We received the best box of "Thank you" ever, today. It came in from our Heroes with the 1/168 GSAB.
They sent a really nice letter of appreciation that will surely bring lots and lots of smiles. It has photos of their camp and a lot of cool info. But I will always err on the side of checking first, before posting just in case the info is not intended to be shared on so public a forum.
As soon as we get it cleared I will post it up here.
FYI: I am going through changes. (Be nice!) My laptop gave up the ghost and I have switched from my HP PC to a new Mac. It feels like I'm learning Yiddish! From all inputs, once I get it down, I'm gonna love it. But in the meantime ... One of the issues is that I can't post photos onto this journal using the new machine. Sigh.
Any of you genius types out there using a Mac to post your journal? Could use some great pointers.
In any event, keep the pix and messages coming and we will find a way to get them up to share with all! You have no idea how many people you are touching with your replies!
PS to Bill ... We have gotten a response from Wrangell, Alaska! And to all of you in Wrangell, there is a deployed troop who would love to hear from you ... 
They are also extreeeeeemely happy with boxes of Starbucks coffee. 
We have promised a huuuge box of Starbucks to the unit that sends back the most responses. Have to tell you, so far, these guys are in the lead! (You listening, 129 CSSB? lol)
Will get the thank you up as soon as we get it cleared.
*****
More messages ...
I'd like to tell the people involved in sending all these boxes of shirts to us THANK YOU!!!!
Whenever big batches of boxes arrive here, we're like kids at Christmas --- everybody hangs out knowing there is too much for one of us, so there is something in there that we might want to stick around for.
No letdown with this group. WOW!!!! It looked like every city in America dropped top for us. We'd open one box and everyone was going through it looking for their special shirt. But before we got to the bottoms of boxes the next box'd be slit and poured out and we'd start all over.
Got mine from Philly, which is pretty darned close for me. So I can only tell you all thanks.
Next day- I was going to mail this last night but something came up. Just wanted to tell you that as I was doing my dailys it seemed like everyone was wearing there shirts. Couple of the guys are wearing there shirts under the uniform. I might do that too. It's cold here!!!!
So anyways, THANK YOU!!! This meant a lot!!!!
Keep doing the Hero To Hero program. It really made us feel great, really just great!!!!
SFC Andy ....
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We got the shirts a week or so ago but they held onto them as we had a casualty and some of us were scattered for a while after. It helped our morale a lot and was kind of a healing thing when they gave them to us. It was still kind of quiet when the Chaplain started handing them out. We stood there taking a shirt and passing it along but when the shirts kept coming it was taking longer and the guys in the back were getting jumpy that it was taking so long but it was cuz there were messages on them and people were getting caught up in them reading. It wasn't quiet after that, ha ha! You'd hear a scream or a squeal when somebody would find a certain shirt and then the excitement would build. Before we knew they were tossing out the shirts to us, it was hectic but it was fun and shirts got swapped all that day. I got mine from Dallas and its funny. Thanks to everybody that did this its the best care package we've got since we got here.
Sgt Benjamin, Iraq
*****
YAHOOOOOOO!!! I GOT A SHIRT FROM HOME -- RENO RULES!!! Please keep this program up. We read that it's going away. If you can find any way to keep it going you will be doing so much good for us. This lifted our spirits so much. So from all of us who got these shirts please keep HeroToHero.US going!!!
We have limited sending abilites on our emails system so we'll try to send you some pictures but we may have to count on snail mail for it.
Thanks again for doing this for us all!
SrA Shelly M......, in the desert
**Shelly,
Trust me, we WILL keep HeroToHero.US alive as long as our first responders continue to give the shirts off their backs. Obviously word has gotten out to you that we have had the last PackOut, but no fear, we are just tweaking the program and it will be even better from here on! Stand by.
And thank you so much for the message. We look forward to seeing your smiling faces! lj
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Ma'am -
WE LOVE OUR NEW SHIRTS!!! Cool thing happened on the way to the desert - all of the shirts smell like Starbucks! Can't help but hold them to our noses until the smell fades. Thank you all for thinking of this for thinking of us. You may never know how special this was. We had casualties and lost a couple really good guys. You don't feel special after that you feel awful and you feel guilty that it was them not you. You sure don't want to smile. Some of the guys tried to stay hard when the boxes opened, but it was box after box and they started to melt. Your program made us all smile. Thank you for that, thank you all for everything.
1Lt Cheryl K ...
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Dear Ms Jackson and the entire Hero-to-Hero Team,
I first wanted to say Thank You for your tremendous efforts in this very important undertaking. Troop morale, in my opinion is one of the most important aspects in The Global War on Terrorism that can be addressed. One that Our entire nation can and does participate in. And, there is no greater Nation in the world that can accomplish this mission. No greater patriots than the American Firefighter, Police Officers and First Responders that protect Our Loved ones everyday of Our lives. This being said, I would like to tell you my story!
We have a Chief Warrant Officer Gray, here in Theater who contacted you. Your response was exceptional, a shirt for each of her fellow Soldiers. Some three hundred and thirty, Chief Gray had them distributed throughout the Theater.
When I came to work one morning there they were. I was told we had one for each of us, so I just picked one up and to my amazement it was from The Great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Blair County, Town of Duncansville, ten minutes from my home. The Police Chief, Mr. James Ott and his Officers had signed it. Chief Otts' daughter Chelsea had painted a beautiful card of thanks and the Chief attached his business card, so whomever received there shirt could get in touch. That I did, and received a much welcome reply.
I will cherish this Shirt and the card for the rest of my life as will the rest of my family. We believe that what so ever you do for one you do for all. I traveled 7800 and some miles from home and received a present from the Heart, from just miles away.
Thank all who participate in your program and let them know how much it is appreciated. Thank You and God Bless You, Zane Otto, Sgt, PA Army National Guard, Altoona, PA
Speaking of CWO Gray ...
Our shirts have arrived! The mail clerks were a little upset with me until they found out what was in all of those boxes. I have been busy getting all of the shirts and coffee out to the Soldiers. Our unit is divided up on several different camps and in two different countries, so this is no easy task, but I have a lot of very enthusiastic senior leaders who are helping get the shirts to every Soldier in the unit. Everyone here at the LSA was so excited to look through the boxes to see if they could find a shirt from their hometown or their home state. Your program was a definite hit here. We are about 7 months in on a 15 month deployment, so it has definitely given these Soldiers a much needed morale boost! Thank you so much for supporting us! We really appreciate all of the firemen, policemen, and rescue workers that have made this possible. They have truly touched the hearts of many Soldiers.
The calendars were a big hit also! I will be sending photos as soon as I can!
Thank you,
Anna
ANNA M. GRAY
CW2, AG
Keep 'em coming! We're counting on you.
lj
1 comment:
Great messages! It warms my heart to read the messages that are making thier way back to where they belong this year. It is a huge morale boost from this end, to actually see the messages from the troops. I think this year has been by far the best for give and take between the troops and HerotoHero.US.
Super proud to have been a small part of things this year.
Kathy
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