Karen's story just makes you feel good. I can ditto what Karen said though about people supporting the troops. BUT - I do get angry at the laziness of people. I've even been thinking the last week about trying to setup a new magnetic vehicle sticker along the lines of: Do You Really Support The Troops? Go to AnySoldier.com or Soldiers Angels..... I'm tired of seeing the ribbons on vehicles knowing that most these people don't lift a finger. Members of my own family are abusers but at least they aren't hypocritical enough to have the ribbons of support on their vehicles. I have received some of the most moving emails and snail mail letters of my life from soldiers grateful for being thought of through a card, package or even email. I do disagree with JP (Natl Guard) on his rule about letters in packages. I've asked my adoptees if they want my inane letters of my life in their packages. They always say yes.
Nice story..Ditto with these two ladies..
For two years Ive supported deployed soldiers and Marines thru AnySoldier.com. Im still friends with some of the guys...even as they've returned home...and its a friendship we are both richer for!
Yeah..they didnt always write back all the time they were busy..lol.....but they always read my emails and loved receiving them and the care packages and managed to drop a quick line to say so.
Btw...JP was kidding..it was a tongue in cheek list!
Wonderful. I'm gonna adopt me a marine 
I too send weekly care packages to soldiers on AnySoldier.com and find it highly rewarding, especially when the Thank You card comes back in the mail. I bought some business cards from AnySoldier.com last month. Whenever I see a car in a parking lot with a "Support our Troops" magnet or bumper sticker on it, I place a card on the driver's door. Maybe they will decide to truly support you by doing something about it. Thank you! I visit everyday.
Yeah Karen 
As one of the caller/interviewers for AAP, I can attest to the huge amount of support here at home, we have had thousands of applications to process in the past few months.
One of the nice things about Adopt A Platoon, is that all supporters are interviewed prior to being matched with a deployed soldier, we take as many precautions as possible to ensure that all matches are legit and no wackos get ahold of a service members address.
And we're right there with you Toni on the magnet thing
A couple friends and I got so sick of seeing all the magnets but no practical support besides that, so we have organized a concert and rally that will be held May 28th in Maryland, besides the featured artists, we'll have rep's from Operation Oasis (a resort that gives returning OEF/OIF vet's a free 3 day 2 night stay), we've invited reps from Honor the Fallen, and of course we'll be educating people about Adopt A Platoon and Soldier's Angels as well.
Angel
I actually saw a car the other day with 8-10 of those magnets -- in every color for every cause -- actually stacked on on top of the other in an artsy suburban kind of way... talk about making yourself look like an ass...
I have one magnet on my car: a customized yellow ribbon: "My son proudly serving OIF III 2005 3ID"
I can not begin to tell you how many people stop me in parking lots to ask me to pass their thanks along to our troops... and people actually have pulled next to me at traffic lights to say the same... I, too, know that Americans support our troops in spirit... and maybe we can be thankful for that.
Great story. Thank you for sharing her letter. I was in the Corps during Vietnem. Women weren't in combat but I was at MCRD San Diego for a year. Then Quantico for three years.
In San Diego I saw many young men come into the boot camp scared, timid and eyes downcast, only to graduate and leave with their heads held high and their back ramrod straight. Most of them went to Vietnam after AIT. Other's went to radio school at SanDiego, like me and then shipped out. As I looked at their young faces I wondered how many of them would not be coming home.
The draft was in effect then and most of the guys I met were draftees. Many had served more than one tour. A tour then was 14 months if I am not mistaken.
Then these same guys, mostly draftees came home. They came home to protest marches, flag and draft card burnings. Some had people spit in their face and were called baby killers. If they wore their uniform off base then they had to put up with the insults and glaring stares.
The guys weren't wanted as suitors for the locals daughters. But those same hypcrits welcomed them into their bars and businesses so they could help them spend their meager paychecks.
Over the course of my tour I saw a change come over the guys as they returned. Many were heavy drinkers. But many were heavy drug users. Some were addicts from the morphine they were given after being shot or injured on the battlefield. Many used pot, morpine, heroine, anything they could get their hands on to dull the atrocities and slaughter they saw.
I don't think I ever saw a single yellow ribbon anywhere, much less a care package. I am sure as welcome as those packages would have been, every one of those guys who were spit on, called names or made to feel unwelcome would have given anything to see a yellow ribbon on a tree or a car door or bumper.
