Thread: For Our Troops During Christmas!!!

DO YOU WANT TO REMEMBER THE TROOPS DURING CHRISTMAS:

There was just a report on Fox News.

The troops are asking for things like....

--Puzzles, cards, crossword puzzle books, magazines, books

--Christmas ornaments

--Microwave popcorn

--Ground coffee (NOT decaf)

--Chocolate (will not melt at this time of year).

--Gum, candy (tootsie rolls, hard candy, suckers, etc.)

--Condoms and rubber bands (the soldiers use these to keep sand out of the muzzles of their guns)

--Silly String (This has saved MANY lives. They use the Silly String to spray when they enter a building---it will easily show them if there are any trip wires (for explosives) in the building (it will cling to the trip wires). However, mail it separately, due to Hazmat issues that might delay the package being received.

You can go to this site for more details---as well as to brighten their day by sending an online message to them.

http://www.doonenicething.com

That's a great idea. Thanks. We're doing it.

Thanks for sharing this, Bren. I'm going to go out an purchase some "made in America" items and build some care packages to send next week.

I remember how much the soldiers, sailors, and Marines injoyed the packages during the Gulf War, especially the younger troops.

DEFINITELY include the Silly String-----it is saving MANY lives.

A Soldier's Christmas.....................

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS, HE LIVED ALL ALONE,
IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE.

I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE,
AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE.

I LOOKED ALL ABOUT, A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE,
NO TINSEL, NO PRESENTS, NOT EVEN A TREE.

NO STOCKING BY MANTLE, JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND,
ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS.

WITH MEDALS AND BADGES, AWARDS OF ALL KINDS,
A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND.

FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT, IT WAS DARK AND DREARY,
I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER, ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY.

THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING, SILENT, ALONE,
CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME.

THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE, THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER,
NOT HOW I PICTURED A UNITED STATES SOLDIER.

WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ?
CURLED UP ON A PONCHO, THE FLOOR FOR A BED?

I REALIZED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT,
OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT.


SOON ROUND THE WORLD, THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY,
AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY.

THEY ALL ENJOYED FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR,
BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS, LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE.

I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY LAY ALONE,
ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME.

THE VERY THOUGHT BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE,
I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY.

THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE,
"SANTA DON'T CRY, THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE;
I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM, I DON'T ASK FOR MORE,
MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY, MY CORPS."

THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP,
I COULDN'T CONTROL IT, I CONTINUED TO WEEP.

I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS, SO SILENT AND STILL
AND WE BOTH SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHT'S CHILL.

I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD, DARK, NIGHT,
THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOR SO WILLING TO FIGHT.

THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER,
WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE,
WHISPERED, "CARRY ON SANTA,
IT'S CHRISTMAS DAY, ALL IS SECURE."

ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH, AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT,
MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND, AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO4cJdN- ... re=related

Originally Posted by Bren4824

DEFINITELY include the Silly String-----it is saving MANY lives.

Great Idea!!! God Bless Our Troops!!

I have heard the deadline for packages is December 4th,although I'm sure it would be ok if it go there a few days late.

Beef jerky is also a favorite - magazines, DVD's (cheap), gum, breath mints, etc.

Yeah, it definitely does not matter if they do not get there by the deadline.

These are great ideas as well--------"Beef jerky is also a favorite - magazines, DVD's (cheap), gum, breath mints, etc."

However, PLEASE PLEASE-------always include the Silly String-----it is saving lives!!!

I don't know if it is still true, but once you could not include anything with pork - so check out the little sausage sticks.

I sent a package and it contained these, the soldier never got it - but it was waiting for him when he returned to his home base - months later. No one said for sure, but that's the only reason I could fathom.

If you go to this site for details, it should DEFINITELY reach them!!

http://www.doonenicething.com