GretchenEE; Brad's Gramma; CENTVRIO EQVITVM; katiebelle; rightonline; peach; tunehead54; sabertooth; fiftymegaton; Calico; proudofthesouth; LibKill; IowaGranny; 3D-JOY; 68-69TonkinGulfYatchClub; homeschool mama; MozartLover; lonevoice; Doug from Upland; sweetliberty; Diver Dave; March I up; Snow Bunny; rockfish59; TheGrimReaper; snodog; Cannonball; Harpseal; Knighthawk; Reborn; lonevoice; Old Student; Fizzie; cowgirlcutie; proud American in Canada; Clintons Are White Trash; RaceBannon; WaterDragon; LJLucido; rodeocowboy; runningbear; SAMWolf; Clinton's a Liar; mlibertarianj; rottweiller_inc; Victoria DelSoul; afraidfortherepublic; getgoing; tiki; AbsoluteGrace; lockeliberty; xp38; Zeno44; PoorMuttly."
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