Saturday, November 21, 2009

Our Soldiers Will Be Missed This Thanksgiving

By Jennifer Huard
For the Journal
          We've all seen the footage of returning troops at the Sunport coming home from war. Waiting for them is a special group of people waving American flags, saluting and cheering as the troops walk through the terminal. The welcoming group is not necessarily relatives, but loyal Americans grateful for what their fighting soldiers do and don't think the soldiers' return should go unnoticed.
        I think they speak for most of us in our gratitude to our troops. I know we would all be down at the Sunport if we could, hankie in hand, greeting each and every one of them with a big hug and pat on the back. I even had the chance to witness one of these events firsthand when I was at the Sunport over the summer. I watched, with a lump in my throat, as the single-file line of camouflage-dressed soldiers walked past the small group of smiling supporters. It made me proud to be an American.
        And if that isn't enough to tug at your heart strings, have you seen the videos of the men returning home from duty and reuniting with their dogs? Each dog in every video goes crazy upon seeing their master for the first time in many months. People aren't the only ones who miss their soldiers.
        The Blue Star Mothers of America organization was started in Flint, Mich., during World War II and is a national organization created to support the men and women serving in all branches of the armed forces and the families they leave behind. The Blue Star Mothers of Rio Rancho is a busy chapter and will definitely miss their sons and daughters this Thanksgiving.
        Pearl Trowbridge, who is in charge of care packages and Welcome Homes for the Rio Rancho Chapter of Blue Star Mothers, is also the proud mother of a son, Aaron, who is serving his second tour in Iraq.
        "We have assembled 241 care packages already," Trowbridge says, "and we just adopted 144 from the 920th (N.M. National Guard), so we can surely use more."
        The Blue Star Mothers of Rio Rancho's Web site gives a long list of items that have been specifically asked for by the troops. As far as food goes, some suggestions include tuna pouches, beef jerky, coffee, tea and crackers. Just think of things you would pack in your child's lunch if you were sending him off to school. Did I mention candy? Yes, send that, too.
        As far as the non-food items go, the wish list is extensive. Troops are asking for everything from beanie babies, small mouse traps, panty liners (to line helmets to keep sweat out of their eyes) to small funnels for pouring Crystal Light and Gatorade powder into their canteens because the water "tastes nasty."
        According to the Web site, the troops have also requested entertainment items to help them keep their sanity while all hell is breaking lose. When thinking of a care package, consider music CDs or movie DVDs, hacky sacks, playing cards, crossword puzzles and pencils with erasers.
        I am asking everyone to please consider donating something to our troops. Check out www.rioranchobluestarmothers.org for the complete wish list. If you cannot afford any of the items, maybe you can afford a Christmas card or a thank-you card to let our troops know that Rio Rancho has not forgotten them this holiday season. Call Trowbridge at (505) 892-1593 to arrange a dropoff time before Dec. 6 so that your gifts will reach the troops in time for Christmas.
        May everyone have a happy Thanksgiving and may you have many things to be thankful for this year, including our deployed troops.
        Quote of the week: "There is no question that these multiple tours have put enormous strain on the force, absolutely. ... Our troopers do an extraordinarily good job, despite the enormous strain that, clearly, they and their families have experienced over the course of the last number of years." — General David H. Petraeus
        Jennifer Huard's column appears each Saturday. She welcomes your e-mail at jhuard@abqjournal.com. Visit her blog at www.jenniferhuard.blogspot.com.
       

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