Posted on 11/14/2004 5:53:59 PM PST by learner
"thanks for your service" (You're sure you don't want a
present, though?) :o)
http://www.operationac.com/
This operation was started by a very dedicated woman in San Diego. I have heard her interviewed by Roger Hedgcock. She sends everything over there although she started with air conditioners.
That's very nice of you -- thanks. And no, thanks, I have plenty of presents. Merely living in America is present enough, and the chance to serve my country is the frosting on the cake. It doesn't get much better than that.
I still think one of the best ways is to "adopt" local servicemembers for a nice holiday meal if you live near a base. :-) Several friends and family members have really appreciated such generosity at the holidays when they're stationed in the US but can't get home to their families.
Does your wife knit or crochet? There is a project that provides warm winter hats and slippers to sailors on ships and troops in Iraq. It is the Ships Project and last winter I knit several hats for their effort. http://coingo.net/theshipsproject/
There is also Adopt-A-Platoon http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/new/index.htm and Operation Military Pride http://www.operationmilitarypride.org/ if you'd like to send care packages. We've done packages through both organizations in the past.
soldiersangels.com is a good place to take a look. I have a marine I recently "adopted".
I think that your idea is actually the TRUE meaning of Christmas.
I appreciate your positive replys. I will check out the various links you have provided, again thanks.
TO THOSE WHO QUESTIONED MY INTENT OR WHO TOLD ME TO PAY MY TAXES I SUBMIT THAT I SUSPECT I PAY A LOT MORE TAXES THAN THEY DO. And I pay them in full. If you do not pay in the top 1%, then do not melign me, for I do. I am probabaly carrying your sorry a**.
Merry Christmas
Support the Troops
George
Lighten up, Learner, that's MY chapter member you're harping about. I'll let Spanway Lori give you info - Washington State people have sent thousands of packages, Christmas stockings, cards, etc to our troops. We love them. BTW We love ya too, CMSgop!
International Calling Cards.......
Puts families in contact ...best gift for all of our military deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan.......nothing quite like the gift of a child, wife ,husband, mother , father or sweethearts being able to hear from a loved one for 10 or 20 minutes.
That's what I gave this year......
Take em to the Armed Forces Recruiting Center or DOD installation near you. If you have trouble finding "who" to give em too ask for the Base or Post Public Affairs Officer or the Senior Enlisted Advisor for the Major Command on that installitation phone numbers and trust them to get your "gift" to the right place for our troops in combat zones around the world.
Ya might want to get that done pretty quick.....USPS has a deadline if Uncle Sugar won't hand carry em to the troops.
Operation AC which will hook you up with the name and address of someone serving overseas. It allows you to "adopt" a soldier. The military is no longer allowing packages to be sent to "Any Soldier".
Another really worthwhile place to donate would be Soldier Ride/The Wounded Warrior Project, which helps our wounded vets, especially those who are recovering from the loss of limbs. You may have heard of this on Fox News, or the Tony Snow Show.
Mark
Thanks to all who have responded affirmitivly.
You would not believe the "crap" I have received in my mail and elsewhere. Trying to do something "nice" does not always receive "nice responses.
To you who were helpful THANKS again.
George
"Two stupid responses. I expectted better."
...Learner
(An interesting concept of being "nice.")
As a 20 year veteran of the military and recipient of these while in Vietnam, I would suggest that you organize something locally to send "Care Packages", homemade cookies, candy, magazines to the troops overseas. I'm currently assigned as a civilian in Korea and can assure you that there are SEVERAL single and unaccompanied soldiers assigned here that would absolutely cherish receiving one of those packages. I'd be willing to organize something at this end to get you some names and addresses, or maybe a General Delivery address for care packages to be delivered to soldiers up on the DMZ. I had thought about organizing something here myself when I saw your post.
Send me a private reply if you(or anybody here at FR) are interested in doing something like this. Christmas isn't so far away and most packages take 12-15 days to arrive.
In the unlikely case that they have needs which you can fill, you will know with certainty first hand.
Not so in my experience.
Every call that I received from over there was a collect call which originated from the Base where the Troop was stationed. In my case it was generally a collect call from Georgia, and the cost was a pittance.
Call originated in Iraq, but charges only from Georgia, the military carried the freight from Iraq to the USA!
Not all facilities have that, and those that do have a limited number of lines available. often, you have to sign up well in advance. Most of the Army, Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) outlets sell phone cards for the troops to call home using these cards.
This is from personal experience, as I have lived in several different countries over the past 35 years. So, please don't discourage this poster from proving phone cards or cash donations to a Chaplains office or military outfit that could provide such a service.
Thanks!
If you mail them this week, will they get them in time for Christmas?
The USO.
Ping - I have an idea that needs research.
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