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? K A T R I N A ? 9/4/05 HURRICANE KATRINA SUPPORTED BY LETTERS FROM HOME PROGRAM O P E R A T I O N?? S O U T H E R N?? C O M F O R T As Hurricane Katrina hits the Gulf Coast, it affects us all deeply. Our local Pennsylvania Army National Guard Unit of Ridgway, Bradford, and Erie Co C 1/112th INF (M) ? are mobilizing quickly to be moved to Louisiana, we now prepare to help our ? soldiers here in the United States.? ? ? When the program was started in May 2003, it was founded for this particular ? unit.? Since then we have sent over 89,050 cards and packages to over 12,385 ? soldiers here in the USA and abroad.? This past weekend was no different, except ? there were no letters from home, just important supplies to get our men ? off to help our neighbors down South.? ? Letters from Home Program proudly supports ? our men and women serving our country with the help of many good people, ? including Weyerhaeuser, Pure Carbon Co, Wal-Mart,? Ridgway Bi-Lo, Smith Sporting ? Goods, Area Lubricating and the Bucktail Chapter 720 of Vietnam Veterans. ? We are sending? generators, power lights, work lights, extension cords, ? many personal items including sun block, lip balm, batteries, padlocks ? Ziploc bags, tools, flashlights, food and water, vests, first aid supplies, baby wipes, ? and antibacterial soap to help with the large project at hand. ? Currently we are accepting donations to help defray the cost of the supplies. ?
? All donations of money should be mailed to: % Vietnam Veterans of America Bucktail Chapter 720? ? PO Box 125 ? 6631 Ridgway Jbg Road Johnsonburg, PA 15845 ? Please mark the check line KATRINA.? ? ???????????? ??????????????? top of page ? ? Please stay safe as you take our love and support to our neighbors in the South. 9/4/05
As our Pennsylvania National Guard Units prepare to load the supplies donated.
Some of the men from Company C prepare to leave to aid our neighbors down south. We are proud to be their number one supporters. Please join us in helping them.
More supplies donated being loaded in the trucks for the convoys.
2 generators donated by Letters from Home Program being loaded on the trucks.
And as the convoy is getting loaded (on right two children with their grandparents arrive with donations (in white bags) on food and drinks and other items needed. 9/5/05
Buses arriving to take the rest of the soldiers not on the convoy. Bus on the left is carrying soldiers from the Bradford, Erie unit and bus on the right is carrying Ridgway unit.
As the buses arrive, the soldiers stand in formation with orders of Operation Southern Comfort being explained to the crowd waiting to say goodbye to their loved ones.
More soldiers getting ready to board the awaiting buses.
Well over 100 soldiers prepare to leave our area for Louisiana 9/5/05.
This soldier on the left gave me a huge smile as he boarded the bus. He was wanting to know if I could quietly sneak on the bus as he was grateful for all the help "Letters from Home Program" had done to get them supplies for the mission at hand. ??????????? top of page
More soldiers boarding the bus for the long ride to get to the people of the South and aid in helping them.
On the right.. Lance Jovenitti, Tim Smiley and Mark Jundzilo all from the hometown of Johnsonburg, stand for a picture for the director of Letters from Home Program.? Letters from Home Program was founded in their hometown by Lance's parents.
More soldiers talking with family and friends before departing.
Soldiers (on right) loading supplies on the bus.
We wish you a safe and speedy return.? God bless all our United States Military as they leave to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. ? ??????????? top of page 9/29/05 Letter to the Editor from The Johnsonburg Press, Johnsonburg PA To the people of Pennsylvania: ?I am a Louisiana woman.? I live in Washington Parish.? Our parish was devasted by Hurricane Katrina.? We are a woodsy parish, or at least we were. Many of our beautiful pines and oaks fell on power lines, houses, cars, sheds, barns and even animals.? Thankfully, none fell on a person.? The first few days following the storm were really bad. Roads were blocked by huge trees and other debris. No one had electricity for days after the storm, some up to between 14-25 days.? People living in town (city limits) had water, but those of us who live in the country did not.? Fortunately, I had the foresight to fill bottles, jugs, and even the bathtub before Katrina hit us.? Otherwise my family would have been in worse shape than we were. On day three, we were able to make a trip to town. I was thrilled to learn that I could get ice, water and military meals in town.? Our water had run out by that time, so the water was a lifesaver.? At first the trucks delivered the ice, water and food by guarded GOOD Air Force men/women from New Hampshire, Massachusetts and New York.? About a week later, your Pennsylvania National Guard came in and took over.? They have been here ever since.? I can not say enough about this group of troops.? They are very professional, efficient, kind and courteous.? The list of their good qualities is endless. One day it crossed my mind that I should do something for them.? I remembered how the USO fed our boys coffee and doughnuts during WWII.? I went by our doughnut place and bought doughnuts for your men.? When I arrived at the distribution spot, the men had just arrived from their camp in Hammond.? (about 1 1/2 hours from town). The young men especially were stretching wiping sleep from their eyes.? The commander pulled them ?into a circle to give them their day's instruction.? At that point, I limped up to them, ( I have 5 types of arthritis). I said, "Excuse me, " I picked up some hot doughnuts for you.? Thank you for all that you are doing for us."? Immediately, smiles appeared on their tired faces.? I turned and limped away quickly so that the men would not see the tears of gratitude in my eyes.? After that, I made it a daily practice to bring hot doughnuts to the troops.? I even continued after day 19 when they finally restored power to our house.? The men were always happy to see those donuts.? I think they started calling me the doughnut lady.? Your men are fine young men- all of them from the youngest to the oldest.? Sometimes they look lonely, and I wanted to give them all a big hug.? I am a hugger- I love to hug!!!? But they were in uniform and I didn't want to embarrass any of them. One had just broken up with his girlfriend, I really felt for him.? Another told me he had to lose a semester of college to come down here to help us, YET he wasn't bitter about it.? Bless his heart!? They touched my heart and they touched my life. I will never forget them. I will always be grateful to them, that our paths crossed. To your families, thank you for sharing your sons/daughters/husbands/wives with us. They were a bright star in a dark night. Sincerely, Margaret P.S.? You sure do grow a handsome crop of men in Pennsylvania. ? ? ? ? |
