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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: LindyBill who wrote (214449)	8/4/2007 9:28:38 AM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 793964

I was just asked how civilians can support the troops? I get that question a lot. After five years at war and multiple battlefield deployments for many troops, every little bit we do to show support is meaningful. Every American can do something and we should. We may tire of war, but we dare never get tired of supporting our warriors. Magnetic yellow ribbons may be plentiful, and they are an indication of sentiment; but in my view they are not a meaningful demonstration of support. I recommend 4 avenues, but suggest first committing to, "Walking the walk." 1. Cover their back. Organize a neighborhood group and make a concerted effort to reach out to a military family in your neighborhood with a deployed military member. Maintain meaningful weekly contact with that family for the duration of the deployment with an open eye to providing assistance. Little things matter a lot - cut the grass, fix a bike, drop off a pie, bring a kid a book or a toy, send a pizza, or call and ask how things are. If you see a service member's name in your local paper, call the family and thank them for serving too. The absent soldier and his family will appreciate a neighborly effort more than you will ever know. 2. Adopt a unit. Make contact with a deployed or deploying military unit first and inform them of your intentions. Then begin to support them. Send letters, postcards, Emails. beef jerky, chewing gum, baby wipes, skin lotion, a local newspaper. Send anything they ask for and some nice things they don't ask for. Just keep doing little things to demonstrate support. Keep it up a long as that unit is deployed. Remember the troops doing the fighting cannot see yellow ribbons on our car trunk lids. 3. Never pass up an opportunity to thank a uniformed member of our armed forces. My favorite is to always get their tab at a coffee shop or restaurant. Mostly I do that anonymously, if I can, and ask the waitress to tell them America is grateful. In other public places, I go to the soldier, introduce myself, and shake his/her hand or place a gentle hand on a shoulder and thank them for serving. 4. This one is so much fun it might become a habit. Take a box of donuts to your local military recruiting office and meet and thank the guys and gals there. These soldiers have the most contact with our youngsters. Often they are the easiest to find and the most overlooked. uw