A fitting tribute to WWII vets

Just have to share this tribute to WWII vets, like my Father, who is 85.
We are losing these men and women at a rate of 2,000 a day. 





_______________________________

A cool way to send cards to the troops; COP Shocker leaving

Two items for you today.

1st, If you have been sending to troops at COP Shocker, you should discontinue now.  Our troops are leaving and redeploying to home base.

2nd, one of our friends suggested I recommend you look at sending cards via SendOutCards system.  It's a very cool online system that allows you to choose a card, personalize it, and just click "send".   The company prints the card, stuffs it, puts a real US postage stamp on it, and takes it to the post office for you!  And you can do for as little as $1.00 including the postage!  

This could be perfect for our mail to the troops!  The cards are very high quality.  I'm excited about the possibilities!

You can:

• personalize your card
• send post cards (a little less cost than the greeting cards)
• send a tri-fold card (a little more cost than the regular greeting cards)
  
• set up several cards at one time and choose different mail out dates to your soldier
  
• send multiple cards to different addresses
• add photos (extra cost)

Anyway, I think it's a great idea!  So much so that I joined the company this week and am now a distributor.  Ah! you say!  There's the catch!  Well, maybe.  Maybe I can make a couple pennies per card (someday).  BUT -- I really want to make it easy for you to send cards to our soldiers.  So, I've put in $100 for all of you*.  The first people who visit SimcoCards website can open up a FREE SendOutCards account and then send a card to a soldier for FREE.  On me.  How's that??

Visit:  www.SendOutCards.com/simcocards  

Once you get to the Card Catalog there is a selection for "Valentines", and another for "Patriotic".  If you send one now it should make it for Valentines Day.  You can do it right from your computer.

If you don't have an individual soldier (I'm still having trouble getting new troop names) then consider sending a card to Chaplain Pickens.  He has over 600 troops he is responsible for and wouldn't it be great if he got 600 cards?  (you guys will have to pay for some of those!)

* Donations have been added by some troop supporters.  You could also offer your free trial to your soldier to use to send a card home. 

While I always promised I would never, ever, post a soldier's information online, this Chaplain said this would be OK.  If the cards are addressed as below, he will not open them, just pass them to a soldier.  (I may remove his name in a few weeks.)  When you do this please include "Friends of Aunt Nancy USA" with your name in the cards so they will know how they got the card. 

Send to:

CH (1LT) Jeremy Pickens

In Care of Any Soldier

211MP BN

Camp Taji, Iraq

APO AE 09374

You could also send card to wounded troops in Germany at:

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

ATTN: MCEUL-CH/Chaplains Office,

CMR 402

APO AE 09180

The  soldiers can use this online card system too.  Even though they don't have to pay for postage to mail to the USA, the cost for these cards and postage is less expensive than most cards all by themselves.  Plus the troops can prepare several cards ahead of time to be mailed home in the future and they don't have to worry about remembering or getting time at a computer later.

Thanks again for helping.  And let me know what you think of this online card system.

_______________________________

It's time to send Valentines Day Packages -- and buy Girl Scout Cookies!

It's time to mail packages to the troops for Valentine's Day goodies!

Or at least cards. (Be sure to check that your unit is still deployed.  See topic list on left-side, near the bottom of blog.  Click on your unit for postings. Ex: the 93rd MPB has left Iraq.)

If you haven't heard back from your soldier don't despair... we most often do not.  Send a card and ask what he or she would like.  And tell them you'll send more if you hear back from them.  In addition, some mail has yet to arrive in Iraq and Afghanistan.  In fact, a soldier recently told me she mailed a card FROM Afghanistan TO Afghanistan and it took a month!

One recommendation: just send a Priority Mail, Flat Rate box full of Oreos!  I'm told that has never failed to impress!

One group last year made up dozens of bag of treats.  I think they even used Valentine ziploc baggies.  Remember: no homemade goodies except to your personal soldier IF they agree ahead of time  All store bought candy must be in original wrappers.  Sand get into everything so putting goodies in sealed baggies is great -  and the troops can re-used them.

GIRL SCOUT COOKIES are the biggest hit of all. Not only are they delicious, but it's a great "All American" reminder, a real taste of home. Sending some to your individual soldier is the best, but here is another option:

Nancy: Caroline is selling Girl Scout cookies again this year. (I'm troop leader and cookie mom!) They have an awesome option for cookie sales. People can pay for cookies and the Girl Scouts will warehouse those cookies (instead of delivering them to us), then send them to the Troops overseas. Would you be able to post that on your Aunt Nancy website. I don't know if all councils are participating in this or not. People can check into it, or they can order from our troop and just mail me a check or cash to cover the sale. Cookies are $3.50 a box.   Vicki

VMorton@DigitalRetroSpectives.com

Chaplain Pickens, in Iraq, covers over 600 troops. Should we start a project to get them loaded up with candy and cookies? Who's in?

By the way, this morning I sent a group webmail update. If you are signed up but did not receive it, please leave a comment below. It's been doing that to some people for well over a year. Today neither of my email addresses received it! And it was not in my Trash or Junk Mail folders. What to do? I don't know how to fix it. (and now, what's happening here on Blogger? My words are getting broken up at the end of the lines......)

_______________________________

Nancy is back!

I'm back from a wonderful trip to Rome. It will take me a couple of days to get caught up (on sleep AND soldier email) but now you can email me again at

Nancy@auntnancyusa.com


THANK YOU LYNN for filling in for me! Now YOU can get some sleep!

_______________________________

Aunt Nancy is on Vacation!

I will be unable to answer emails after Monday, Nov. 30th and until December 12th.

Please send all emails to Lynn at sendstockings@gmail.com
She has information about the Christmas stocking project, and is going to try to fill in for me as much as possible. We haven't tried this before, so be patient!

If you would just like to send some holiday greeting cards, she can help there too. And, if you are too late for that, there's always New Years cards!

If everyone sends what they pledged, we do not need any more stockings for Landstuhl, but we do for soldiers in Iraq.

This is what I think Lynn must look like:


Thanksgiving dinner for the troops - they do get turkey and dressing in some locations:

Christmas stocking tally

Thanks everyone! While we still need stockings for the troops in Iraq, we have met the full request for our wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. (IF everyone sends what they pledged). I now have another clinic asking for support -- this one in Iraq.

Should you go way above your pledged amount for any location, please contact me before sending them all.

Likewise, if you find you cannot fulfill what you offered to do, let me know also. Thanks.

Please try to remember to insert a copy of this Soldier Questionnaire in your packages: INFO SHEET.

One faithful volunteer has offered to help while I am gone to Europe. I'll be posting her email here in a couple of days. Thanks Lynn!!!
_______________________________

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Special thanks to everyone who has pledged Christmas stockings for our troops. As of today there are 843 promised! (Assuming EVERYONE sends theirs). Be sure to get them in the mail soon. But, "better late than never" is a good motto to be sure.

With the addition of the 211th Military Police Brigade, I'm still looking for at least another 200 Christmas stockings. Email me at Nancy@auntnancyusa.com if you can help.

I will post a different email address while I'm on vacation next week. A wonderful person is going to fill in for me!

_______________________________

100 new names just received, and 211th MP adddress correction

This morning I received 100 new soldier names! Will it be possible to get them "adopted" in the next week? I'm going to try! My husband I and I leave for vacation in one week so my time, as well as the postal service's, is limited.

Also, if your soldier is in the 211th Military Police, I was told this:

"When mailing, please remove the TIFRC and Iraq portion. "They" ask that
we don't label packages with this information as it calls more attention
to them."

It would be great to get Christmas stockings sent here too! We did reach our goal of 500 for the wounded troops at Landstuhl!

ps: I sent out a group webmail update this morning. If you have submitted your email address on my website but did not receive the email, check your junk folder.

_______________________________

Time to mail! About 10 days left!

Thanks to everyone who has joined in to send some cheer to our troops for the holidays. I have about one week before I leave for a vacation out of the country and will continue to answer as many email requests as I can until November 30th. If someone wants to volunteer to answer a few last minute emails for me, let me know. There will probably be a couple of dozen late joiners whom I won't be able to respond to otherwise. Every stocking helps!

Christmas Stocking count: I could still use about 150 more Christmas stockings for the wounded troops in our US Army hospital in Germany. Priority Mail to this location can arrive in 5 to 7 days!

Also, I did receive some contacts in Baghdad, and since their mail arrives quite efficiently, we can probably get by mailing to them for two more weeks.

REMEMBER: Never NOT mail something because it might be late! "Better Late Than Never" absolutely applies here.

Please try to remember to insert a copy of this Soldier Questionnaire in your packages: INFO SHEET.

Email me at Nancy@auntnancyusa.com

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

_______________________________

Time is running out for stockings for our troops! 2009

Time is moving too quickly -- there are about TWO weeks left to get Christmas stockings out to our troops. (December 1st! if you can't meet this date I can suggest other ways to help.)

