Tuesday, December 4

Please Support Our Troops




Last year, I adopted a US soldier from Angels N' Camouflage. Yes, I said a US soldier. That was because angels were needed for the many soldiers that had signed up to have someone write to them and send little care packages. At that time, the Canadian government didn't allow anyone to send anything to Any Canadian Forces Member, which I don't think is right. Our soldiers need support just like any other soldier.


I was given that soldier's name only about six months before he was to come home. I sent him a Halloween goodie box, a Christmas care package and hundreds of postcards, letters and cards. I never did hear from him, but that is okay. He needed the support and got something in the mail. From what I'm told, mail call is the hardest part of a soldier's delployment if his name isn't called. Angels N' Camouflage do their best to make sure that every soldier who registers has his/her name called at mail call.


This year I decided to adopt another soldier. Why? Because I wouldn't want to be in a strange country, away from loved ones and my home at Christmas, and have no one write to me or send me a Christmas card. I have a new soldier and have already send him about ten Christmas cards and each one included a letter. I print graphics on the stationary to make it feel a little more like winter or Christmas. When these things arrive, my soldier will have something to pull out of his pocket and read when he is in the field.


All of this began because the Canadian government wouldn't allow us to write to Canadian soldiers. Well, we have a new Minister of Defence this year and guess what? We can write or send cards to Any Canadian Forces Member. I signed two cards the other night and wrote a letter to put in them and off they went to Belleville, Ontario, where they will be sent to a Forces Member just in time for Christmas.


If you are Canadian and want to write to Any Canadian Forces Member, you can find all the information on the National Defence website. You cannot send care packages, but can send letters and cards and you can choose a soldier by where he is deployed.


It's Christmas everyone and though it is getting late to do this, I just found the information the other night. Please send something to a soldier. They are a long way from loved ones and home and they need our support, whether or not you support the war.


You too can join Angels N' Camouflage and adopt a US soldier or veteran. It doesn't matter whether you're Canadian or American, the soldiers just want to know that someone cares and supports their efforts in the field.


If you are Canadian, click the link to the National Defence website, choose an address and send out a handful of letters and cards to a deployed soldier.




Graphic of praying soldier courtesy of Touch of Memory.

33 comments:

  1. This really touches me as I have a son who is in training in the army now. He will be home this Christmas, but will probably be deployed next year. He really loves mail, because he is away from home, but I think especially those who are overseas need our support. I too am sending a few cards out to soldiers. Thanks for supporting all our troops!

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  2. Mari,

    I am so glad you are sending some cards out to the troops. Thank you for supporting them. They need to know that we care.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  3. Good Afternoon Mary,
    Oh Mary, you have touched my heart. I'm like you, it shouldn't matter if we live in Canada or the United States, we are all one family. It is so sad to hear that your government wouldn't let you send any cards in the past. I'm glad you are able to do it now. I may in the next few days buy a box of Christmas Cards and send some to the Canadian soldiers and American Soldiers. My girls at school have been making homemade Christmas Cards for the Soldiers. I think that is just sweet also. I have no one in the Army, but have had in the past. And, after 9-11, all of this has just been near to my heart for some reason. I have no idea as to why. At the time that happened, I was working as a Dispatcher at a Police Department in my hometown 12 miles away. I was working the 2nd and 3rd shifts. I loved the job, but it was hard on my family and especially my girls and I had to eventually give it up. That maybe a reason it was near my heart. I know I just hate seeing all the soldiers in combat. Well, take care my friend and have a Blessed Tuesday. May God Bless You and Yours.

    Hugs,
    Karen H.
    P.S. Thanks for the email. I read it early this morning. I feel some better today. Thanks for your prayers.

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  4. Karen,

    I'm glad that you are planning on sending a few cards to the troops. Someone will get a card that may otherwise not received one.

    I hold the troops of both Canada and the US in my prayers. I ask that you do the same.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  5. I just read your comment on my blog for today's post and I have tears in my eyes... It is so comforting to have someone who understands about Nancy! Your comment helped me So much and I thank you!! You are a Blessing to us! Hugs, Carolyn

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  6. Carolyn,

    You have to live it before you can relate. I know how Brandon was back three or four years ago. He has outgrown most of it, but it still happens every once in a while. Now I just say to him, "Okay, Grandma needs to know what the real problem is." Sometimes he doesn't know, but most of the time he tells me. I've explained that if I don't know, I can't help him.

    Anytime you need to talk, just email me. I'm here for you, my friend.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  7. Your an angel! Thank you for supporting a US service person!

    I printed and address to send Christmas cards the other day only to find out they aren't allowing it now...bummer...I'll check out your link!

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  8. What a beautiful idea. You have a big heart.

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  9. T*mmy,

    I can't conceive why they aren't allowing cards to be sent to the troops. You can solve this by adopting a soldier and mailing letters to him/her through Angels N' Camouflage, or send a card to a Canadian soldier. I'm sure he/she would love to know that people in the US are supporting them.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  10. Melanie,

    I come from a family of soldiers - my Dad and uncles during WWII - cousins and more distant relatives in WWI - realtives and cousins in the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. So I know how much the cards and letters mean to those who are deployed overseas.

    Thanks so much for visiting.
    Blessings,
    Mary

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  11. Thanks Mary! You are a big help and I thank you so much for understanding!

