Soldier Gifts for Those In Iraq....AWESOME pics!!!!

[wegotchickens]

Yay! I'm so glad you got them!!

There's one floating around that hasn't arrived yet.One had a chicken card in it from me, and stuffed chickens from McD's. Our other 'snack & stuffed animal' box had a card in it from Kerry, and practical stuff like antibac gel.

Cassie will be pleased that you liked her card. She loves to draw! If anyone needs a penpal she'll take good care of them...

I got those cards from a company called Current. I went online and hit all the clearance and special sale items.
I was already going to get some stuff from them for my father-in-law. He's homebound and had to use an old Christmas card for my birthday (May) this year. I felt bad that he has so few choices. For Christmas I am making him a stationary kit with holiday cards for each holiday, birthday cards, thank-you cards, and pretty notecards. So getting some for all of you was a natural extension of my 'Pops Project'. Except that I'm including 'forever stamps' in his box and you guys don't need those!

Glad you like the Splenda. There were little creamer packets with flavoring, but I was afraid they wouldn't travel well, being full of liquid. Mom thinks they will travel just fine, so I may send them in the next box.

 

[Athena]

Quote:
Cass...

We had a mini Veterans Day event here, and I wanted to share....

Bare in mind the environment and our surroundings, but we did the best we could... In fact, you ALL would have been proud.

The base put up our first ever Veterans Day event. We roped off a section of the flight line, and displayed various aircraft and vehicles. Inside a hanger, we set up tables, and each table was sponsored by a base organization. We had a Troys table. The organizing committee created somewhat of a contest, and decided that whoever had the best table presentation would win $100.00 Well, we decided we needed to win!!!

We didn't have all that much time, but then everyone else was in the same boat as us.. No supplies to work with, and no decorations of any sort to compete with...

No matter, we decided to make our theme, a patriotic one... All in red, white and blue.. First I have to tell you, I scoured the base for a tablecloth.. I found a white one, that the catholic service uses, but, I didn't think "Father" would apprefciate that, so, the night bfore the event, in desparation, I might add...I called up the manager of the chow hall aka DFAC, and begged him to let me borrow anything that he had that was red, white and blue... I told him why I needed them, and if he could help me, in any way..Well, he more than helped out.. he literally outdid himself!!

For our table...
We put together a storybook of our outreach, and what we offered. Many here know of Troy's Place but few know the story behind the name and how it came to be. That was my job... and I get pretty emotional each and every time I tell it..

We also displayed a huge basket of what someone would find on a typical day at Troy's.... and here is where you come in... because I literally took one of almost every item you sent to make up that basket. So Cass, you really helped us out on that one!!!

I also borrowed two platters from my now favorite DFAC manager, and we gave out cookies and home-made zucchini bread that "The Elks" of Vacaville, California had made and sent to Troy's..

and the clincher... was a side table where we held mini battle bracelet classes, and I would say, there were constantly a couple of doz people in various stages of bracelet making throughout the 2 hour event.

Needless to say, our table was the most popular, and the most well-received......

We Won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now, Im hoping to get the chaplains to buy us a couple of rugs and some bins/baskets to store some of our items.. with our winnings!!!

It was a long day... but well worth it.

Happy belated Veterans Day to my fellow vets!!!

Athena sends....

 

[Scrambled Egg]

We Won!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WHOOOO HOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Athena]

Quote:
Pam...

I know you will miss him, and he of course will miss all of you....

But what he gains from this, will be forever with him. Friendships will be forged that is so hard to describe... Fox hole buddies.. there is nothing like it. When you depend so much on one another to live and to survive, its a relationship few manage to experience in a lifetime.

In a year, when he comes home, he will be a changed man... Hardened somewhat and probably more compassionate. It depends on what he will be doing, and where he will be going, but, most Army hang outside the wire.. He might see things you never will and probably won't talk about it with you.... but, he will make you proud!!

A year will pass by quickly... and perhaps this time next year, you'll be making plans to pick him up at the airport, and cook him a Thanksgiving meal!

Drew, on occasion can phone.... and email...

 

[Athena]

Quote:
Darlene...

Yup.. Im the same way....
Before the dollar stores were popular in the states, I was stationed in Japan...
There, they had the 100 Yen stores... My daughters and I would go crazy, cause back them, it amounted to 88 cents, per the exchange rate.... They literally had so much stuff for 88 cents... We spent hours in there.. and yea, very easy to spend 50 to 60 dollars!!!

Now, Im dangerous at the dollar store.. dollar general, dollar tree... etc..lol..

 

[MichiganWoods]

That is totally awesome! Congrats on winning!! Did anyone think to take a few pics? I'm sure we'd all love to see!

I take it you got through all of the boxes?

P.S. Did you know that I lived 24 out of my 29 years in a city named Troy? How ironic is that?

 

[Scrambled Egg]

Did you get my box Athena? I thought for sure it woud be there by now!! Maybe it'll show up today

 

[momofdrew]

Horray!!!! Congratulations!!

Just sent a 2nd box...When I look at it, it seems so insignificant when you say you get 200+ people in Troy's Placeevery day!!!...If everyone on BYC sent one box each I am sure it would be only a drop in the bucket as to what these soilders need...

Drew Called last night he isnt getting shipped until Dec now...BUT they are on lock down so that sounds like they are expecting to go at any time...He justs wants to GO he is hating this hanging around waiting...

 

[Athena]

Quote:
Hi Darlene,...

Not yet....

I will check again on my 3 am chow break....

 

[Athena]

Quote:
[B]
Drew will get used to long waits... the military is like that......

Pam, I have a whole series of photos of Mosul, that I send out recently to folks that want current photos of whats happening.. I don't have your email, or I would send it!

Here is something interesting.... and I do find military symbology extremely interesting... in that, for every unit emblem, or sign, there is a story behind the design...

Did you ever notice on an Army Battle dress uniform, the flag patch they wear???
Normally, the American Flag.. has the stars to the top left of the flag, and stripes below and to the right of the stars...right??
On an Army patch, the stars are to the RIGHT of the patch... and stripes below and to the left.... (which would indicate he wore his patch backwards!!).... Not the case!!!...........

Its done on purpose.... The STARS......ARE on the right side, because its closer to your heart!!!!!

Take a look next time... [/B]