Courtesy Photo | Gifts From Home volunteers pack care packages in Tampa, Fla., Dec. 20.... read more read more
By Spc. Neil Dalson
34th Combat Aviation Brigade
Since the beginning of time Soldiers have been forced to leave behind their loved ones to fight in the interest of their greater good. Unfortunately, there is little documented in the annals of history until recently how those that stayed behind supported the warriors up front.
The most solid evidence of support from home in America's past is letters written during the Revolutionary War. There are letters sent to American Soldiers dating from that point through every war America has fought. The trend continues as folks at home regularly acknowledge and support the sacrifices made so that they can sleep soundly at night. A development of this tradition is the care package.
The term care package generally applies to boxes mailed to Soldiers containing a myriad of items with the intent of giving that Soldier a little taste of home, and a small idea of how much he or she appreciated. Delta Co., 3-159 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, had the good fortune to receive what seems like an endless stream of care packages from a number of different support groups and families.
Hundreds of pounds of mail were received in the month of December containing small presents, decorations, snacks, and other assorted items. Behind the massive support operation is a number of organizations deserving accolades for their tremendous efforts.
Bob Williams of Tampa Fla., a retired Sailor, has likely produced the bulk of the immense weight hanging on mail room shelves. Each of the boxes his non-profit group, Gifts From Home, sends weighs upwards of fifty pounds and is laden with candy, movies, games, hygiene products, and anything else that a Soldier might want to have while deployed. Amongst the items are letters and thank you cards, all hand written by people back home that Bob has collected specifically for each unit that he has on his mailing list.
After receiving numerous thank you notes from the Soldiers of D Co., Bob had this to say "I wish we could send more. I know it is hard being away from family and friends, but we all thank you for your sacrifices. If you weren't fighting them over there, we would be fighting them on the streets of our home towns. It is you who deserves all the thanks for taking the fight to them so we can live in peace here at home. "
There are many more groups deserving of thanks that just Bob and his do-gooders. Their efforts are immensely appreciated by the Soldiers of D Co., 3-159th and by other units receiving the same support and care from back home.
| Date Taken: | 12.20.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 01.29.2009 10:09 |
| Story ID: | 29405 |
| Location: | IQ |
| Web Views: | 287 |
| Downloads: | 225 |
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