If you can help, please email me ASAP. Email: Nancy@auntnancyusa.com

Some suggestions for filling the Christmas stockings:

• Candy candy candy - chocolate, candy canes (mini ones ship best), hard candy, whatever.
• Tubes of cookies or chips
• Small (1.5oz) bags of cookies, Goldfish crackers, nuts, etc.
  
• Mints, breath mints or strips
  
• Fun novelty treats as are for sale at drug stores
• Healthy snack/energy bars
  
• Chewing gum
• Beef jerky
  
• Small cans of energy drinks (for troops in the field)
  
• Starbucks "VIA" ready brew coffee packets (about $2 for a 3 pack)
  
• Microwave popcorn (commercial only - no homemade products can be accepted)
• Hot chocolate packets
  
• Lipbalm (ex: Chapstick. For troops in the field; not needed at the hospital)
  
• Small bottles of lotion
• Nail clippers
  
• Current music CDs, or movie DVDs
• A short string of Christmas lights
• did I mention: candy candy candy?
  
• You'll find many fun items once you start looking!

Check back often as I will be updating this list.

Do NOT send batteries of any kind unless specifically noted for your soldiers.

Be sure to read the extensive DO NOT SEND list for the wounded troops in a posting below from a couple of weeks ago.

Do NOT wrap items in the stockings. For the safety and security of our wounded troops the Red Cross volunteers have to inspect the stockings.

If you and/or your group has some funds available for more costly items, the troops would really love to get
1. iTune cards,
2. iPod Shuffles,
3. long distance phone cards (domestic; with no expiration date)
4. hand-held electronic games.
Items 1 - 4 above should NOT be put into the stockings with the other items however. Put them into an envelope in the same box. The chaplains will insert them into stockings for the troops who need them the most.

Throwing a Santa hat or silly reindeer antlers into the box is fun too.

You may make the stockings personal by inserting a note card with your name and address if you would like, and even a photo.

If you make a stocking specifically for a female soldier, tie a big pink ribbon on to it with a label "Female".

Email me at nancy@auntnancyusa.com and I'll give you an address to send stockings too.

But hurry -- time is getting short. Plus, I'm going out of the country the first half of December. I'll answer as many emails as I can until then.

DECORATIONS: If you want to send decorations to your soldiers they should go out now to give the troops time to enjoy them before Christmas.

Dollar stores sell the nice 14" furry red and white stockings for, you guessed it, $1.00!

Of course, non-denominational packages can be sent too. In this photo below you'll see some boxes rather than stockings.

More stocking photos from previous years - Girl Scouts, families, hockey teams:

Postage rates:

• Your packages are actually going to a military base in the USA, so you are not paying international mailing rates. Still, it can get costly.
  
• For mailings after November 15th you must use PRIORITY MAIL. (I recommend always using Priority Mail. The packages are handled better all along the route.)
  
• Priority Mail FLAT RATE boxes usually save you money (over normal Priority Mail rates). As long as you can close the box with the flaps in place, the weight can go up to over 20 pounds.
• There is a military discount of $2.00 if you use the LARGE flat rate priority boxes. I think they cost about $14 to mail now, but only about $12 if it's going to an Army Post Office (APO) destination as ours are.
  

Other mailing tips:

As of November 15th the post office recommends all packages go Priority Mail. Parcel Post may not make it in time for Christmas. USPS dates link

• Packages should be neat and professional looking. Using the free boxes from the post office for Priority Mail works well.
• Do tape well. All edges and corners. Use clear tape if possible.
  
• Do write all addresses neatly. Security is very important. If your return address is not clear, the package could be discarded.
• Do not decorate the outside of the box. Do not make it tempting for possible theft.
  
• Do seal any liquids inside a ziploc bag. (You might use holiday bags to make it look nice.)

click here for USPS: USPS Military Packages link

Customs Declaration forms will be required.

• Getting forms ahead of time will be helpful so you can list the contents of the package before sealing it.
• You will have to list all contents, but do not make the lists too detailed.
  
• Don't list "Christmas stocking" as that will make it more tempting to thieves. You might put "socks" (hey, that's not UNtrue!)
  
• You will have list the contents, but be as vague as you can and still be legal. Again to avoid encouraging theft.

Joining in late? Too busy?
If you are too rushed to get items out in time for the holidays, I do have a Chaplain looking for supplies you can help with. Ask me about COP Shocker unit.

If you would like to just send a couple of bags of candy for the troops you can do that too!

AND PLEASE NOTE:

Once again this year, there is an email circulating around the internet asking people to send an extra Christmas card or two to "Any Soldier", or "Recovering Soldier" at Walter Reed Hospital. The Army has warned of this mis-informed goal. You do not know where it actually started. While it is a noble idea, tens of thousands of Christmas cards have to be opened and inspected for security reasons, and it just can't be done by the hospitals. Thousands get thrown away.

Here's a link for other ways Walter Reed Army Hospital can use help: http://www.wramc.army.mil/support/Pages/default.aspx

I have names of troops you can send your cards to if you would like to do so.

93rd Military Police Brigade - must mail now

CLOSING APO: The 93rd Military Police Brigade is scheduled to leave Iraq in January, and I just received word that they will only be able to receive packages up to December 1st.

So you must mail Christmas boxes NOW! (to THIS unit in Baghdad.) Packages mailed PRIORITY MAIL should arrive in 7 to 10 days to this unit. (Remember to use the large FLAT RATE Priority Mail boxes to get the military discount.)

They can receive letters up to December 15th. If you can send one last note of support and cheer it would mean a lot.

Then their Army Post Office (APO) will be closed as they get ready to redeploy out of Iraq.

_______________________________

STOCKINGS FOR THE 93rd:

If those of you who have adopted a soldier in this unit would like to send a stocking for him or her you must mail it very soon. I would allow 2 weeks - November 15 mailing if possible. You can always put a "Do Not Open Until Christmas" note inside your package. (not that anyone would actually wait!)

If you would like to surprise your soldier, you may address your package to the "back-up name" (In case of non-delivery) I gave you in your intro email. Put a note to her and indicate who the stocking should go to on Christmas Eve, or whenever they hold their candlelight services.

If you have not written your assigned soldier, or have been able to do so for over a month, please let me know. I have a waiting list of people who want to help and no soldiers.

_______________________________

Note: I sent out a group email distribution this evening. If you are signed up but not receiving these updates, check your junk mail folder.

_______________________________

2009 Christmas Stockings for Our Wounded Troops

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, our US Army hospital in Germany, has asked me for 500 stockings for our wounded troops.

As of 11/13/09 I have pledges for 301.


Some suggestions for filling the Christmas stockings:

• Candy candy candy - chocolate, candy canes (mini ones ship best), hard candy, whatever.
• Tubes of cookies or chips
• Small (1.5oz) bags of cookies, Goldfish crackers, nuts, etc.
  
• Mints, breath mints
• Fun novelty treats as are for sale at drug stores
• Healthy snack/energy bars
  
• Chewing gum
  
• Small cans of energy drinks
• Starbucks "VIA" ready brew coffee packets (about $2 for a 3 pack)
  
• Microwave popcorn (commercial only - no homemade products can be accepted)
• Hot chocolate packets
  
• Lipbalm (ex: Chapstick)
• Current music CDs, or movie DVDs
  
• You'll find many fun items once you start looking!

Do NOT send batteries of any kind to the hospital.

Do NOT wrap items in the stockings. For the safety and security of our wounded troops the Red Cross volunteers have to inspect the stockings.

If you and/or your group has some funds available for more costly items, the troops would really love to get

1. iTune cards,
   
2. iPod Shuffles,
   
3. long distance phone cards (with no expiration date)
4. hand-held electronic games.
   

Items 1 - 4 should NOT be put into the stockings with the other items however. Put them into an envelope in the same box. The chaplains will insert them into stockings for the troops who need them the most.

You may make the stockings personal by inserting a note card with your name and address if you would like, and even a photo. But know that we rarely hear back from the wounded troops.

If you make a stocking specifically for a female soldier, tie a big pink ribbon on to it with a label "Female".

Email me at nancy@auntnancyusa.com and I'll give you an address to send stockings too.

But hurry -- time is getting short, and, I'm going out of the country the first half of December. I'll answer as many emails as I can until then.


Of course, non-denominational packages can be sent too. In this photo below you'll see some boxes rather than stockings.

Your gifts arriving at LRMC:
















_______________________________

Another good reason to send candy to our troops....

Besides the fact that our troops LOVE candy (especially chocolate!) they often share what they receive with the local children. Many of you have sent candy (one women last year sent over 200 pounds of left-over Halloween candy she collected!) and some have sent Beanie Babies, school supplies, and even soccer balls.

This week I received a wonderful 1945 story from a woman. She said I could share it with you. You'll never know how long lasting your good deeds might be:

Hi y'all,

my daughter in law sent me your email and since
we do have so many Halloween candies left, I'm sending
them out together with her and another friends candies .

The reason I want to adopt an soldier is the following.

