Christmas at Landstuhl...thanks, Angels!

Christmas at Landstuhl

Contribute to a civilian surge...of support!

MaryAnn posts a great reminder of why your support of our deployed troops is so appreciated. I'll include the photo here, but click over to her blog to watch the video that showcases our Marines and Sailors at a combat outpost in Afghanistan.

A U.S. Army Soldier sleeps, while the first pot of coffee of the day brews, on Combat Outpost Cherkatah, in Khowst province, Afghanistan, Nov. 27, 2009. The Soldier is deployed with Delta Company, 3rd Battalion, 509th Infantry (Airborne), 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division. U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Smith/Released.


Join the civilian surge today!

As well, Michael Yon's email to subscribers mentions the holiday support that is so appreciated:

"Christmas packages to the troops are arriving by the crate, and the soldiers are sharing with workers from places like Nepal, India, and Philippines. The soldiers are very happy with all the support flooding in from home. It must have taken a lot of big airplanes to get all this mail here."

Sign up for his email list here. Or check him out on Facebook.

I got word earlier this week that our Angel holiday support had reached some of our coalition medics in Afghanistan. They were very appreciative as they'd had a rough few days. We sent them holiday garland, lights, cocoa, candy, cookies, crackers, sausage, mustard, and fancy coffee creamer. And some cards from my Mom's 5th graders in Texas.

Large or small, your support means a lot.

Adopt a troop today! Click HERE!

We've got 2000+ waiting.

How about a civilian surge? [updated]

No, I'm not talking about non-military deployments to Afghanistan (though that's important, too).

How about prepping for a non-deploying, civilian surge of support for the military men and women who will be serving in Afghanistan over the next two years?

At a minimum, we know that there will be more requests for Angels. Even before the Afghanistan surge has started, we have a backlog of requests for Angels. As of 7:11pm EDT on December 2, 2009, that backlog is 1713.

We also will continue to have wounded who deserve some extra TLC from people like you.

So.

Option 1: Plan to adopt.

Option 2: No registration or membership required, plan to send Angel supplies to our Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. All the details and instructions are HERE. I just sent some sweatpants, zippered hoodie sweatshirts, and boxer briefs last week. If you don't have a lot of free time, but have a few extra dollars, send thru Walmart and save yourself a trip to the store and the Post Office. To give you an idea of items that are gratefully received by our ill and wounded at Landstuhl, here's the list at that link above:

- Sweatpants and Zippered Hoodie Sweatjackets (M, L, XL - grey, black, dark blue)
- Lounge/sleep pants/pj bottoms (M, L, XL - any color or pattern)
- Undershirts and plain T-shirts (M, L, XL - crew neck, any color)
- Shorts, baggy basketball-type (M, L, XL - any color)
- Men's Boxerbriefs (M, L, XL) 2nd choice boxers. Please do not send "tightie whities".
- Socks (white ankle or crew length preferred. Other colors ok)
- FlipFlops to wear while showering (men's large sizes)

- Toothbrushes (individually wrapped)
- Toothpaste (any size)
- Bar Soap, Shower Gel & Shampoo (any size)
- Dental floss
- Gold Bond or similar Foot Powder and Body Powder
- Body lotion (any size)
- Lip balm
- Nail Clippers (large & small)
- Disposable razors (at least double-blade, individually wrapped)
- Shaving cream (aerosol cans, travel size preferred)

- Calling cards (click for details)
- Blankets of Hope (click for details)
- Travel pillows
- Ipods & iTunes gift cards (click for details)

Option 3: Purchase "First Response Backpacks", which are supplied to medics in theater for cases like THIS. Purchase HERE (check out the "customer reviews" at the bottom of the page, too).

So, ready to sign up?