Date: June 21st, 2010
I'll keep this entry short and to the point, mostly to make the point that it is just that easy to send a care package to one of our servicemen overseas. I've sent a postcard to a military member, but I hadn't sent an actual care package. Unfortunately, there is no simple way to do that from a little studio in Lansing. I guess what I'm saying is that life sometimes gets in the way of giving. It became really easy to say that I'd done so much for one day and skip out on putting together a care package.
That being said, if you know a soldier personally, it is super crazy simple to send a care package. There are tons of legit websites that will put together personalized packages for your lived one and send them off. But what about those of us who don't know a deployed soldier personally? Well, there is still a way to help the men and women in uniform get their basic necessities while they're out in the field.
USO Cares puts together and distributes care packages to soldiers in the field at the click of a button; and given the solid reputation that the USO has, there is some comfort knowing that the supplies will actually reach their intended target.
Now, I know I've done a decent number of online things so far so there isn't much new about clicking this button or that button. However, the reason I decided this should count as a thing of the day is more about its impact than its methodology. For me, it was an important moment to stop and realize that for all my personal thoughts and beliefs about the importance of supporting the troops, I hadn't stopped and done something about it. It made me realize what kind of bumper-sticker culture we live in. It is so easy to plaster your opinion around town, but so hard to actually stand up for it. Finding the USO Cares site gave me pause - it can be just that easy to actually, physically, materially make a difference.
As I went through filling out my credit card information and billing address yet again, I thought about how familiar these new things have been getting. For all the amazing adventures I've been on, they all involve a similar sort of mental and physical preparation, they all involve sharing a certain amount of information and committing a certain amount of mental energy. Just when I thought the whole experience on my end would be essentially the same as things I've already done, I noticed an option on the form to give your gift in honor of someone.
It made me realize that I haven't done nearly as much as I could to say thank you to the people in my life who have served their country. I chose to dedicate the gift to my grandfather (my mother's father) who was a Colonel in the Army National Guard. His career revolved around protecting this country and that's a legacy I'm deeply proud of. Many of my cousins on my mother's side have also served and as an adult, I've been blessed to know two men who signed up to fight for their country now, during this time of war. Nathan, who I dated briefly, served for more than five years in the Air Force and flew missions over Iraq and Afghanistan; and Tom, who I know through my friend Bob, serves in the Marines and has been deployed to Afghanistan.
It is a great honor to spend time with someone who has served this country and one that should be recognized more often. The chance to send a care package reminded me of that. Along with the package, we are invited to write a note to the soldier who receives it. I chose to keep mine short and sincere: "Thank you for your service and your sacrifice. It is an honor to live in a country with men and women who are so brave." I would encourage anyone who reads this to take the same steps to help the men and women who serve overseas. It only took a few minutes and care packages make a big difference.
No comments :
Post a Comment