Girl Scouts celebrate 14 years of 'Operation Thin Mint'

Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Joy Kirch-Kelling | SAN DIEGO (May 2, 2015) Capt. Gisele Bonitz addresses a crowd of over 2,000 Girl Scouts, their families and U.S. military members attending Operation Thin Mint-Sendoff aboard the USS Midway Museum. Since 2002 Operation Thin Mint has sent Girl Scout cookies and letters to deployed U.S. service members overseas, this year celebrates the 2.5 millionth box distributed. Bonitz, Executive Officer for Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR), expressed the Navy’s gratitude for the Scouts’ continuous support over the years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Joy M. Kirch-Kelling/Released)  

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

05.02.2015

Courtesy Story

Navy Public Affairs Support Element West

SAN DIEGO -- For Capt. Gisele Bonitz, receiving cookies while on deployment always felt like "a taste of home."

Bonitz, executive officer of Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command, spoke to more than 2,000 Girl Scouts, their families and friends on May 2, at the annual Operation Thin Mint Sendoff aboard the USS Midway Museum.

"When we are deployed we long for a little piece of home and words cannot describe how we feel when those cookies show up," Bonitz said.

Since 2002, Girl Scouts San Diego has continued Operation Thin Mint, sending boxes of cookies and letters of support to deployed U.S. service members around the world.

Since then, U.S .Navy, Marine, Army, Air Force and National Guard troops stationed in Africa, Iraq, Afghanistan and Korea, and aboard ships, have received more than a decade of cookies and support from San Diegans.

This year marks the 2.5 millionth box of Thin Mints, plus other varieties, shipped to U.S. troops.

"I think this is a really great event," said Musician 2nd Class Nina Church, who sang the national anthem during the festivities. "When I was stationed overseas we got a really big shipment of Girl Scout cookies and it was a real highlight for us."

For more information on Operation Thin Mints, visit www.sdgirlscouts.org

For more news from Navy Public Affairs Support Element West, visit www.navy.mil/local/pacensandiego/.

• Date Taken: 05.02.2015
• Date Posted: 05.04.2015 22:58
• Story ID: 162225
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US