I was 10 years old the month of April in 1945 when
the American troops marched into Korntal bei Stuttgart
in Germany. Since we were the first house on the
outskirts of the small city, the commanding officers
with their soldiers put up their headquarters in our
Dining room.
My father was still somewhere in Estland,
so only my mother and I were at home.
I was ordered to stay in the cellar, but eventually
went up into the kitchen, where an soldier was
stationed. He saw me, waved to me to come in
and to my surprise emptied his pockets and gave me
all his candies and chocolate bars he had, the first
candies and chocolates I had seen in years.
Then he said in a broken German" I have a little girl
like you in America!"

This American soldier may be still alive, may be not,
but he sure lives on in my memories.

May be you can get me in touch with an younger
soldier who would like to hear some other amazing stories
from someone who remembers so fondly one of his kind.

Sincerely
Gerda (Gege) G.

Our troops do similar good deeds. Here are pictures soldiers have sent me, showing them sharing what we (YOU) have mailed to them. These were soccer balls -- a big hit for kids without any toys.

Look at the faces of these children hoping to get a soccer ball!


Happy to get packages of school supplies:

2009 Christmas mailing deadlines from the USPS

Here is a web link for information from the United States Postal Service regarding mailing deadlines for Christmas packages: USPS Holiday Info

For regular Parcel Post you need to get your packages in the mail by mid-November! Start early, or, use Priority Mail (recommended by me!) Mail to Baghdad is pretty good now, but if you are mailing to Afghanistan it will take much longer. If you want to send decorations the troops can use for a couple of weeks before any holidays, remember to allow time for that.

I encourage all packages to be shipped by Thanksgiving week even with Priority Mail. Chaplains sometimes want to hand goodies out at parties and religious services which often take place early.

Speaking of holidays: it's not too late to send Thanksgiving cards now.

Below is a partial chart:

MILITARY MAILING DEADLINES

Military Mail Addressed To	Express Mail® Military Service (EMMS)1/	First-Class Mail® Letters and Cards	Priority Mail®	Parcel Airlift Mail (PAL) 2/	Space Available Mail (SAM)3/	Parcel Post®
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 090-092	Dec-18	Dec-11	Dec-11	Dec-4	Nov-28	Nov-13
APO/FPO AE ZIP 093	N/A	Dec-4	Dec-4	Dec-1	Nov-21	Nov-13
APO/FPO AE ZIPs 094-098	Dec-18	Dec-11	Dec-11	Dec-4	Nov-28	Nov-13
APO/FPO AA ZIP 340	Dec-18	Dec-11	Dec-11	Dec-4	Nov-28	Nov-13
APO/FPO AP ZIPs 962-966	Dec-18	Dec-11	Dec-11	Dec-4	Nov-28	Nov-13

The USPS offers free boxes for Priority Mail and a discount on shipping to Army Post Office (APO) addresses. See the link above for more details.

It is important to keep your packages well taped, professional looking, and neat. If your return address is not nice and clear the package will be thrown away for security reasons.

Do not put cute stickers or decorations on the packages as it may encourage theft.

Get your Customs Declaration forms ahead of time to make them easier to fill in.
_______________________________

Halloween Candy for our wounded troops

Nov 18th update: Thanks everyone! These troops should not be wanting of candy for awhile due to all your donations!




Left-over candy??

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC), our US Army Hospital located in Germany, is low on candy and welcomes your left-over Halloween treats. All candy should be in original wrappers and bags. No home-made items are accepted.

If you have some to share, send it to:
Ask me for an address.

You will need to fill out a Customs Declaration form at the post office.

And please also let me know if you send out candy as I try to keep track of how much is sent to different destinations. email nancy@auntnancyusa.com

Since you will be mailing to an Army Post Office (APO) destination, you only have to pay domestic postage rates (not overseas rates to Germany).

NOTE: Candy is heavy. Those of you doing an office collection or school project, I recommend you solicit for funds for shipping too. Since there is no "due date" for the candy, regular parcel post is the cheapest way to go. If you are going to send decorations, candy and/or gifts for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or other holidays, mail early and use Priority Mail FLAT RATE boxes. The US Postal Service gives a discount for Army Post Office (APO) destinations.

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is the hospital more severely wounded are flown to immediately after being hurt. They are cared for there until they can return to their unit, or, are flown to a hospital in the USA. I'm also looking for volunteers to commit to sending Christmas stocking there too. (Limited amount, so you must let me know.) nancy@auntnancyusa.com

To see more about what is needed for arriving wounded troops, see postings below (or search by "LRMC"). Note their "Do NOT Send" list too. It is different for the hospital than for soldiers out in the field. See this link: LRMC requests

_______________________________

Halloween candy, cards, and decorations

If your family, school, church, or work group would like to get some candy to our troops for Halloween, send me an email at nancy@auntnancyusa.com and I will give you a soldier/unit to send it to.

Some tips:

• Candy is very heavy, and shipping costs are high. I recommend using FLAT RATE Priority Mail boxes at this point. FLAT RATE pays off for candy. I think I saved $7 on one box (vs. regular Priority Mail.) Therefore, if your group is collecting, be sure to ask for monetary donations to help with the shipping costs. To save more money you can just send by regular parcel post, but it may not get there in time now for Afghanistan and some areas of Iraq. If you are including cards and decorations, it has to go Priority Mail now. Packages to the Army hospital in Germany need less time. The post office offers a $2 discount to Army Post Office (APO) destinations on the LARGE Flat Rate boxes only which will end up costing you about $10 to ship. For candy sent AFTER the holidays, and no arrival deadling, regular mail is all that's necessary. Update 11/2/09: now that Halloween if over, you can just send your left-over candy Parcel Post.
  
• 
  
• The troops LOVE chocolate! Just like the rest of us! It's less likely to melt this time of year, but, make sure it is in a sealed bag. The US Postal Service requires any liquid (which the chocolate could become!) in sealed bags. If it is not in a manufacturers bag, then seal it in a Ziploc-style bag. No homemade/homebaked items allowed.
  
• 
  
• You will need to fill out a Customs Declaration form for each box. Getting the forms at the post office ahead of time, and partially filling in will help you once the candy starts arriving.
• Cards: You can buy packages of Halloween cards to include in the boxes, or, make your own. No name on the outside of the cards please. Our contacts will hand them out. Paper products are fun too (plates, napkins, silly stuff.)
  
• 
  
• Notes: You might want to include a note in each box to inform the troops of your name, address, and/or email address, to let them know who sent the goodies. Be sure to add that you got their name from "Aunt Nancy USA" but, that their name is NOT available online.

After Halloween:

Last year dozens of boxes of Halloween candy were sent to our troops using leftover goodies. School, families, and neighbors collected. It made the soldiers happy AND probably saved us a few extra pounds on the hips! Regular Parcel Post is the cheapest when no arrival deadline is required. The Landstuhl Regional Medical Center is low on candy for the wounded troops so let's get them some.

If you want to do that, let me know.

Then, get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas!

Christmas packages need to be mailed to Iraq & Afghanistan by Thanksgiving week. IF you use Priority Mail, you can mail in early December for Baghdad. So it's already time to start organizing. Most people don't really think about it until Thanksgiving. Then, it's almost too late.

I will again be asking people to participate in sending filled Christmas stockings to our wounded troops at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany (LRMC). They like to begin handing out the goodies to our troops who arrive starting at Thanksgiving, and right up through New Year's Day. Take a look down the left side of this blog for pictures from previous years. LRMC has asked for 500 stockings this year. They also need knit caps and gloves for wounded troops being flown in cold helicopters.

And lastly, I will be out of town FOUR weeks between now and Christmas, including time out of the country. So, the earlier you contact me, the better chance I have of getting to you.

THANKS EVERYONE!!

_______________________________

772nd Military Police leaving this week; 252nd & 211 MPCo available

Thanks to those of you who took soldiers in the 772 Military Police Company. As you may recall, it was a short, 4 month commitment since I did not get their names until last May.

SGT Chapman has given me a contact with a Platoon Sergeant for 2nd Platoon 252nd Military Police Company out of Cleveland, TN. They will be here for there for the next 10 months or so.

And: 211th MP BN out of Massachusetts.

If you can take another name, please let me know. I would particularly like to get the 252 well supported for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the other quickly approaching holidays.
so.

_______________________________

Supporting a Vet - online sales

One of our Iraqi war veterans has asked me to hold an online Pampered Chef "party" for her.
So though the month of October you can go to PAMPERED CHEF and take a look to see if there are items you may be interested in.

The now-retired soldier is Liz Graybill.

_______________________________

Halloween! and other upcoming holiday planning

Group email sent 9/27/09:

Hello friends and family,

How can October be coming this week? The temperatures in the deserts are just starting to cool off just a bit -- "only" 97 degrees in Baghdad; and a "chilly" 84 in Kabul today! Yet, it's time for thinking about the holidays for our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

HALLOWEEN is just around the corner, considering shipping time. We only need 10 days for Priority Mail to Baghdad, but for our troops in Afghanistan, I'm not really sure. I know it can take 6 weeks for regular mail. Priority Mail much quicker, but it depends on where your particular soldier is stationed. If you have an estimate from your own packages, let me know.

One soldier emailed me today to say they have celebrated NO holidays since arriving in Afghanistan this Spring. She thought some candy and paper decorations would be great fun. Thanksgiving even more so.

