Operation Support Our Troops - America 
Letter of the Week, November 7, 2011
Click to view 

Website

ROCKIN'

Calendar

Greetings!

 

Today is the launch of our America has NOT forgotten campaign.   Each week as we read these letters, we know how much the troops appreciate our packages.  We've gotten some heartbreaking stories from them, such as the young soldier just celebrating his first anniversary while he's in Afghanistan and his wife is home facing chemotherapy. Or the young mother who places a photo album in her 16 month old son's bed so that he doesn't forget what daddy looks like-sharing her gratitude that we send him packages.    This week we heard from a mom that is so appreciative of our efforts to support her son.  Please read this:

  

I wish I could be the one to send out care packages to my son on a regular basis, but I can't.  Last year by no choice of my own I lost my home and now have had to resort to stay in a motel.  Pretty much every dime I make goes to my room and storage unit for Brian and my personal belongings.  I can't seem to save anything to get out of here and back on my feet again as this place is very costly.  I try to go to the food pantry to at least subsidize what little I have left toward food.  I do write to Brian and send card, letter and news clippings from home--but to send a care package with little extra things kills me inside as I just can't do it.  I feel horrible, and wonder  how Brian feels when others get packs from home on a regular basis yet not him.  I still have to figure out how I'm going to manage Christmas, but I pray and trust God it will be ok.  Thank you, again for choosing my son Brian.  God Bless each of you. :)

 

There are not many that could read that with a dry eye.  Please know that it is a result of your efforts as a member of OSOT America that we can continue to ship these great packages to those serving in harms way.    You should always be mindful, but especially this week:

 DON'T FORGET, THANK A VET!

 

We recently received a box of hygiene items, snacks and magazines from you!  This is such a busy place here at the Wings of Hope Chapel, MANAS, Kyrgyzstan. 

  

We have many troops pass through here in need of these items and more.  What a blessing it is to have you and others who remember these and support them. 

We are so thankful for you.  The men and women are so appreciative of these items that are freely available to them.  And it is because you have so graciously provided them.

 

Please visit our website to learn more.

    The Chapel Ministry Center staff's primary customers are transient service members passing through the Transit Center on their way into or out of Afghanistan.

Many customers come in simply looking for travel-sized hygiene items to hold them over until they depart.

"Often flights are delayed or pushed back and a lot of times their gear is stowed, so they are missing a razor, shaving cream and a tooth brush," Iaun said.

Other customers are looking for more support, so the staff is always ready to provide everything from a listening ear to spiritual wisdom or even a quite place to sit and relax.

"We just want to create a comfortable relaxing, stress-free environment to ease that transition into and out of combat for our warriors," Iaun said. "Really our goal is to have a way to make contact with them, to converse with them, to provide encouragement and gauge their spiritual fitness. If there are concerns, if there are problems, if there is a crisis in their life, then we are here to meet that spiritual need as well."

The Transit Center chapel staff are willing to do whatever they can to assist those passing through their doors.
 

First I want to say thank you for the 2 boxes you have sent me. The service you provide for the troops is awesome and all the "goodies" go straight to the Marines in my company.   In regards to other Marines to receive a box, I am the company first sergeant and have approximately 170 Marines under me.   Any care packages you send to me go straight to the Marines.  I cannot release all 170 names.  
 
I appreciate the two packages that you sent and thanks again for everything that your organization does.
 
Semper Fi
1SG Adam

 

FOR LOW-USMC Seal 
We know they share, but we still ask for names because we want them to have a box of their very own to open!  To show them that America has NOT forgotten them.