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......)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.
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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).

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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