I don't mean this as a criticism. I only mean to point out that any jesture, no matter how small is welcome after the horrors of war. You just want to feel that it wasn't all for nothing. That someone appreciated all you did and gave. That they knew your guts and soul were infected with the disease of war. Assure them that the disease would not always be there.
They wanted to know someone understood why their families threw pillows across their bedroom to wake them up. They wanted to know someone understood their nightmares, their sudden panic at the sound of a backfire. That someone understood their irritability and short attention spans. They wanted to know about hope.
Hope that they would be normal again. That they would be able to work again, love and be loved. Hope that the nightmares would end and they didn't have the sweats all their life.
They wanted to be forgiven for surviving when their friends and buddies were blown apart and bled to death at their sides. They wanted to be forgiven for having two good arms and legs when their buddies lay in hospitals with none.
They wanted to know that when they w
Hi Angel! One detail that I forgot to mention to Mustang is just how much the boxes weighed...almost 80 pounds. He really is a sweetie and I am working on coming up with something to do for him. Any ideas? Karen
Karen,
Coming up with something for M23? LOL kinda going to ruin the surprise if you plan it in his comment section
Way to go on the 80 pounds!! Those guys are going to have enough junk food for a month!!!
I just mailed off another round of Ty's claw machine winnings to Camp Falcon, 9 boxes this time around, about 180 stuffed animals total I think!
angel
Hmmmmm! I have two magnetic ribbons on our SUV and EIGHT Corps stickers on my truck (it is a LARGE truck! ). Guess that let's me out huh?
I'm in devildog's camp on that one. Anything that gets people out of their insular world and thinking about our men and women is OK by me!
Anything anyone can do is greatly appreciated by me. Even if it's just a couple of minutes talking in a parking lot to let us know they are thinking about what our kids are going through. I've seen the other side and I much prefer this way better. My son can't hardly pay for his own meals around here whenever he gets leave. One gentleman even paid for his gas before he could come inside and pay for it! I'm am truly amazed and appreciative of the support even if it's not high profile. It is simply flat-out nice!
About the only beef I have with the magnets is I'd prefer them to be Red, White, and Blue instead of yellow. Although, the CAR is yellow also so I guess it doesn't matter! Frankly, I'm seeing less and less of them along with a dwindling number of American Flags flying in front of homes. Two years ago we had twenty in our small neighborhood. Now it's only us and one other family of a deployed loved one. Personally I hope there is a resurgence of Flags and magnets. I like seeing them!
Thank y'all for your support and what y'all do. I hear on a regular basis how much those packages mean. There are a lot of young men and women that for one reason or another don't receive anything and they are well taken care of by the sharing that goes on with all the packages. Your groups are a Godsend! Y'all's outpouring of support for these young men and women is outstanding!
It's all true. We simple civilian folk, especially all of us in the Civil Air Patrol, USAFA, are very appreciative of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines deployed out in the problem areas of the world to protect our freedom. I wish I was out there with y'all, but alas I am stuck here finishing out my junior year and preparing for the admissions to the Academy. Tell all the military personnel you meet that they have a big fan at home who thanks them wholehaertedly for what they do, and hope they make it back safe and sound.
lol,,,You got me Angel! Although I do think that Mustang is a sweetie too,I meant the post office guy. Ship your son up please.I am tired of wasting my quarters Karen-who has 8 military ribbons and a flag magnet on her car
I too had someone at the Post Office give me $28 dollars to mail a box to my husband...it was a kind, patriotic, and loving gesture for all of our men.
this iw great news,I've been wanting to get involved somehow and now Mustange 23 I believe you've giing me the answer.I'm find out more information on AdoptaPlattoon.com and see what small thing I can do to keep you all's spirit's up.Also m23 to agree with JarheadDad and devildog my dad was also a Marine like these guys and served in Vietnam(voluntarily)and the hell these men described is what my dad had to deal with when he came back home.You guys don't have to worry about getting spit on or anything like that,and when my dad sees these ribbons he is very pleased.I know just like what devildog says these guys would've just settled for even that small of a gesture.
HAPPY VETERANS DAY AND THANK YOU AGAIN! PLEASE STAY SAFE.
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