On this day when we stop to remember our POWs and MIAs, occasioinal reader Babs sends along a way to also express your appreciation to service folks currently forward – not to mention a way for those same service folks to get a little bit of that home front lovin’:
I wanted to make you aware of a volunteer organization called “Operation Gratitude”. They send over 45,000 packages/two times a year to service members overseas. Their “Holiday Drive” starts in November and they actively solicit servicemen and women to send individual packages of cheer. I know you are on shore duty (the last roundup, sniff…) but, if you know any officers currently deployed that would like to send their rosters to these very fine folks, Operation Gratitude would include all their sailors on their mailing list.
This organization gives the deployed servicemen and women some cheer and, which I actually think is even more important, it gives the American civilian population a way to support these troops.I know that if my son Tim, currently stationed at NAS Pensacola was deployed overseas he would appreciate an expression of gratitude from the citizens of the U.S. (ed: She’s right, such gestures are always appreciated.)
Of course, the organization is always also looking for donations. Currently, one of their major sponsors is Jeep. Carolyn, being a resident of SoCal, braves the cold every year to attend the Army/Navy game with Jeep. (She has sworn to me that this is a terrible sacrifice for the troops as she freezes to death when the temp is under 75!!!)
You might wonder why I have become attached to this organization Well, I was very involved in the USNA Parents Club. Having Tim leave the Academy, I was at somewhat of a loss as to how I could continue to support the men and women in our military. It turns out that the parents of the president of this organization live up the street from me! I made a small donation to the organization to honor my former pen pal Lt. Ron Winchester, USNA 2001, who was killed on his 2nd tour in Iraq by an IED, and ended up being friends with Carolyn. Operation Gratitude is based in Encino.
Please contact me if you want to check the bona fides of Operation Gratitude… http://www.opgratitude.com/index.php
There are many Americans that want to help, they just don’t know how to help. This is one way that they can make a difference.
Thanks Babs for passing this along!
Thanks for posting this Lex. I agree that there are many people that that would like to help but don’t know where to begin. In hunting around for such ways to help, I came across http://www.anysoldier.com which offers units of all branches a way to post their current address. Often times they also post a list of what they need most.
This cuts out the middle man when making non-cash contributions. God bless the likes of Operation Gratitude, but, I’m perfectly capable of addressing a box and getting to the PO on my own if I know where to send it
Cheers,
~john
Thank you, thank you, thank you Lex!
I would just like to add that Operation Gratitude sends packages to servicemen and women in all branches so, if any readers have rosters from another branch of service, please feel free to send them in.