So please be encouraged to send something to your soldier very soon, and plan for THANKSGIVING treats and greeting cards. (You can also send left-over Halloween candy, but getting goodies ahead of time is more thoughtful).

CHRISTMAS packages should be sent Priority Mail around Thanksgiving, so it's not that far off either. The Army hospital in Germany likes to pass out Christmas stockings to wounded soldiers arriving starting on Thanksgiving Day, therefore you early birds can get started now!

Since I will be out of the country after Thanksgiving Week, I ask all of you to plan ahead more than usual for Christmas sign-ups.

If you don't have an individual soldier of your own to support but would like to help with some holiday projects/goodies, you know I can help you do that! The chaplains love to collect and pass out our treats.

Check the blog regularly for updates, and please do not respond to this email address. It just doesn't work correctly anymore.
Email me at: usanancy@gmail.com Thanks!

Nancy

--

PS: The US Army hospital in Germany is looking for candy for our wounded troops too.
_______________________________

93rd MPB status

The 93rd MPB is expected to be in service until January 2010. Unless your soldier has an individual redeployment date, you should continue with letters and packages through Christmas.

_______________________________

8th Military Police Brigade returning home

Today I was informed that the 8th Military Police Brigade is returning to the USA in October!

No more mail should be sent.

I'll be getting replacement names soon for the holidays.

_______________________________

New Troops in Afghanistan

While we celebrate that our troops in the 715th have returned from Afghanistan, I have recently received some new names. These troops are stationed at FOB Lightning. There are about a half dozen and they do have email access sometimes.

Here are messages from two:

I was wondering how I can get adopted please?
My name is SGT Gail S. I've been in the US Army for over 8 years. I'm deployed to FOB Lightning in Afghanistan. I'm the proud mom of a one year old girl and a three year old boy. My husband works and takes care of our little ones, so he doesn't really have much time to write to me. That's okay with me since our babies come first, but it sure would be nice to get mail at least every now and then, so I hope you consider me for your program!

Gail S

Dear Aunt Nancy,
Thank you so much for providing such a wonderful service to the troops. You are an awesome American and I wish there were more like you. I sometimes feel that Americans have forgotten that we are still over here, but knowing there are people like you renews my faith in our country. Thank you for YOUR service and for boosting the morale of all the troops you touch.
Sincerely,
SSG Guy S

_______________________________

Candy and supplies needed for the wounded warriors in Germany

From the Wounded Warriors Center at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (Army Hospital) in Germany.

My name is Lisa P. – I am the new Donations Coordinator. Laura Smith is moving to the states in July and she will be missed!!

A needs list is attached. There were only a few changes this time around. We will be doing a more complete inventory this summer and will probably update again in the fall for the colder weather.

I can tell you that we are rapidly going through our candy supply. We tend to receive candy around Christmas and Valentine’s Day and then the supply slims down for the months in between. Some sort of 4^th of July treats would be welcomed. I just started volunteering at the WWMC in January and I’m not sure what you did with Laura for the Christmas Stockings, but I am up for just about anything!

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you and working with you in the future,

Lisa P.

Wounded Warrior Ministry Center

Pastoral Services Division

Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

The Wounded Warrior Ministry Center (WWMC) is an entity within LRMC Pastoral Services that cares for the needs of wounded and ill service members medevac’d from the GWOT. The WWMC provides items of comfort to “fill holes” until the service member’s personal items can catch up with them in the military healthcare system.

The WWMC services more than 750 service members each month. Since the WWMC is a non-funded entity (within DOD), we rely on the generous donations of fellow Americans and others, both substantive and monetary, to provide these items. We truly appreciate the efforts of each and every person willing to share “hugs from home” and words of encouragement with those who have given so much for the cause of Freedom in our world!

This list will be updated periodically. Be sure to read the "NOT Needed" list too!

Phone cards – Domestic only with no expiration date

Black 30 inch duffel bags (no logos)

Long sleeve t-shirts/shirts L-XL-M-S (in this order)

Pajama pants (men’s sizes L, XL, M (in this order)

Men’s t-shirts L, M (not undershirts)

Men’s Slippers (slip-on non-slip) sizes 8-14

Women’s t-shirts S, M, L, XL

Bras/Sports bras 32-38

Travel Pillows

Nail clippers

Men’s & Women’s Deodorant

Lip Balm/Chapstick

Travel size shaving cream

Travel size Gold Bond Powder

Hand-held electronic games

Healthy snack bars, chocolate, and candy

DVDs (no extreme violence or nudity – no VHS tapes)

iTunes Cards

iPod Shuffles

DO NOT send USED items!

* * * ITEMS NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME * * *
As of this time we have no need for anything not on the current list (updated regularly).

Thank you for your generosity.

Please do not send the following:

No Men’s white or color briefs
No CDs, Video tapes
No Bar soap, large and hotel size
Bubble bath, salts
Hair conditioner
No Large toothpaste
No Toothbrushes
Combs
Make-up and facial creams, nail polish, etc. including samples
Lotion any size
Baby wipes
Q-tips
Large economy size toiletries
Pre-packaged toiletry kits
Bath towels & face cloths
Lap blankets/double, queen or king size blankets
No Women’s underwear
No Feminine products
No Books, magazines
No Playing cards
Sudoku and puzzle books
Pencils, erasers and pencil sharpeners
No Writing paper / Envelopes are needed
Blank greeting cards
Any size batteries - none are required anymore
Over the counter medications/any medications
Coffee mugs
Candles, matches, lighters
Canned food
Any knitted items
Signed holiday cards (Christmas, Valentines, Easter, etc.) Please only send a very few – we receive thousands more than the number of patients that come in all year and cannot possibly distribute them all.
NO Used clothing – or clothing with stains or holes or broken zippers, missing buttons, etc.

For updated list contact: WoundedWarriorMinistryCenter@yahoo.com

April 2009

Donation to the WWMC fund for items that are used for targeted high-demand and seasonal items would be acceptable
(payable to: IMCOM-E CTOF-WW)
_______________________________

I do not publish individual's addresses online.
If you want to help, email me at nancy@auntnancyusa.com

_______________________________

4th of July - Goodies and Cards; 2-8 Cavalry

If you are interested in sending out a few patriotic cards for 4th of July I can give you a chaplain's name and address to send them to.

I just received contact with a chaplain's assistant of the 2-8 Cavalry Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division. They have 650 troops and would like to receive support. They will be deployed through the end of this year.



For those of you who already have a soldier:
There's still time to send some fun 4th of July goodies to your soldiers (if you use Priority Mail). A nice card, or some red, white, and blue candy, whatever you can think of! Some soldiers have requested small squirt guns and water balloons if you are looking for ideas. They also like new music cd's, and a current sports magazine...

_______________________________

772 MP's - a 4 month request for support

It's 120 degrees in Iraq now --- and not about to cool off.

I just received a few more soldiers' names from the 772 Military Police Company who are in need of mail and some extra support to get through this Summer deployment. It would be especially nice for them to receive something by 4th of July.

It's only a 4 month request, as they are leaving Iraq in October, so I hope more people will consider adopting someone... Even if it's just a greeting card and/or a pack of Kool-Aid to freshen up the taste of their water!

email me at usanancy@gmail.com if you can help for a few months.



Stephen Colbert recently performed in Baghdad for some of the units we support. I don't know if any our individual soldiers got to see him. You could ask yours if he/she did. Here's the weblink:

http://www.csmonitor.com/
_______________________________

A Note From Buffie - THANK YOU!

We have supported Buffie H. since the start in 2003 when she was in the 18th Military Police Brigade with my niece, Sara, in Baghdad. She then returned to Baghdad two more times with the 89th Military Police as they alternated tours of duty with the 18th. She was our contact as the Chaplain's Assistant. Some of you "adopted" her (I think her first request was a pool stick -- and she got it!), MANY of you supported her soldiers, and even many more have sent Christmas packages, birthday and 4th of July party celebration supplies!

She is still sending us troops who could use our support. And here is a recent email from her that I thought you might enjoy. She is now stationed at Fort Bragg.

Aunt Nancy,

I really do miss corresponding with you. Thank you so much for taking care of our soldiers. Since I've been in recruiting I have been very busy with this task of putting them in boots... Thats a saying we have. "Put em in Boots!!"

While I was deployed I made some pretty amazing friends through your program. You all made me me look good when it came to events for my Soldiers. We did Christmas programs, Thanksgiving, Birthday celebration, Mayor's Cup events, and fourth of July celebrations in addition to much more.

I really miss being in Iraq and supporting the fight and being in the fight. I don't want to go back!!!! but I do miss it. My heart is still there with the troops. I wish I could express to you my gratitude. If you could tell all your supporters that I said thank you that would be amazing.

SSG BUFFIE H.
US Army Recruiter
Fort Bragg, NC

_______________________________

The 772 Military Police Company asks our help

Craig R. C., of the 772 MP Company at Camp Delta in Iraq, has sent me a dozen names of troops who are not getting much, if any, mail from home. If you would be willing to take one to support just until September 2009, please email me at USANANCY@gmail.com

Thanks!

