Group gathers in Eaton (Colorado) to collect supplies for troops

Greeley Tribune ^ | 4/14/03 | Millete Birhanemaskel

[NorCoGOP]

Janet Lind of Ault tried to hold back her tears.

Her 21-year-old son, Michael Ackelson, was on his way to the Middle East Sunday afternoon as she was hanging his picture up at Eaton City Park.

Lind took part in a citywide-sponsored event to gather supplies for troops overseas. Many of the 200 people there were either family members or friends of troops overseas.

From just talking to people around town about how their children were doing, many of the parents realized they had one thing in common: Their sons and daughters needed a few supplies from home.

They only shower every three days, one soldier told his family, so they needed wipes to help with the dirt and dust. Being in the sun all day made sunblock a necessity. And what about the women who needed feminine hygiene products?

“We were thinking people would bring in a Chap Stick, but instead they brought in bags of things,” said Barbara Anderson of Eaton.

More than 13 boxes of supplies were collected at the park Sunday.

From baby wipes to bacterial soap and toothbrushes to beef jerky, family members will send the supplies out to troops. The boxes will be sent to troops who will pass out the supplies in the fields.

War veteran Buddy Herrington told the crowd that he knows what it feels like to be alone on the other side of the world, being shot at.

“And I know what it feels like to get a letter from a loved one,” Herrington said.

The group will also write letters to troops overseas who don’t have people to write to them.

War veteran and Eaton resident Jim Reeman also has a son overseas.

He said this is a way for the boys to know they’re being supported at home. It’s one reason why he helped organize the event.

He talked to his son, James, 32, last week by satellite phone.

Although he doesn’t know exactly where he is, he knows what his son needs and intends to get it there.

“The dust and dirt is terrible out there; they need the wipes,” Reeman said.

Lind said it really hit home to see people support the troops this way.

“It touches my soft spot,” she said, wiping her eyes.