Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Remember local soldiers with mail from home this holiday season

It's hard enough to think about being away from loved ones, especially during the upcoming holiday season.

Just think about being one of the many men and women who are either in Iraq or on their way.

According to the United States Postal Service, boxes of food, toys and decorations are being assembled and mailed to U.S. troops in Iraq.

The USO, Red Cross, Veterans of Foreign Wars and other groups also are reaching out to military families in the USA who are confronting financial and emotional hardships as the holidays approach.

Last week marked the first of many deadlines for mailing letters, cards and packages in time to get them to overseas military posts by Christmas.

Right here at home, the American Legion Post #96 has decided to step in and make sure local troops know they are loved and supported.

Art Cooper, a veteran and a member of the American Legion, talked with Gurdon Primary School Principal, Rita Roe and asked if the first through third grades could possibly write letters to troops they knew or their friends new. Roe agreed and letters are to be sent shortly. The American Legion Post #96 has decided to pay the postage to have the letters sent as an honor for veterans in Gurdon.

The U.S. Postal Service recommends packages headed for Iraq and shipped on a space-available basis by parcel post be mailed in the next coming week. Most priority-mail packages and first-class cards and letters must be sent by either Dec. 4 or Dec. 11, depending on destination.

More than 130,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Iraq and 10,000 in Afghanistan. The holiday gift campaign comes as U.S. deaths in Iraq are mounting and Americans are increasingly pessimistic about the war.

Thus, making it even more important to show the troops they haven't been forgotten this holiday season.

According to other newspapers, troops are in for some surprises in the packages from their hometowns. Eighteen-inch-tall Christmas trees are on the way from one town. Some have battery-powered lights; one school is making tiny tree decorations.

Many towns are sending goodie bags which contain items from local bakeries and other delicacies they know are favorites.

Veteran's groups and other organizations are also getting in on the act as they are doing such things as:

* The USO is teaming with Microsoft on "Operation Live Connections." The program will equip USO centers in Europe and elsewhere with Microsoft X-Box Live, online video game stations that enable soldiers and their families and friends to play each other long-distance and talk at the same time.

* The Red Cross is launching "Treasures for Troops," which will send playing cards, candy and other treats.

* The Armed Forces Relief Trust, a non-profit fund, will collect donations for soldiers and their families. Military commissaries also are offering gift certificates to provide groceries for needy military families. Information can be found at www.commissaries.com.

* VFW will use a $250,000 donation from SBC Communications to distribute prepaid phone cards to 30,000 service members. The organization also is urging local chapters to offer military families occasional help such as mowing the lawn, providing child care and fixing dinner.

If you know someone in the armed services, don't forget about them this holiday season.