Since it is Memorial Day Weekend, I thought this would be a timely topic. We all hear people say, "I support the troops" day in and day out. It's really easy to "say" it, but how many people really "do" it? If someone is going to say, "I support the troops by saying I want them home," that's pretty much just a platitude and not what I'm getting at. (Actually that's a point I'm trying to make. Do most people just toss out the phrase or do they actually do something tangible?) So, how do YOU support the troops? I'll start off.

I support the troops by holding down the fort here at home while my husband serves. He's been in the Army for 12 years and I've given up several jobs, given up any shot at having my own pension, moved numerous times, etc. I wouldn't change a thing either! In addition to that, we donate money every month to the Army Emegency Relief fund and consistetly adopt single soldiers (we call them strays ) and bring them home and feed them, welcome them here on holidays, etc.

__________________
Proud Wife of an Army Soldier and proud mother of an Army MP currently serving in Iraq.


"To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave." - Sarah Palin

A subject near and dear to my heart Support the Troops is more than just a magnet on the car.

I send care packages and write letters and postcards to deployed troops and have adopted soldiers through adoptaplatoon.org, filled requests at booksforsoldiers.com and most recently work almost exclusively with "repeats" (those I supported on previous deployments and are back again) and also pick up some requests through anysoldier.com. I've done this work for about 5 years now; beginning in 2002 with my first adoptee who was a Captain with the 82nd Airborne out of Ft. Bragg.

It got to be somewhat of an addiction - the needs were so high for these men and women and the military just seemed not to provide so many things that were essentail in my book. During 2005&2006, I sent 2000 packages. OMG. I've gotten it down to a much more manageable level this year. The new postal rates are killing me though....

Here's an example of why I do it - an e-mail that I received this morning:

"Oh, and I know a good NCO is supposed to take care of his troops first. I had an internal struggle. I kept the sheets. That's okay if I did share the rest, right? That was probably the best night sleep I had since I got here. "

Need I say more?

cj/

I have supported the troops by writing letters to Marines that were receiving no mail and sending care packages to my son's platoon when he was in boot camp and Iraq. I was active Army for 22 years. Both my son and DIL are Marines. My son will deploy for his second tour in less than two months. I plan to send more care packages to him and his fellow Marines.

We support, along with my grandparents, parents and brother and SIL, a local family here.

Mowing grass, shuttling kids back and forth, getting mom to doctor(pregnant) buying clothing and groceries (when needed) and in general being their extended family.

I support my troops!

__________________
Vicki


TLJ Women united in Spirit!

Hi, everyone! Thank you for posting this topic, TraciLM. My reply is very similiar to your reply because I do my best to keep things going here while my husband is away from home. I have been right by his side and doing that for the last 11 years. The last 4 years have been the hardest BUT a military family does what it needs to and keeps on moving along. On top of that, I send care packages over to my other loved ones that are overseas as well right now. One friend of mine that is overseas right now cannot receive packages for some reason so the daily "checking on you" email goes out first thing each time I log onto the computer.

Plus, I am in the process of starting to work on welcome home things for my husband's platoon. When they were coming back home in 2004, I put together a welcome home package for each member of his platoon. One of their favorite things in it was an autographed picture of the Army car for Nascar. A good friend of mine helped me get a picture of it with the Airborne flag draped beside it and then had the driver sign each one.

Plus, we have "adopted" other soldiers over the last few years. Many people do not realize how something as simple as a card or letter can make the difference in the morale over there. I have challenged my friends around here that say they support our troops to prove it by sending something even it is just a postcard with the words "thank you" written on it. If every person that says that they "support our troops" did something about it, there should not be a military person overseas that did not receive some type of mail. To me, actions speak louder than words because our military shows us each & every day that they are willing to support and protect us.


Debbie

I send care packages as well. I save up items throughout the year. There is an organization here that covers postage costs so that helps a lot. They do a lot of fundraisers throughout the year. The head of it works at our local grocery store and so when I have things to send, I deliver them to her hands. Very convenient too!

I am enjoying reading what others do.

We adopted our first soldier before the war started, we got his name off a website, after that my DD's boyfriend went over there and was there for the start of the war, he worked an MLRS (multiple launch rocket system). At the time he was there they did not have access to the PX and things they do now over there, to get in the tent PX they had you had to stand in line for 5 hours and then most things were sold out, same thing to use a phone, only the officers had email access at that time. They were only able to have 2 MRE's a day (he lost 30 pounds) , the water was outside temp 100+, they slept on the ground or in their vehicles, they had their first shower after 3 months there, supplies were short. So it was essential that we send packages every week at that time because he needed the food we sent to live on, they also did not have access to basic necessities like toothpaste, deodorant, clean underwear and socks, we sent lots of baby wipes and cigarettes, LOL, DD and I both sent a package a week or more. After he came he we adopted another soldier from the website, then another one, then another one, then 2 soldiers from Ft. Sill where I work, now I have one of my ex-youth members from church (I used to be Youth Director) over there. I try to send packages every month and some kind of mail every couple of weeks, even if it just a card that is sent around in church with all the members signing it. I also try to help any friends left back here if they need it. I used to be a Navy wife, and grew up an Army brat and we always are there when any other military family needs us, even though we are no longer military, we still have close ties. We have another deployment in our family coming up next month, my other DD's husband is in the Navy and he is deploying to Japan in June, so we will send packages there too.

