Van Nuys, CA - January 20, 2008 - For nearly five years, Operation Gratitude and its dedicated team of volunteers have sent thousands of care packages to U.S. troops deployed overseas, and they have felt the positive impact of their efforts through the troops' thank you letters and photos. But today, Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude, and Charlie Othold, Director of Operations, experienced it firsthand as they traveled to Iraq to personally deliver the organization's 300,000th care package to a Soldier based in the northern part of the country.
"This trip is a very exciting tribute to all of the Operation Gratitude volunteers and contributors who work tirelessly to make sure our service members feel remembered and valued," exclaimed Blashek, who has wanted to visit deployed troops since the earliest days of the organization. "As with all Operation Gratitude care packages, we hope our 300,000th package will lift morale, put smiles on many faces and reflect the enormous gratitude of our nation," she added.
"It is a great privilege to meet U.S. Service men and women in the field, and to convey the tremendous respect and appreciation that exists for them and their families," stated Othold, a 20-year Veteran of the U.S. Air Force. "Having served 21 months boots on the ground in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War, I am especially grateful for the opportunity to bring this message of support to the frontlines in person."
The trip to Iraq was made possible by a longtime friend of Operation Gratitude, Major General Mark P. Hertling, Commanding General of Multi-National Forces Iraq-North and the 1st Armored Division. When Operation Gratitude held its first Holiday Drive in November, 2003, then Brigadier General Hertling was one of the first commanders to submit rosters of names after he learned that the organization would send packages addressed to individually named U.S. Service Members.
"I will always be grateful to Maj. Gen. Hertling for his early and continued support of Operation Gratitude," said Blashek. "As the first senior Military officer to envision the potential of our personalized program, he helped us expand our reach and fulfill our mission. His invitation to visit the troops in Iraq this year is a true honor and on behalf of everyone at Operation Gratitude, I give him my heartfelt thanks."
The 300,000th care package was assembled on December 15, 2007, by more than 1000 Operation Gratitude volunteers at the California National Guard Armory in Van Nuys, California. In addition to the regular wish list items provided by more than 150 Corporate Sponsors and Friends, and by tens of thousands of individual donors across the country, the 300,000th care package includes the keys to a new 2008 Jeep Liberty donated by the Jeep brand of Chrysler LLC. "The original Jeep Vehicle was designed and developed in WWII to serve our military, so we thought it only fitting that the 300,000th Operation Gratitude package contain keys to a Jeep as well," said Blashek.
Photos and additional details from Operation Gratitude's trip to Iraq will be released shortly.
