This is a brief description of our second campaign for 2006...
Key Benefits
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Soldiers receive a variety of cards from good caring people that will include Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th July, Yellow ribbon cards and postcards from all over the USA.
All cards and items are due by July 16, 2006. We will hold our letter stuffing party on July 30. All the information is below of what to collect for the troops. If you have any further questions please e-mail us at ? Until They All Come Home 2006
Dear Letters from Home Program:
?I received an email from a friend who mentioned tying a yellow ribbon
around their tree, for the Marines over here with me.??I am attaching the
note, and my response.... (I took out the families name in case they would
get embarrassed).
??My idea is I want to cover the walls in our building with pictures of
yellow ribbons around hometown USA trees (or anything else).??Can you
help???
?
Semper Fi,
Stuart
THE EMAIL FOLLOWS:
?
We did not know you were in Afghanistan, but Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year to you and all of MAD-1!???We firmly believe in all you are doing, and are so thankful that each of you has chosen to lead and to serve in this vital way that protects the Afghans, fellow Americans, and ultimately the entire world.??Each small part you play is used to win vital ground, and your mission is not lost on us.
??Stuart, it's probably a little thing, maybe even a silly thing, but we've
tied a yellow ribbon in one of the live oaks in our front yard in honor of
you and MAD-1.??It will remind us to pray and think of you as we go about
our daily lives free and safe.
THE RESPONSE AND REQUEST:
?
Thank you for the note; and the support!??Your ribbon is not a small thing
at all!??You know, growing up in our community, and with my group of
friends, I was really sheltered from many of the realities of life.??Because
our family was a patriotic one, and so were my friends and neighbors, I
couldn't understand why Americans wouldn't support their military, or want
their children to serve.??Over the years, that perception has really
changed.??And every four years, the election process makes me even more
cynical.??For politicians and news groups, the military is something to
exploit to get votes and sell papers.
??What is really ironic, and also tragic, is that so many of the Marines
that have served under me have never had a loving or patriotic home.??So
many of them come from broken homes and joined the military to get away from a dismal, abusive or fatally destructive situation.??Our country is being
protected by what society would normally turn their nose at!
??It breaks my heart to realize that so many of the Marines and Soldiers
serving and dying for this country are the ones who had the least to give to
the military, had the least support from home, and are the ones others would
expect to be morally bankrupt.??Yet they are the ones willingly sacrificing
it all, on foreign soil, so those who abuse their rights and privileges can
continue to do so.??They are the ones continually choosing to do the right
thing when presented with a chance to do the wrong thing.??So many thousands of Iraqi and Afghan civilians would be dead or maimed if it weren’t for the restraint and compassion demonstrated by young 18-21 year old Marines and Sailors!!
??So when you put up a yellow ribbon, believe me, it is no tiny matter.??It
lets all of us know, especially the ones who weren't as fortunate as me,
that there are still communities out there that support and belief in what
we stand for.??It chokes me up to hear people say "thank you" for what we
do.??After all, it is my job; it is my responsibility and obligation to my
Marines and country.??Again, thank you.
??You have given me another idea to try and inspire my Marines and
keep them aware of the hometown support....??Could you take a picture of
your ribbon and tree and send it to me???I am going to ask everyone who is
sending us anything to do the same thing, and I am going to pin up every
picture where all the Marines can see it.??Who knows, maybe I can cover up
the wall or something like that.??Thanks for the great idea!
?
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Until They All Come Home 2006
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