If you do not see this email in full patriotic display, please click here to view it online

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM THE ARMY'S ARMY!

Dear Army's Army Members and Partners,

Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. I wanted to take this time to reflect on 2010 and truly thank you for your dedication. With your help, we were able to provide hands-on support and assistance to various local and relocating military families.

The media took notice of your generous efforts and helped spread our message of support for soldiers. I’ve included a link to each press placements in case you missed it!

Relocating Families Visit Our Community During Orientation Weekend - April 23-25
We rolled out the red carpet for 14 families considering making the move to our community from Fort McPherson, Georgia. We worked together to make a great first impression. Families received helpful information on healthcare, employment, and real estate, and it was very well received. But what they really liked the most was the community involvement and the VIP treatment at the Dogwood Festival. Way to go!
Click here to read the full Fayetteville Observer article.
Click here to see News 14 Carolina's coverage.

We Participated in Month-Long Military Celebration ‘31 Days of Glory’ - May
The community dedicated the entire month of May to honor soldiers, vets and their families who have put it all on the line to defend our country and you played a part! On Memorial Day, we set up a booth at the annual Glory Days celebration and were able to recruit more very dedicated volunteers just like you to help military families in need!

Military Family Displaced by Fire Gets a Lift - May
When the alarm sounded, you responded in a big way. Master Sgt. Rahem Batts and his family lost everything when a fire consumed their home and changed their life. You helped get them back on their feet by replacing necessities lost in the fire and being there for your comrade in this time of need. Thanks to all your kind donations, we were able to present the Batts family with necessary household appliances, gift cards and clothing.
Click here to read the story from News 14 Carolina.

Ft. Bragg MWR Awards The Army’s Army an Iron Mike Military Appreciation Award - July 4
Your outstanding support of soldiers and their families has not gone without notice. During Ft. Bragg’s annual Operation Celebrate Freedom event, we were awarded the Iron Mike Award, named after the iconic statue of the airborne trooper, for going above and beyond the traditional call of duty to support the military. This is a great achievement, so you all should give yourselves a much deserved pat on the back!
Click here to view a photo of our Iron Mike Award.

You Help Fill Care Packages for Soldiers - July
When the USO’s Rack Pack Program and Family Readiness Group for the 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery (1-7 ADA), of the 108th ADA Brigade at Fort Bragg were in need of items required to fulfill 2,250 care packages, you immediately stepped-up and helped out. You donated personal needs items that these soldiers returning from deployment didn’t have and needed. Thousands of soldiers received care packages and didn’t have to return to empty barracks because of your help.
Click here to read the Fayetteville Observer publicity mention.

More Relocating Families Visit Fayetteville - September 24-26
Once again, we, along with 45+ partners, pulled out all the stops to welcome families relocating from Fort McPherson due to BRAC to town.  We were able to spend a lot of time with these families, getting to know them and enjoying everything Fayetteville has to offer.  On the first night of their stay, we met with the families during a VIP reception at the Cumberland County Fair, and shared in the fun of traditional fair rides and deep fried goodness of the fair food.  The next day, following a community information session, we took our guests to the Parade of Nations where we sat right along the parade route and got an up-close-and-personal look at the different cultural groups.  Later that night, visiting families were treated to dinner by some of the partners and had the ability to speak with all the partner organizations during a Mix & Mingle at the Airborne & Special Operations Museum.  Before the Mix & Mingle, we took a special, private tour of the museum with our new friends, which is not usually offered to regular ASOM visitors.
Click here to see the feature article on Army.mil.
Click here to listen to WUNC's broadcast.

Military Family Burdened with Serious Illnesses Gets a Helping Hand - October
Because of you, we were able to collect clothing, food and other necessities for the Lathrop's, a military family struggling financially because four of the six children have life-altering medical conditions such as Alport Syndrome, autoimmune diseases, scoliosis, growth hormone disease, thyroid disease, hearing impairment, lung disease, epilepsy and more.  Your kind donations truly put a smile on the faces of the Lathrop family and helped make their lives that much easier.
Click here to view the coverage from News 14 Carolina.

Making a House a Home for Homeless Female Veterans - October
A home for homeless female veterans was opened in Fayetteville by the NABVETS (National Association for Black Veterans) State Women’s Chapter #0061 and Step & Stages, Inc. Thanks to your donations of various home goods and offering to spend time painting the house and making repairs when needed, these women, who put their lives on the line to fight for our country, and their children now have a nice place to call home.

Showing Appreciation To Veterans With Personal Handwritten Cards - November 12
With your assistance, veterans at the Fayetteville VA Hospital had an extra special item in their Thanksgiving gift bags - personal, handwritten notes of thanks created at our annual Veterans Card Signing Event. This year was particularly special as students from Montclair Elementary School and Luther “Nick” Jeralds Middle School showed up at Army’s Army headquarters and joined-in on the fun.

Single Soldiers Enjoy A Special Thanksgiving Meal - on us! - November 23
You brightened the Thanksgiving holiday for 100+ single and geographical bachelor soldiers on Fort Bragg at the BOSS (Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers) Thanksgiving Open House event, helping to provide them with a free dinner complete with turkey and all the fixin's. Since many of these soldiers were unable to go home or be with their families for the holiday, they would otherwise have been alone.

Here’s to a happy and healthy 2011 and continuing to “watch over those who watch over us©.” We look forward to providing even more spiritual, moral and physical support to military families that could use a helping hand.

I'd like to personally thank every one of our volunteers and partners for your passion and generosity. You helped make 2010 a great year!

Janine West
Executive Director
The Army's Army Operations
jlwest@armysarmy.com
910-709-9671

It's never our intention to send unwanted email. If you prefer not to reveive emails from us, let us know.