This is from another list and there are things here to send to our troops that I had not thought of. Some are relitively inexpensive to get and to those that have not sent a pkg overseas you will have to fill out a customs form that is taped to the pkg with soldiers name on it. The post below explains that. Even tho we do not desire this war out men and younger men are gone to proect us, this is something of how we can show our support to them. Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2003 23:39:07 -0500 From: "Lisa Hatfield" <lisaj66@bellsouth.net> Subject: Re: What can we do for the troops You are beautiful! I feel like each and every one of those brave men and women over there is my husband and it breaks my heart to see them so tired and dirty. All we can do right now is send them care packages from home. By care packages, I mean things that would please them or help them through the day. They can't carry much with them, of course. We made a huge one at work and my daughter's high school is making several. The only thing to beware of is that you must put a specific soldier's name on the package or it will not be delivered. They have lost out on many packages because of security reasons - they were sent to "Any Soldier". If you have an Army Reserve office or National Guard office in your town, contact them and ask if they can help locate a soldier's name for you, etc. They are more than willing to help usually. Or let me know if they can't help - between Lee Co., Bell Co., and Claiborne Co., I think half of our boys are gone. About a third of them are in or around Iraq or getting ready to leave. The list of things to send can be lengthy. Just remember to not send anything that has meat in it - we tried beef jerky at work and when we went ot mail the package and listed the jerky on the customs form - we had to unpack the box and take it out - it's not allowed to be sent to that country. We sent packages of peanut butter crackers and cheese crackers, etc., fruit roll-ups, gum (not sticks - they get really nasty in high heat), bags of lifesavers, poptarts, - anything that won't melt and run everywhere but will bring a little smile to them and give them a little extra than an MRE (Meal Ready to Eat) - those meals are nutritious but boring after so many days. We also sent pantyhose (used to protect their weapons from the sand), batteries (for CD players and GPSs), baggies (to carry their "goodies" in and keep the sand out), dehydrated soups, cocoa mix in packets (they make a treat called "Ranger pudding" out of this), aloe vera lotion, playing cards, anything to keep them occupied IF they get to rest a few minutes. The staples that lots of people are sending (which I'm sure they still need plenty of) are baby wipes (their only bath), eye drops, lip balm, sunscreen and flea collars (to keep the sand fleas from eating them alive!). We also sent toilet paper - seems to be a major luxury item for them! They appreciate anything that reminds them of home and we tried to think of unusual items to send that would brighten their day a little. The best things they could possibly get are lots of letters, notes and cards included in the boxes - to let them know that we so much appreciate what they are doing and love them and want them to come home. >From what I hear, most of them feel like we all think this is a 2nd Vietnam and they are going to come home to worse than what they are facing. Once again, I thank you with all my heart for just wanting to help - my husband is still stateside - he has been on active duty since October 2001 and it is really getting old - especially being moved from place to place as part of Operation Noble Eagle - but I think to myself "It could just as easily be him over there or in the pictures I look at on MSNBC every day" - so I send everything I can possibly afford to send. And I am not asking anyone to do that - I am just saying how greatful I am that there are so many people like you out there that want to send them things. God bless you for your good heart. If there is anything else I can help you with. please let me know. I try to stay very busy to keep my mind away from it. My husband is currently the largest ammunition and bomb-making facility the US has - I never knew it existed before - but he must stay packed and ready to go at any time. I know many of you here on this list have family in the service and are in the same position as I am - and prayers go up each and every day for them! God bless you all! "The willingness with which our young poeple are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional as to how they precieve the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their Nation. ~George Washington~ ----- Original Message ----- From: NaiThom@aol.com To: lisaj66@bellsouth.net Sent: Thursday, April 03, 2003 9:26 PM Subject: What can we do for the troops Lisa, You work for DoD, so I figured that you'd be best to ask. We don't have anyone in the military but we want to help. (We may not believe in the war but we sure as heck believe in our troops.) What's the best way to support them right now? Rene' A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face...You must do the thing which you think you cannot do. Eleanor Roosevelt