Monday, May 25, 2009

LEST WE FORGET




Many of us are off work today and enjoying a long weekend filled with barbecuing and outdoor parties. The kids are out of school and we are celebrating the beginning of Summer while planning our long awaited vacations to the beach, Disney World, or any place that we can get away for a few days and have fun with our families.

Let's not get so busy today however that we forget the meaning of the holiday itself. Memorial Day is a day set aside to remember and pay tribute to our brave men and women that are fighting for our country everyday. There are many ways to involve your children in today's festivities as well. Talk to them and tell them what this holiday is really all about. Show them pictures of how our soldiers are being remembered all across our great country. While the U.S. Department of Defense is asking us NOT to send letters or packages that are not addressed to a specific service member, there are some excellent ways to communicate your support to our military troops.

Here is a list of ways to show your support:

Operation Dear Abby

Send e-mail messages to deployed troops of any service from your home state at http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/


Defend America

Sign an online thank you card to troops at www. defendamerica.mil/nmam.html

Operation USO Care Package

Contribute to the purchase of a care package of items requested by troops such as sunscreen, disposable cameras, prepaid calling cards, and toiletries at www.usocares.org/home.htm

Operation Uplink

Contribute to the purchase of phone cards that will be distributed to military personnel and hospitalized veterans at http://operationuplink.org

Also to support our military and their families:

Offer your time and resources as an individul, an organization, or business to give families of deployed troops help with activities, such as household repairs, spring cleaning, or yard work. You can also volunteer by contacting one of your local chapters of one of the following organizations.

American Legion

American Red Cross

Boys and Girls Clubs of America

National 4-H headquarters

Veterans of Foreign Wars

You can also get more information on how to help our service members and their families on the Website of the USAFreedom Corp, a government-sponsored volunteer organization. USAFreedomCorp

I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday today, but, please.....let us not forget the ones that put their life on the line everyday to defend our great country!

Happy Memorial Day!

Erin

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