Aunt Nancy,
Thank You so much for your efforts in supporting our troops deployed
overseas. I will check with some of the soldiers and see if they would
like to share their email address....I am not too sure if they are
having the same problem with emails as they are their regular mail..If
you would like you can always send email to me and I can pass it along
to my troops.

My two daughters schools send packages, letters, and emails and I get my
platoon together and share their letters, etc. with all of them.

Again thank you for your Kind Gestures and Hard Work to support our troops.
We greatly appreciate it..more than you may ever know!

Serving Proudly Overseas In Iraq

Craig R. C.
2nd Plt Sergeant
772 MP CO
Camp Delta, Iraq

_______________________________

715th Military Police mail stop.

The 715th Military Police unit we have been supporting in Afghanistan is departing soon. Many won't leave until early July, so they can receive mail through May (their Army Post Office, APO, generally closes a month before they leave.)

Since I don't know exactly who is leaving this month, except Jeff Pilgrim, no packages should be sent unless your soldier has indicated otherwise. One more card or letter won't hurt though.

My contact wrote:

"Hello:

Just wanted to update you and let you know that there will be a mail stop put in soon for Jeff. They will be moving them into tents on May 20. So if you could halt all packages and not send out any mail for him as of this Friday, May 8.

Thanks for all the support thus far :)

It is much appreciated :)

Jill P."

_______________________________

93rd Military Police Brigade: Thanks for the Easter goodies!

The 93rd POLICE BRIGADE* chaplains office sent a big THANKS! for all the Easter goodies! They report it was a lot of fun watching these big boys and girls acting like kids searching for hidden plastic eggs! Unfortunately, reality was brought back to them the very next day when the enemy hit the unit and they lost a soldier. That's the reality they live with every day.

As the summer heat kicks in the chaplains are now asking for water toys of any kind: balloons, water pistols, etc. Consider sending your soldier something fun, or get a few items to send directly to the chaplains office. (I can give you the name and address).

With Memorial Day approaching quickly, a greeting card would be a nice thought for your soldier too.

*mis-identified as the "8th Military Police" in webmail update.
_______________________________

Sadness and Encouragement; Beanie Babies collection

Friends,

As much of the world celebrates Passover and Easter, today we heard of another car bombing in Baghdad. Among others, 5 US soldiers were killed. Also on the news were stories about the increasing number of troops committing suicide. It is all so sad.

So many of us feel such frustration. When we think there is nothing we can do, I want to remind you that several times I have received thank you notes from soldiers who have said something like "When I didn't think I could go on or take anymore, I received a card or package from a stranger who got my name from you. I want to tell you it saved my life". YOU can make a difference!

Other times soldiers have written to me to say that although troops often don't respond, we all should know how our cards and notes DO boost the morale of our guys and gals living in this awful environment.

ADOPTING TROOPS: With that in mind, I still have about 30 troops in the 93rd Military Police who do not have individual sponsors, and I just received word from a previously supported unit that they are returning to the war zone soon. I said I would try to get them all sponsors if I can.

THE ECONOMY: The economy has affected the troops too. Many soldiers' families are sending less, and fewer volunteers are helping. Please consider joining in and taking a name. Goody packages are not required -- just regular greeting cards and notes are the minimum I ask. Of course, a little candy now and then is fun for them to receive!


BEANIE BABY COLLECTION: We are also looking for clean, "gently used" Beanie Babies for the troops to keep in their pockets and use as goodwill towards children in these war torn areas. Please email me at usanancy@gmail.com for an address (I do not post soldiers' addresses online).

_______________________________

Several Thank You notes from the 93rd Military Police

One of our helpers received this email and I thought I'd share it with you. In case you do NOT hear back from your soldier, you might understand why:

Thank you so much. Please forgive me for not responding sooner, the rythem here is so fast that the days come and go. There is little personal time.

Me and my Soldiers appreciate all that you and your organization is doing for us. They get big smiles, start bragging about what is in their boxes then they trade it is a good moral boost:}

I look forward to what ever you decide to send. Different flavors of microwave popcorn would be great!!

SSG T

I still need 45 more people to adopt a soldier from this unit, so please keep spreading the word!

Another note of appreciation:

Rev. Eberhard,
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for the wonderful
goody boxes that my Soldiers and I received from Historic Trinity
Lutheran Church. Everything in the boxes was something we could use.
It is heartwarming for us to be reminded that we have not been
forgotten. Though my Soldiers and their Families do not do what they do
nor sacrifice what they sacrifice in an attempt to earn the gratitude of
the American public. It's nice to know that great folks like you
appreciate what we do. I am amazed daily at the level of commitment to
duty, to our Army Values and to each other that my young Warriors
display. If you had a chance to meet them, you would be equally as
proud. I'm sure you understand that though because your parishioners
have demonstrated to us an outstanding level of care and commitment.

Thanks again

DJR
CSM, USA
93D MP BN

_______________________________

The 93rd Military Police Brigade & An Easter Egg Hunt!

The latest unit to ask for our support are in the 93rd Military Police Brigade, stationed in Baghdad.
There are about 100 soldiers whom I'm trying to find sponsors for, so if you would like a name email me at usanancy@gmail.com

EASTER: The Chaplain's Assistant and my POC for these troops is asking our help for an Easter Egg Hunt! There isn't much time, but if you can get some plastic eggs and candy sent out it would be most appreciated! Email me for the address.

This could be a nice project for families, scout, or school groups: write little notes of cheer and put them in plastic eggs! Maybe along with those silly little fuzzy yellow chicks? or something else fun.
Any candy sent must be in it's original store bag for security reasons. So sweets like jelly beans should be sent still in their bags. If you would like to fill the Easter eggs, do so with little bitty candies still in their wrappers like the tiny bite-size candy bars.

All the Easter cards we can send would also be fun -- both religious and otherwise. I have over 200 names if you want to send them personally. Or, just sign a few and the chaplains can pass them out.

Easter requests:

• Plastic colored eggs
• Candy to fill the eggs
• Colored plastic grass
• 200 Chocolate bunnies
• Cards, lots of cards!
• Decorations

PRIORITY MAIL packages will get here in less than a week, but the chaplains need time to organize it all, so the sooner the better. THANKS! I suggest mailing by March 29.

If you would like to send little packages of Easter cheer for a number of troops, I like to suggest putting some candy, maybe a little Easter grass, some kind of small toy or fuzzy chick, and a signed card in a small zip-loc-style baggie like these troops received for Valentine's Day:

Since sand gets into everything, the sealed bags work nicely.

NOTE: If you have already accepted one of the soldiers from the 93rd MPB, I may have put a wrong name in your info letter -- It was SPC Smith who sent me the names, NOT SSG Lloyd (that's for another unit.)

PS: My husband and I are traveling and don't get internet every night, so, I'll try to answer emails as quickly as possible.

The original request from the 93rd MPB:

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all again for all
the prayers and support. I was sitting outside today with some of our
soldiers talking about lent and Easter and one of the main things that
kept coming up was soldiers missing the Easter egg hunt with their kids
this year while deployed. This brought on a stream of thoughts with what
we could do, now clearly we cannot bring the kids to the soldiers or the
soldiers to the kids over this holiday, but the next best thing would be
to bring an Easter Egg hunt to Baghdad. Realizing that this is a little
short notice I was wondering if there would be a chance to collect
Easter eggs and Easter candy so that this Easter egg hunt can become a
reality.

While Easter is in my opinion the biggest Christian Holiday of
the year, we are hoping that this will provide an opportunity for us to
spread the good word to some of our soldiers who may not celebrate
Easter regularly, or may not even call themselves Christians. If you
would be willing to send some packages of plastic Easter eggs and Easter
candy please let me know. I would love to bring some fun and faith to my
soldiers during this time of war and separation.

God Bless,

Tiann Smith
SPC, USA
Chaplain Assistant
93D Military Police Battalion
Camp Liberty, Iraq

_______________________________

K9 Group is back!

Today I received an email from James Hazelton whom we've supported before. He is part of a K9 dog training unit and is looking for support for 4 soldiers and their dogs again.

So, in addition to the 80 new troops I received last week, I have these soldiers. Hope you can help!!

_______________________________

716 Military Police - THANK YOU - now redeploying

The 716th is packing up and preparing to leave Iraq. No more packages or letters now to THIS unit.
I'm expecting to get new names as the 93rd Military Police Brigade is arriving. The replacement troops are out of Fort Bliss, Texas. There will probably be 60 or 70 new soldiers I'll be looking to find sponsors for.

Here's the email from my contact in the 716:

Aunt Nancy,

Thank you for distributing our Soldier's names to other people. They did
follow through and we had more than plenty of goodies to spread around.
SSG Cobb has some pictures of the Christmas party that he was going to
send (if he hasn't already) to just let you know that we had a wonderful
time, in part because of people like you.

