Some of us are inclined to support the troops in tangible ways. We should, could and would do something this holiday season, if we only knew how.
I promised to provide some suggested ways to support our military and I will. But first let’s look at what not to do.
Because of potential hazards to our military service members, the Military Postal Service stopped two programs that supported troops stationed overseas: The "Dear Any Servicemember" mail program and the "Operation Dear Abby" mail program. Dear any servicemember operated year round. Operation Dear Abby was a holiday program that delivered small holiday gifts and cards to servicemen.
Here is the official release on this subject.
"There are many well meaning Web sites, TV stations, and charity groups that are promoting donations to overseas Servicemembers. While well intentioned, you should not use them and you should discourage others from using them. These unsolicited letters of support or care packages to Servicemembers raise a force protection issue, since anonymous donors are different from legitimate family members and friends. DoD has cancelled mail programs which encouraged the American public in general to mail to Any Servicemember (versus a specific deployed person). These new programs attempt to do the same thing by gathering names of Servicemembers to send mail. While legitimate mail from family members and loved ones is always encouraged, these donor programs, which collect and pass out Servicemembers’ names and addresses, is discouraged."
That may seem to make it difficult to help, but it doesn’t. Here are some suggestions on how to donate:
Watch your local news. Sometimes, you will see stories of military members or their families experiencing difficulty in your own neighborhood. When you read or hear about them, do something. There is no such thing as a “small” gift to a needy family. Everything is meaningful to them.
Visit this DOD website. It is loaded with ideas and workarounds.
usmilitary.about.com
Calls home are expensive from overseas. But they are a critical part of maintaining both our servicemen’s and their family’s morale. Calling cards can be donated at “Operation Uplink”, a VFW sponsored program.
operationuplink.org
Send a PX gift certificate to a wounded or injured servicemember. Purchase a gift certificate from the PX system (AAFES). Request that it be donated to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. That is where all our wounded and injured troops are flown for treatment before returning home. A retired SF Medic buddy of mine, Kim K, is a volunteer at the hospital everyday. Most troops arriving there have only GI pajamas, no toiletries and no money. A few bucks to buy a snack, a sweatsuit, and a pair of socks, does much for personal comfort. Learning the gift certificate came from an American civilian who wants to be part of the solution does wonders for morale. I was medevaced to Landstuhl Hospital in 1980. From there, I went to Letterman Army Medical Center where I was treated and medically retired a little over a year later. My family had to move themselves from West Berlin to California. The military community really came through and assisted them. I was still an in-patient when they arrived. The local civilian community where we rented pitched in and helped unpack, got the kids enrolled in school, etc.
usmilitary.about.com
The USO is a DOD accredited agency. Sponsor a USO CARE Package.
usmilitary.about.com
Want to help a needy military family?
Donate a commissary gift certificate. This website provides specific instructions on how to do that and how to get it to a needy military family.
usmilitary.about.com
Donate toys to the USMC “Toys For Tots” program. They will make sure any needy military kid living in a civilian community gets a visit from Santa. Tell them about any needy kid you know.
Give the gift of life. Donate blood at your local Red Cross. The Red Cross provides blood to our military hospitals. They also provide other emergency services to our world-wide military family. In 1969, when my litter was carried off the medevac bird that flew me from Nam to Japan, the very first person I met was an elderly Red Cross volunteer who handed me a cool drink. I asked her why she was in Vietnam. She told me I was not there anymore. She said we are safe and in Japan now and then talked to me for a few minutes. I have never forgotten that small act of kindness and how uplifting it was to me.
I spent over three months as an inpatient at the US Army’s Zama Hospital in Japan. I called home twice to talk to my kids. It was all I could afford. Letters took 2-3 weeks, packages longer. A week or 10 days after getting there, the Army gave me a casual payment of $50. It did not last long...just one trip to the PX for some needed personal items. It was another 60 days before my pay records caught up to me.
I know things are different today. What is not different is the level of sacrifice being made by our troops and their families. They are all volunteers. They volunteered to protect and defend us and they are.
Military families are made of stout stuff. They will tough it out before asking for help. They will not come to us with their needs lists. It is up to us to anticipate and discern the needs and act to fulfill them.
I invite everyone to join me in a demonstration of support for the troops that goes beyond the yellow ribbons that they cannot see. Our troops are seeing combat action in Afghanistan, Iraq and other more secret places everyday. Thanksgiving is a few days away. Christmas is a month away. If this holiday season, you should, could and would provide a gift to a Soldier, Sailor, Airman or Marine, or their families, it is time to take action.
Mike Linnane
Us Army, Green Beret, Retired.
PS. I am sure there other ways to help. I invite everyone who reads this to add to it, if you wish, and pass it on.
Thank you. |