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  12. Thanks for supporting our troops dear. I have a nephew in the army, he is over in Iraq right now. I also have a nephew in the navy, he is in afghanastan. I love you.

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  13. Grams,

    God gave me Brandon in order to help me understand what others go through with their loved ones. That boy has taught his Grandma a lot. I thank God for the gift of the boys everyday, but especially for Brandon, as he touches my heart in a special way.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  14. Denise,

    I support every man and woman who is deployed. Though I don't support the war, I do know what these men and women are sacrificing in order to keep us safe.

    Blessings, my friend.
    Mary

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  15. It is so awesome that you wrote to American soldiers - what a weird rule that you couldn't write to Canadians. Glad you can now.

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  16. Dawn,

    My adopted soldier is American. We have nothing lik that in Canada. We can write to the troops not, but no one specific unless you know the person. I write to my soldier at least twice a week, which reminds me it's time for another letter.

    Thanks for visiting. I enjoyed your comments, as always.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  17. A wonderful idea, dear Mary, I will certainly look into it. It breaks my heart every time I think of those soldiers being away from their loved ones at Christmas time. What a shame that we weren't allowed to send anything to our own Canadian troops but good news that we now can at least send letters and cards!! xoxo

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  18. Pea,

    I hope that you will drop a card in the mail for a Canadian soldier. They certainly do love to get mail at mail call.

    Thanks for dropping over and thanks also for lending a helping hand. It's much appreciated, my friend.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  19. Mary..I will definitely be sending
    cards.
    Our boys & girls..need LOTS of love and support.cuz war is HELL!!
    and I thank them for MY freedom..
    love..Deena
    thank you for being an angel

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  20. Deena,

    Thank you so much for sending cards to our troops. The do need lots of love and prayer. Yes, we should thank them for the efforts they make to ensure we live in freedom. Thank you sweet, Deena. You will put a smile on someone's face when their name is called at mail call.

    Love you,
    Mary

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  21. Mary,

    God bless you for being such a caring person!

    Hugs,

    Renie

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  22. Mary, I went to the website and it doesn't mention anything about a citizen. All I could see was school groups, businesses or associations. Also, I have some handmade cards that I would send. Do they allow those as they are a little bulkier than just a printed card. Could you help me please? Thanks!

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  23. I will do that today.... I have a couple of friends that are in Iraq and some from here leaving in Jan. I think.... I have two sons and I just cannot imagine one of them in that war..... We need to always remember to pray..... God knows no distance or time... Thanks for the inspiration.... You are a sweetie...

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  24. Thank you so much for doing this. You have such a huge heart.
    And even though you did not hear back from your first soldier-I know you touched his heart.
    And better still-you touched the heart of God.

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  25. Lovely idea Mary,
    Thanks so much for sharing these links for the rest of us :)
    Hugs and blessings,

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  26. Mary, How wonderful that you sent the package and cards to that soldier. We all need to support our soldiers.
    How my heart goes out to these brave men and women so far away from home and their loved ones.
    Today is my daughters birthday. 38 years ago she was born while my husband (now my x) served in Vietnam. I remember that day clearly as the nurses wheeled me hospital bed and all down the hall to a special phone to receive a call from my then husband. I can remeber telling him he was the father of another beautiful daughter and how he cried...How hard it was for him and all the other soldiers back then just like it is today. What senseless wars back then and today.
    Hugs & love ~Mary~

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  27. Renie,

    Thank you for your kind comments. I'm a bit behind but will get over to your blog as soon as possible.

    Edge of Design,

    It took me a while to see it. At the very beginning, it says individuals can send cards. I sent some out already and they haven't come back, so I'm pretty sure that they can be sent. I can't see a problem with homemade cards. If they happen to open them, all they will find is a card.

    Denise,

    Thanks for sending out some cards. You will make someone happy this Christmas season. The soldiers love mail that they can take with them into the field.

    Sharon,

    Yes, I still pray for my first soldier. He may still be at home, or possibly he's been deployed again by now. Thank you for your kind comments.

    Storyteller,

    Thank you for your kind words. I'm hoping the soldiers will get a few extra cards when people read my post. :-)

    Mary,

    I can't imagine how your husband (x) must have been affected when he heard he had a daughter that he couldn't see. Many are missing so much of their children's lives while they are deployed. Please keep them all in your prayers.

    Blessings to all of you ladies for stopping by and commenting. Each of you mean the world to me.

    Hugs,
    Mary

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  28. What a wonderful thing to do! The soldier you have is lucky to have such a faithful correspondent who cares! I'm sure it will make his Christmas as merry as it can possibly be under the circumstances!

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  29. Mary,

    You are the Christmas Spirit all year long! Thank you for sharing this information and providing the links.

    Hugs,
    Tina

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  30. Kristen,

    Thank you for your kind comments. If I can just make him smile, that is all I ask.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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  31. Tina,

    I try to evoke the Christmas spirit all year long, but the last couple of days have been trying.

    Hugs,
    Mary

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  32. Thanks for the nice comments on my blog.
    Denise is a great daughter and we are very proud of her and her accomplisments,a fine loving daughter.
    God bless.

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  33. Thanks so much for dropping by. I did enjoy your poetry and think you have a wonderful daughter. I'm very happy to learn you are so proud of her.

    Blessings,
    Mary

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