Since we are nearing the end of our deployment, we no longer are having
things sent to us. The new unit replacing us however, will be more than
happy to start receiving goodies from your group. They are the 93rd MP
Bn from Fort Bliss, Texas. They'll be ready to start receiving packages
towards the middle of February. Once I know a good point of contact,
I'll make sure to let you know once I get it.

Have a great day and again, I appreciate all that you have done from the
bottom of my heart, thank you!

- SGT Ramirez

and another:

I truly thank you and those who've helped you for all the support given
to 716TH MP BN. Looking back, there had been enormous amount of support
from people like you to our unit. Truthfully speaking, part of it has
been taken for granted. Many of the Soldiers were busy getting the
mission completed including myself. Looking back in time, I regret not
taking enough time to thank those who are always by our side back home.

We will be heading to Kuwait in about 2 weeks.

I can't thank enough. Please tell those around you as well that we are
grateful.

Take care Aunt Nancy!!!

Hanna H.

- - -

Here's another thank you from a different unit:

Nancy:

I am a Soldier serving in Baghdad. Much to my surprise, I received a
very nice letter from a complete stranger in New York. Thanks for what
you do.

v/r,

J. KESSLER
8th Military Police Brigade

_______________________________

Valentine's Day and Girl Scout Cookies!!

Our Soldiers really, really LOVE Girl Scout cookies! It's my most asked for item! If you want to help Girl Scout Troops AND our Military Troops away from home, AND avoid all the calories (OK, keep a box or two for yourself haha) consider buying some for our soldiers!

Valentine Day treats make their day too! This is another great classroom, Scout group, or family project. (All food products must be store bought and in original packaging.)

If you sent Christmas stockings to Dave Shaw, Christina Lloyd, or Patricia Ramirez, you may send goodies for them to continue to pass along. Of course if you have adopted an individual soldier, he or she would get a kick out of receiving something directly from you. I still have about 30 waiting for a sponsor.

If you received a soldier name prior to September 2008, that troop may no longer be "in theatre". Be sure to check for updates here --- see older posts topics along the left side.

I will be out of town this week and may not be checking email until after January 18th.

_______________________________

Note from Afghanistan - it's very cold there now!

Here's a note home from one of "our" soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan. It is freezing there now. I think the heating pad idea is a great one! Hopefully we will be able to share more updates.
If you have received a Thank-You from your soldier, or anything you think others may appreciate reading, send it to me: nancy@auntnancyusa.com
I don't generally post full names unless the troop gives the "OK".

Hi honey,
I miss you and really hope you are getting better. There is not a whole lot I can do except pray and make it though this deployment. I am tired, tired of cold showers and stepping out into cold wheather after getting wet from ice cold water. Sometimes, I luck out and get one minute of warm water in my shower, but it does not last long enough to rise.

Yes, the heating pad works, and I don't want to get out of bed because it is cold. I wish I could wear it in the shower. It is so cold I have to sleep with my shampoo to keep it from getting frozen in the bottle. It is so cold I have to put my water in the fridge to keep it from freezing overnight.

Honey, when I come home I have some stories to tell you. This deployment has been an awesome adventure and I cant wait to tell you. I love you alot. Tell C. I say "Whats up dude". Tell your momma, to put some beans in the kettle I will be home soon. At least for a little while.
LOVE
Jeff YOUR HUSBAND


_______________________________

A Thank You from the 716th Military Police

Nancy,

This morning I was caught completely by surprise by a box on my desk and did
not immediately recognize the name. It didn't take me long to figure out
that it was from you. I see a number of care packages sent to our unit but
I couldn't believe how much personal thought was put into it. It brought
incredible joy to me and definitely made my day.

I want to thank you for the package you sent me and the packages that you've
[and your group] sent to others. You are truly making a difference and it does not go
unnoticed or unappreciated.

Thanks again,

Matt C.
_______________________________

Goodies Arriving! and THANKS from Dave Shaw & soldiers

Hello Auntie Nan,

I just wanted to say thank you so much for having some folks send things to us!!! We have so much coming in and that wonderful lady that said she sent I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY POUNDS!! please tell her I got them*. And the mail guys were not very happy with me to say the least. But guess what? I too am a mail guy, so they can just deal with it!!! I already dispersed all of the boxes that I got. I hate to get off of here so quickly and send such a short email, but I have to go take a shower and go to bed. Up early and at the missions!!!

Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I just love giving all of these things to my guys. I feel a bit guilty because they all thank me and all I do is pass the goods on that you sent to me!! Seems like I get all the credit for all of your hard work! The bad part is that I know many of the guys won't write. So many literally don't have time or they would much rather call home or write their loved ones as I'm sure you understand. But please know that when I pass out the goods, they get very happy and it's all because of you and the great supporters that you have sending goodies over.

May the Lord bless you for your kindness!!
Your favorite Soldier!!
Dave~

[*note from Nancy: one "regular" helper, Donna, collected 250 pounds of candy!]
-----------

Here's a picture from Cassie and Hannah in junior girl scout troop 4356. They donated 15 stockings to the wounded soldiers.
_______________________________

Out-of-Town

I am out of town this week for my son's college graduation! So, responses to email will be slim for a few days. (December 2 to 9)

Here's our family pic at Michigan State University.

_______________________________

Troops ready to be "adopted" - College gear & music wanted for Christmas!

Over 200 new soldiers names were given to me this week. This is the 716th MP.
Note: Their APO address has 5 digits. If I gave you only 4, please contact me.

Here's something new I'll try!

I just received a list of soldiers along with their interests. You can pick a soldier from the list below! Choose a number still in black. (First come, first serve of course!) I'm looking for year-long "adoptions" but also Christmas gift only volunteers. Let me know which you might be interested in. There are over 100 soldiers available for "adoption". This particular unit has just a few months left.

If any of you want to purchase some of the items listed below, my contact will accept them, wrap them, and deliver them to the designated soldier for Christmas! A variety of college t-shirts would be a great start! Music, movies, magazines, and perfume are also high on the list! Time is running out for Christmas mailings!

1. BMX Biking / UFC / Heavy Metal
2. Games/Billiards(plays Pool)
3. Karaoke, Ohio State Football, XBOX first shooter games
4. Muscle cars, Muscle magazines
5. Punk/ Heavy Metal Music
6. hip hop music
7. NFLCollege Football
8. loves to cook/picture frames or album
9. Nascar
10. (female) perfume/travel magazines
11. football/ picture frames/ phone cards/plays guitar
    
12. (female) pedicure stuff/ magazines/ newlywed
    
13. Golfs
14. football/weightlifting
15. football
16. likes to build things out of scrap/ loves to fish
17. (female) University Kentucky, Sweets, WWE, Country Music
18. music rap/country
19. Football / Basket Ball
20. Gaming magazines, World of Warcraft
21. fishing pole/ anything outdoor
    
22. College Sports, Fishing, Philadelphia Eagles
23. Computer Games
24. tuner car magazines, stock market, real estate
25. (female) Beauty Items, Photography, Sponge Bob
26. WWE/FOOTBALL
27. Anything UT Vols
28. Basketball
29. old movie with Danny kaye in them
30. 4-Wheeling / Off Road
31. Memphis Sports, soul music,
32. mafia movies, cowboy hats, vokswagon magazines
33. football/ California themed items/ Golf
34. weightlifting/ learning English as a Second Language/ anything to do with aviation
35. Motorcycles
36. UFC / Sports
37. Boxing/poker
38. weightlifting/ poker
39. Christian music;
    
40. Anything to do with computers
41. MICHIGAN STATE graduate/ college football fan
42. Ohio state fan
43. Comedies/ perfume/ pajamas
44. Movies (Top Gun)
45. Movies (Top Gun)
46. perfume/pajamas
47. Penn state graduate basketball!
    
48. Perfume/ pajamas (she's about 6'1)
49. Basketball, comedies, from California
50. "Crimson Tide" Alabama gear
51. OHIO STATE college football fan
52. (our chaplain) Kentucky anything, used to be in the Old guard
53. Ohio state / Penn State fan
54. Tennessee fan; likes junk food; (silly- wants santa suit)
55. Tennessee fan; loves to dip tobacco;
    

****As a whole, they would like the show "Man vs. Wild" with Bear Grills so they can watch it since it's not a show they get here.

If you would be interested in sponsoring someone for his or her year-long deployment, send me an email: nancy@auntnancyusa.com

Of course, you can sign up to just help for Christmas too!

_______________________________

More help for Santa requested! 716th MP

Another new unit in Iraq has requested our help with Christmas cheer: The 716 Military Police. Since they too can get PRIORITY MAIL quickly, there's hope to get them some goodies there in time! In fact, early enough to enjoy for the week before Christmas! There are 79 soldiers here. My contact wants at least to get the young/junior enlisted, first deployment, etc. troops some cheer.

They have no decorations so let's see what we can send them.

Filled Christmas Stockings
Christmas Lights
Tree, and ornaments
Cards (from you to them)
Decorations of any kind
Baked goods (store bought)
Candy Canes
Candy
Fake Snow
Inflatable Snowman
Fun stuff!

Dollar stores may be a great asset here. It would be nice if they receive decorations ASAP so they can enjoy them longer.