Great posts! I hope to see more throughout the weekend. I'm going out right now and getting a package ready to send out to dh. I was going to wait til next week, but you all inspired me to get another out for him today.

__________________
Proud Wife of an Army Soldier and proud mother of an Army MP currently serving in Iraq.


"To any critics who say a woman can't think and work and carry a baby at the same time, I'd just like to escort that Neanderthal back to the cave." - Sarah Palin

Quite simply, I don't, because I don't know where to start. At least I'm honest. Wouldn't mind pointers on where to start, though!

I think one of the easiest places to start is: AnySoldier.com
No application, interview, or wait time required. Choose a group, request the address, write a letter or pack a box, and off to the Post Office.

Others that I'm aware of include:
SOLDIERSANGELS.COM
http://www.adoptaplatoon.org/
Books For Soldiers - Care Packages For The MInd

..and I'm sure there's others.


cj/

My family and I have personally adopted a soldier and support him with care packages, letters, videos, and just letting him know we are thinking of him often and care what happens to him. The lines of communication between he and our family is a strong two-way story that fulfills us on both continents.

Also, I work with a woman who has a son stationed in Iraq. As a matter of fact, his first child was born shortly after he was first sent to Iraq. His second child was born a few after he was sent on his second deployment there. We send him occasional packages also. But I think the favorite thing we do with this particular Marine is that, since I teach, I have offered by class the option of becoming pen-pals with this Marine and others in the same area. This is not an assignment in any way. The kids do not get any extra credit for opting to participate, nor are they at all penalized if they choose not to. But from my observations, the kids who do choose to participate get as much enjoyment out of the endeavor as do the penpals. The only thing I have asked my students to not do is to give out personal identifying information about themselves, nor to participate in or instigate any political discussion in these correspondences with the soldiers.

I know that just having these guys and girls know that someone is thinking about them "back home" just for who they are, is a big boost to these service people. I hope so, at least.

__________________
"Well-Behaved Women SELDOM make history."Laurel Thatcher Ulrich


"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

I joined Soldier's Angels last month. I have 1 official soldier that I care for with letters (usually every 3 days) and at least 1 package a month. I also assist other soldiers that need temporary "loving" by sending them letters and packages.

A brief blurp about Soldier's Angels:
What started out as a mother's small commitment to her son, soon turned into Soldiers' Angels. Assisting deployed troops around the world, Soldiers' Angels sends care packages and letters of encouragement to those in the field, provides first response backpacks and blankets of hope to the wounded, ships voice activated laptops to soldiers who have lost their arms, hands, or sight, and delivers "living trees" to the fallen hero's families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

And the website:
http://soldiersangelsforum.com/


Laura

AnySoldier.com looks really simple, definitely something I could handle. Thank you for that, and the other links too.

Every month, my Sunday School class sends one package to a soldier. It's usually a HUGE box filled with tons of stuff. I make it my mission to try to come up with the coolest stuff to send. LOL

I also support our troops by praying for them. Every night.

Holly

__________________
Forgiveness is love in its most noble form. -Anonymous

A very simple and free way to use anysoldier.com is to find a Marine unit that wants letters of support, get the address (or for Marines that you already know), and write your letter through Motomail (http://www.motomail.us). I have not used it myself by know of others that have. I believe you compose your letter online and it is printed off and delivered to the deployed Marine at his/her location.

Hope that helps you and anyone else looking to get involved!

cj/

DH and I are in different online groups that have adopted different soldiers. We send stuff to a guy here in the states and he sends them to the different platoons, squadrons etc. We also participated in a light program that a jeep magazine did. They wanted certain lights over there and the magazine sponsered and helped pay. DH sends cigars over all the time and magazines.


My kids do pictures and cards at the library and then the library mails then to those soldiers recuperating in our area.

I also have 2 good friends with DH's in the Navy. One is deployed right now so I try to make sure to be there for her with extra babysitting etc.

The main and most important thing I do to support the troops is to vote for legislation that will bring them home, legislation that will help them financially, and legislation to end the war.

I also have emailed, written letters, and sent big packages with everything from food to magazines to DVDs to personal hygiene stuff.

Like I said the best support I can give is to get them home to their families.

__________________
The political system is broke and it's a joke.

I have to say sitting here reading these post I actually started crying.....It's great to see so many people doing such great things for the troops.

I was especially touched to see you doing for the families of the soldiers. So many times people mention the famillies, but they tend to get forgotten to a point. Many times Soldiers feel great relief when they know loved ones back home are being taking care of.....I handle many many phone calls and request for soldiers and commanders to look in on someones family because they are so worried and stressed about those at home that are not focused on their mission.

Please continue in all you do to Support the Troops, nothing is to small.....

__________________
"You can never really pay back. You can only pay forward."

Wayne Woodrow “Woody” Hayes

O-H-I-O

This is a great post. First of all, I pray for the soldiers -- not just a daily prayer but usually they're in my thoughts throughout the day. I've sent letters to soldiers who have no one there and keep in touch with a lot of my sons' friends who are over in Iraq. The idea of sending care packages is something I've been wanting to do and this post has really inspired me to do it. So today I'm going to start putting stuff together!!