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| A Letter (or E-Mail) Can Make a Difference |
| by Senator Richard T. Moore |
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In the Dixie Chicks' 2002 album Home, which reached Number One on the U. S. country singles chart, there’s a simple, poignant song about a soldier titled "Travelin' Soldier". In the song, the soldier says, “I got no one to send a letter to, would you mind if I sent one back here to you.” If someone in your family is serving on active duty, whether in Iraq or Afghanistan, the Mexican border, or just any place away from home, sending a letter to that service man or woman can brighten their day, to let them know that we care. Not all of us know someone in the service and not everyone in the service has someone to write home to. But there are ways to solve that little dilemma. The Soldiers' Angels was started by a self-described “ordinary mother” of an ordinary young man turned hero, Sgt. Brandon Varn. Brandon was deployed in Iraq and has since honorably completed his mission and has returned back to his proud and loving family. In the summer of 2003, he wrote home expressing his concern that some soldiers did not receive any mail or support from home. Being a caring and loving mother, she decided not to allow a situation like that to continue. She contacted a few friends and extended family to ask if they would write to a soldier or two. Within a few short months, The Soldiers'Angels Program went from a mother writing a few extra letters to an Internet Community with thousands of angels worldwide and growing stronger with the addition of new members daily. With more and more merchants donating services, money and items for packages, the Angels reorganized as a 501 c 3 non-profit so all donations would be tax deductible. For more information on how to “adopt a soldier” go to http://soldiersangels.org/ To adopt a soldier on active duty or in a military hospital, you must commit to sending a card or letter a week and AT LEAST one or two care packages a month, This is important to help bring home a healthy hero, (care packages do not have to be expensive and you can put together your own), duration of adoption is usually 6 to 8 mo. The web site offers gift packs for soldiers ranging from $10 - $45. Another such letter service, the My Soldier Program, was started by Active U.S. Army Sergeant Juan Salas, a naturalized US citizen originally from Venezuela, who served for almost two years in Iraq, where he saw active combat duty and was commended for his part in saving the life of a child. His mission was to “win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.” “It was long,” says Salas. “But the thing that kept me going was getting letters. From kids, boy scouts, students. A letter was like a piece of gold. Something you will keep for the rest of your for the rest of your life.” When he got back to Manhattanville College in New York, he wanted to help his fellow soldiers still serving overseas. He brought this idea to Manhattanville College President Richard A. Berman and college administrator Anne Gold, who were determined to find a way for Manhattanville to help. Together, and with the help of other students and Manhattanville staff, Salas and Berman devised My Soldier. By enrolling in the My Soldier program, you agree to “adopt” a deployed United States Armed Serviceperson. Your support should consist of periodic upbeat letters or emails to the soldier contact we will provide to you. Upon enrollment, you will be able to download a My Soldier Starter Kit. It contains detailed instructions on how to begin as well as letter writing guidelines from co-founder Sgt Juan Salas. Typically, the soldier then replies and direct correspondence begins (about 50% of soldiers respond, but 100% appreciate getting the letters). Participants may also choose to send care packages, which are greatly appreciated (but not expected) by the soldiers. If your soldier is unable to write back for five weeks or redeploys home and you wish to adopt another service member, the organization will provide another soldier for with whom you may correspond. Manhattanville's My Soldier is a student/staff-run program that allows the American public to "adopt" a deployed United States Armed Serviceperson. Regardless of an individual's political views and opinion of warfare, our troops need our support. My Soldier has opened a new portal that puts politics aside to educate, bond, and strengthen the American community. If you would like to participate, go to www.mysoldier.com. The service is free, although a minimum ten dollar donation is requested to defray expenses of sending a “starter kit.” For students and teachers returning to school, the My Soldier web site has a lesson plan that helps to teach students about patriotism and involves students in a class project to write to those in the service. The point of all this is simply that, whether we support America’s policy or the war itself, we should support the young men and women who have answered the call to serve their country. Let’s support our troops! |