Note: Homemade baked goods are generally not allowed.

BAD NEWS: It's been a very lean year for many people as we all know, and it has really shown up here. Offers to help the troops this Christmas are down about 75%! The military families are feeling the pinch too. If you want to even just send some Christmas cards, cookies, or candy canes, I can tell you the troops will be ever so appreciative!

GOOD NEWS: PRIORITY MAIL has been reaching some of these Baghdad units in only 10 days! That's AMAZING! So, while we should still try for the 1st week of December, we may get by with shipping the 2nd week! I just don't know how crazy the Christmas rush will get. Now we have time for last minute shopping over Thanksgiving weekend!

Also, if you see fun New Years Eve decorations or goodies, we can send them too! That would give you another week to mail.

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CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS FOR THE TROOPS - 2008

It is very exciting to be sponsoring the Christmas stocking project again this year! It was a big success last year at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) where volunteers handed them out to the newly wounded troops arriving at this US Army hospital in Germany. The soldiers receiving them in Iraq were thrilled too!

<-- The Henry Ford II Varsity and JV Ice Hockey Teams (Michigan) sent a total of 27 stockings and treats to the injured soldiers at LRMC!

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS UPDATE

WOUNDED: We are all set with the 500 asked for by LRMC IF everyone who pledge stockings sends them.

SOLDIERS IN IRAQ: Also I'm trying to get as many as I can to our troops out in the field. I've had TWO new units join me this week, so I have over 200 Christmas stockings wanted! As I have to keep track of the number going to the different locations, please ask me for the addresses. I do not post that info online. Do not forward addresses I give you to others. If friends want to help have them email me.

For suggestions on what to send, see my blog post on November 3rd about Christmas Stockings to the Wounded Warriors :

LRMC Wounded Warriors Ministry - 500 Christmas Stockings wanted

MAILING DATES: From here on out you must use PRIORITY MAIL!

Packages should be sent out this week or next. Prior to Thanksgiving is usually my recommendation, and it's later this year than last. Mail to Germany and some troops in Iraq takes less time than Afghanistan, so for them the first week of December should be good, again, IF you use PRIORITY MAIL at the US post office.

CUSTOMS FORM: You will need to complete a Customs Declaration form. When listing items on the Customs form it can be a big red flag for thieves. That's always a concern. I never list "Christmas stockings". I write "socks". Of course, the candy and other details you have to list are tempting, but we gotta' do it! I also don't list the name of any candy, magazines, nor dvd titles. Use your imagination don't be too descriptive.
Anything liquid (shampoo, etc.) must be sealed in a plastic Ziploc-style bag.

Safety for the troops is a concern at the other end. Be sure to include a note INSIDE the box with your full name and address, and indicate that you are participating in the "Aunt Nancy USA Christmas project".

Boxes should be very neat and professional. No cute stickers or decorations. Use 2" wide tape on all edges. If the "TO" or "FROM" addresses are not absolutely readable the package may get discarded. Security reasons again.

FREE BOXES: Get your free boxes from the Post Office ASAP -- they often run out this time of year! FLAT RATE boxes have almost always saved me about half the shipping costs. Make sure you get the FLAT RATE Priority Mail boxes for APO mailing! There is a $2 mailing discount! Look for the "America Supports You" logo on the box and/or ASK for help at the post office. You can also order online. Here's what you can use. #3 is best so try to get your boxes ahead of time.

1. PRIORITY MAIL Box from the USPS - will get there quicker, but can be costly
   
2. FLAT RATE Priority Mail - one price for up to 20 lbs!! Usually saves me HALF the cost. ($9.80) 2 sizes/shapes available.
   
3. APO BOXES (Army Post Office) Large/Priority Mail box - is also FLAT RATE plus a $2.00 discount off of that. ($10.95 instead of $12.95) 12x12x5.5"

http://www.usps.com/prices/priority-mail-prices.htm

See the following

“This is the first time the Postal Service has offered a special price for our armed forces serving overseas,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “We’re proud that family and friends will be able to use this new larger-sized box to send much appreciated packages from home to our dedicated troops overseas.”

The new Priority Mail Large Flat-Rate Box (12" x 12" x 5 ½" or 800 cubic inches) will be available in Post Offices nationwide, but customers can order them at usps APO boxes or by calling 800-610-8734. Some of the new boxes are co-branded with the logo of America Supports You, which is a Department of Defense program that connects citizens offering support to the military and their families.

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New unit arriving in Baghdad: 8th Military Police

The last of the 18th MP BDE we have been sponsoring are leaving Iraq, and being replaced by the 8th Military Police BDE. Since they will be right at the Baghdad International Airport, mail will arrive quickly, but even with PRIORITY MAIL packages should be mailed the first week of December. They could get there in as little as 10 days, we can't be sure with the Christmas rush. But "Better Late Than Never "certainly applies here!!!

If you have waited to send some Christmas stockings or cards, this is your opportunity!

I have now received 107 individual names, but may not get them assigned to individuals in time for Christmas. I'm attempting to get that many Christmas stockings to their Chaplain for passing out at their Christmas Eve Candlelight Services.

Please join in - cards, Christmas stockings, packages, whatever!

Email me for addresses, I do not post them online. Do NOT use contacts from last year.

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Sending cards to "Any Soldier" is NOT acceptable

Once again this year, there is an email circulating around the internet asking people to send an extra Christmas card or two to "Any Soldier", or "Recovering Soldier" at Walter Reed Hospital. The Army has warned of this mis-informed goal. You do not know where it actually started. While it is a noble idea, tens of thousands of Christmas cards have to be opened and inspected for security reasons, and it just can't be done by the hospitals. Thousands get thrown away.

Here's a link for other ways Walter Reed Army Hospital can use help: http://www.wramc.army.mil/support/Pages/default.aspx

I have names of troops you can send your cards to if you would like to do so.

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Special Soldiers Fun Requests - time to play Santa

OK, folks, here's some special requests from Iraq. I told him I thought we might be able to do something! Who can help?

Dear Auntie Nan,

Yes I do have another request. One that my chaplain asked about as well. I would like to request, more than anything, prayer; not only for our Soldiers, but also for our families back home. They too go through a very rough time during this deployment. I truly believe that the little children have it the worst. They just can't understand why "Daddy" or in some cases, "Mommy" isn't coming home for quite a while. So honestly, prayer would be the biggest request.

Thank you for your time. I wouldn't mind passing out cards if you happen to send some our way. I do however have a pretty serious request from a Soldier. It's for some video games. I do not play video games (believe me, I am one of the very very few when it comes to Soldiers and video games), but I do understand that they are fairly expensive. He gave me the names of two games that he was hoping to have for his section. I told him that I would certainly ask, but I made no promises. Please don't feel as though you have to get either one of these or even ask your folks to get them. I know that he told me that they are for play station II game system. Now that is all I know about the games.

The names of the games are:

Madden 09

Metal Gear IV
Need for Speed/Undercover, 

WWE Smack Down vs. Raw 2008, 

Call of Duty: World at War Final Fronts and finally 

Secret Service Quantum of Solace.

I do happen to have one other great suggestion. We have about 15 bags of whole-bean coffee. I was hoping that someone may have a hand operated coffee grinder they would be willing to ship over here to us. I know my guys would love to have some of this fresh ground coffee, if only I had something like that. Again, I do not grind my own coffee. I'm the cheap skate. I buy Folgers already ground. So if this request is too expensive, please, I beg you please disregard. I have no intentions of taking advantage of your wonderful support.

Also, I have heard of some folks looking for different kinds of deodorant, shampoo, decent razors, shave gel, little things, etc. etc.

Times here are getting a bit more exciting. We have had a decent surge in activity here the last few days or even a week or so. I'm only hope and pray that our time here drags on from boredom and not from always going to memorials and hospitals with our Soldiers hurt or worse yet dead.

Right now, we are doing ok in my unit. My Soldiers are all doing very well. You have a very blessed week and thank you for listening to my rambling.

Your favorite Soldier (as far as I'm concerned)
D.~

Here are more suggestions:
NO home-made food.
NO Batteries as they have "enough to light up Baghdad" now!
NO used items
Chocolate is very much desired (until about February) - store bought only.

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Flag needed for soldiers

Remember all of our Veterans this Tuesday, November 11th.
They may be shy about it, but when someone THANKS them it really means a lot.
So, consider calling your friend, Father, whomever. Express your appreciation.

Also, hard as it is to believe, I have one soldier asking for a full-size flag or two for his unit in Iraq.
Anyone want to donate a new one? This could be a perfect project for a Scout or veterans group.

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LRMC Wounded Warriors Ministry - 500 Christmas Stockings wanted

The Chaplains at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) run the "Wounded Warriors Ministry". Soldiers are often medevac'd to LRMC directly after getting injured. These are the more seriously hurt or ill. They often arrive only in a hospital gown. The Ministry provides items of comfort to "fill holes" until their personal belongings catch up with them.

Last year, with your help, 1,000 Christmas stockings were sent and passed out to the troops arriving at this US Army Hospital in Germany. This year they only need 500, but so far participation has been very low. I hope you can help!

Let me know if you can make and send a couple or motivate your friends and co-workers to contribute a larger number, it will be greatly appreciated!

This is a picture of some of your stockings arriving in Germany last November.

Groups wanting to prepare large numbers of cards should make them Get-Well cards. The hospital receives thousands of Christmas cards this time of year, and can't use all of what they get. If you send a bunch, do not seal the individual cards. Use the large USPS Mili-pacs envelopes to mail several cards at a time. Most post offices do not stock these, but they can be ordered online easily. DO NOT SEND ANYTHING DIRECTLY TO THE HOSPITAL, or anything addressed to "Any Soldier" etc!

These young troops really enjoy hand-held electronic games. Teen youth groups could be encouraged to collect some, or the iPod shuffles and iTunes cards. Do not put them in the stockings -- put them in an envelope inside the same box as the stockings.

Here's a recent note from my contact at LRMC -- (contacts change each year)
"As for what I need, just your continued support of the WWMC. We couldn't operate without donors! I can tell you that from last year, the wounded warriors loved taking a stocking. Some had to be persuaded, but everyone left with a smile on their face!"

Some suggested items for the Christmas stockings for the wounded:
CANDY! Chocolate, Twizzlers, M&Ms, whatever! Lots of it!
Find fun holiday versions of the goodies -- those are especially welcome in stockings.
Small candy canes - they don't break as much in shipping.
Small cans of chips and cookies, chewing gum, beef jerkey
Fun stuff from local drug stores - small novelties, decorations
Girl Scout Cookies are LOVED!
Healthy snack bars
"Little Debbie"-type treats
A Get Well card or a Christmas card may be inserted into the stocking.
Breath-mint strips
Small hand-held mirrors
Nail clippers
Travel size Gold Bond Powder
Travel size shower gel
*Phone cards – Domestic only with no expiration date
*iTunes Cards
*iPod Shuffles
*Hand-held electronic gamesDVDs (no extreme violence or nudity – no VHS tapes)
*These last items should NOT be put in the Christmas stockings; keep them separate.

The younger generation has many of the newer electronic gadgets. They no longer need music CDs, nor AAA batteries, for instance! Now they mostly download music from the internet. It's tough keeping up with them!

Some veterans have told me that the troops would rather receive sports teams news, caps, pictures, or shirts, than shampoo any day!

Below is a list of items NOT needed.

Check it out because there are some items on it I previously suggested some of you should send. I'll update it if I get new info. This list came from Landstuhl.

Wounded Warrior Ministry Center
Pastoral Services Division
Landstuhl Regional Medical Center

ITEMS NOT NEEDED AT THIS TIME

As of this time we have no need for anything not on the current list (updated regularly). Thank you for your generosity. Please DO NOT send the following:

No International phone cards, or phone cards that have an expiration date
NO CDs, Video tapes
No AA or AAA nor any size batteries
No magazines, books, puzzles, sudoko games
No Books, Playing cards
No Bar soap, large and hotel size
No Bubble bath, salts
No Hair conditioner
No Large toothpaste
No Toothbrushes
No Combs
No Lip Balm/Chapstick
No Make-up and facial creams, nail polish, etc. including samples
No Hair pins and bands
No Q-tips
No Large economy size toiletries
No Small hotel size toiletries
No Lap blankets/double, queen or king size blankets
No Women’s underwear
No Feminine products
No Men’s white or color briefs
No Pencils (mechanical pencils okay), erasers and pencil sharpeners
No Writing paper
No Blank greeting cards
No Signed holiday cards (Christmas, Valentines, Easter, etc.) Please only send a very few – we receive thousands more than the number of patients that come in all year and cannot possibly distribute them all.
No Over the counter medications/any medications
No Coffee mugs
No Candles, matches, lighters
No Canned food
No Any knitted items
No used items and please,
No Used clothing – or clothing with stains or holes or broken zippers, missing buttons, etc.

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Send your extra Halloween candy to the Troops!

If you have a bunch of left over Halloween candy consider sending it to the troops! They love it, and they often use it to pass along to the grateful children in Iraq and Afghanistan!

Make it a family, office, or Scout project!
And don't worry, the troops prefer melted chocolate to NO chocolate!

Candy is quite heavy, so in this case if often pays to use the FLAT RATE Priority Mail boxes. You pay one price regardless of weight. (about $8 to $10 a box). Get some boxes first from the post office and compare costs. There's really no hurry now so if parcel post works out cheaper use that. It will depend on how much you mail. The USPS offers a $2 discount on some Priority Mail boxes to Army Post Offices (APO) so make sure you get the right ones!

Another option: separate the candy and use any non-Halloween looking treats to fill up some Christmas stockings for the troops! These should be mailed by Thanksgiving.

Whenever you send something, be sure to let the troops know you received their name from "Aunt Nancy" at "Aunt Nancy USA".

Email me at nancy@auntnancyusa.com and I'll tell you were to send it!

Be sure to include a note with your name and address, indicating you have checked the candy. No homebaked nor homemade food should be sent. Store bought only, in original packaging.

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2008 Christmas Projects - start NOW!

It's that time of the year already!

Thanksgiving cards should go out by the end of October, packages now.

MOST CHRISTMAS PACKAGES TO IRAQ SHOULD BE MAILED THE WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING! You can get an extra week using Priority Mail, which I always recommend anyway!

I am getting a couple of new units in Afghanistan, and because mail there is MUCH slower than Iraq, I recommend earlier if possible. PRIORITY MAIL helps.

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS PROJECTS: Yesterday I received an email from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany (LRMC), and they would appreciate our participation again. The great news is: they only need about 500 this year as incoming wounded numbers are WAY down! (Last year we sent 1,000.) They do NOT want Christmas cards -- they get thousands. The do need and accept get-well cards.

They are still looking for help with t-shirts, slippers, and other necessary items for the wounded if you want to help that way. If you want to help in this year-long project, ask me.

I'll also be looking for Christmas stockings for the Afghanistan troops. Their facilities are quite bare, they need hygiene items as well as fun stuff (the typical stocking stuffers: candy, cookies, chips, beef jerky, & other goodies, DVDs, etc). We can also send tins of cookies. Everything will be collected by their chaplain and distributed at Christmas services.

If you want to participate, send me an email with the request in the SUBJECT LINE.
Example:
LRMC stockings for wounded troops,
Afghanistan troop stockings,
Afghanistan cookie tins,
or
Adopt-a-Soldier (either just for the holidays, or all year)


I do NOT publish addresses on this blog. You must email your request to me.


I suggest the classic red & white stockings that are approximately 20" x 9". You can purchase them for as little as 99 cents at the local dollar stores. But you can use whatever size and color you'd like. Even make your own.

Candy and other fun holiday-themed goodies and "stuff" from the drug stores, Target, grocery stores, etc., are good fillers. Small candy canes tend not to break like the full-size ones you might hang on a tree. They no longer want batteries nor music CDs. The do want domestic phone cards (withOUT expiration dates), iTune cards, and would LOVE iPod shuffles (for their downloaded music). Those last few are an awesome addition, but of course would add a lot of cost. Do whatever you can.

Please insert a note or Christmas card in your stockings, or at least the shipping box, saying you are participating in

"The Aunt Nancy USA Holiday Project www.auntnancyusa.com"

Then you might also include your family or group name & photo, and your own email or snail-mail address. You could also include a return envelope with your address and a blank notecard.

Make your packages very neat. If the addresses "TO" or "FROM" are not clear the packages get tossed out. Don't put "cute" stuff on the outside of the box. Make the box look professional. Use 2" tape on ALL edges. No string. When reusing a box from something else, be sure to black out any bar codes or previous mailing addresses.

Groups such as Scout packs can often get $100 donations from stores like Target. Many offer help for community groups. It's worth asking!


As always, I will do my best to try to keep up with all the emails this time of year. In the past I manage to lose or miss several of you (especially last year after the "Family Fun" article). This project is just me and my trusty laptop, no group of helpers. There are still about 25 people on my waiting-to-adopt-a-soldier list.

Email me at: Nancy@auntnancyusa.com

18th Military Police, Christmas Eve

More mailing deadline info:
Link to United States Postal Service Military Holiday Shipping dates: USPS Dates

MORE GOOD NEWS:

The United States Postal Service (USPS) Priority Mail, Large, Flat Rate Box to APO/FPO addresses receives $2 reduction!

Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Boxes shipped to an APO/FPO destination receive a $2 reduction. Either version of the large box — with or without the America Supports You logo — can receive the reduced price at retail or online. The smaller regular flat-rate boxes are not eligible for the military price reduction.

Be sure to check you get the right box and rate from the post office! The boxes are free!

Get your boxes, and Customs Declaration forms, early. Having the boxes may help you figure out how much you want to stuff the stockings.

Many of last year's tips still apply. Click on "Mailing tips" or "Christmas mailings" under GROUP TOPICS on the left for more details.
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Change in mailing instructions!

This week I was informed that the military requests that the troops' rank is NOT put on cards and packages any more.

I suggest you no longer do so.


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