Hello-

Its great that all of you have stopped by to check out this kick butt feature and addition to AnySoldier! My name is Gary Bourland and a Marine that has benefited from AS numerous times. Take it from me, IT WORKS  and you guys are making a difference!! Look around, have a cigar and enjoy yourself! Simper Fi

Hi, I'm a homeschooling mom of six kids, ages 3 1/2 to 19 yrs. We live in Western Washington near many military bases.

 I got involved with anysoldier.com when my neighbor's son was deployed to Iraq and was scheduled to come home for Christmas 2006 and was extended instead. My sister is sending packages and so is my mom.

My biggest problem is not knowing when to stop. I started reading and selecting names and writing letters. I built a spreadsheet and had up to 40 groups. I rotated sending packages and sent letters every other week. If I receive letters I also write specifically back to those soldiers too. Now I am down to 30 names.

 
Last month, to my utter surprise, I received a flag and letter of recognition. I cried. It's weird to feel called to do this, (I always write letters to people) . Sometimes I try to get others to participate but I am sometimes met with blank stares.

 
Now I have several people who collect things for me and I send out batches of packages. I have made some nice friends and a group of soldiers from our area are coming to a BBQ at our house in June.

It is so great to speak with like minded people and know you just want to help those heroes.

I grew up a military brat and between my dad and his brothers, they served over 110 years combined. My grandpa on my mom's side was navy and my parents met in the Army. It's in my blood. I am shocked that I didn't end up marrying a military man, but he is a good man anyway.

Take care,

momof6

(sorry for yakking so much)
 

momof6:

My biggest problem is not knowing when to stop. I started reading and selecting names and writing letters. I built a spreadsheet and had up to 40 groups. I rotated sending packages and sent letters every other week. If I receive letters I also write specifically back to those soldiers too. Now I am down to 30 names.
 

Lol!  Written like a true Support Junkie!  I thought I was addicted but, wow... 30-40 contacts!   And while home schooling your kids!  That's amazing!

~Hello Everyone!!!

I'm Shannon, 23, from a small town in Wisconsin. I first ran across anysoldier.com several years ago (when they were just starting up this website), sent out a letter or two and then got really involved with another "support the troops" organization, adopted a few soldiers and...I'm sorry to admit...forgot all about anysoldier.com. Then out of the blue I got a letter from a female soldier thanking me for my letter and explaining that she was safely back in the states and on her way home!!! I was so surprised...happy for her, but confused as to who she was. Thankfully she had put "anysoldier" under her name...it was then that I went back to the website..which had come a far way since the first time I had ran across it. It really is an AWESOME website, isn't it? :)  I just wanted to thank everyone involved with starting, updating and running anysoldier.com. God Bless You All!!!!

I really love sending out the care packages, keeping updated on what the soldiers need and how they are doing, and now I will be checking the forums everyday!!! I appreciate how anysoldier.com has given me the opportunity to help support our troops...and I also have a better idea how to support a soldier, especially since my boyfriend was recently deployed to Camp Taji, Iraq (GO ARMY!!! ;)). Thanks again!!!

 God Bless & Keep Our Troops,

~Shannon
 

Hi Ya'll,

I am Lisa from Acworth, GA I have been an any soldier supporter for almost two years. I have lost count on how many packages that I have sent so far over 600 I think. I have many friends and neighbors that donate things to help me support our troops.  Though I do get questioned as to why I do things for people I don't know. Most people assume that I have family in the military.  It did not start out that way.  I do feel now that many of my contacts are famliy, they are fabulous people!  One of my soldiers recently came to visit me and made my family lasgana to thank me for supporting him over the past year. It was such an honor to have our Sgt come vist never mind cook for us.

 

Thank you Marty for setting up this forum I look at it as support for the supporters!  Yea!!

 

Lisa

That's exactly how I started Libby, didn't know anyone in the military, but wanted to support the people far from home, working hard in the military.  Anysoldier.com is the perfect place for helping...just a simple letter can "make the brightest day even brighter" (as one of my new army pals put it).  And although packages are much appreciated, my buddy would search through all the 'stuff' in the package to find the letter, because it was the most appreciated and anticipated. 

I found anysoldier.com after watching Ferenheit 9/11.  I was inspired to "support the troops" and was directed to Michael Moore's website where he had anysoldier.com listed.  That was about 2 1/2 years ago...it's been a terrific experience.  I was nervous writing my first letters, but I just started pretending I knew the person I was writing. 

It's a big responsibilty, this supporting the troops stuff.  Knowing that someone will be so disappointed if I slack off on writing a letter for a week, even if I am on vacation.  And after watching the news, wondering if it was "my" soldier who was killed or wounded.  (I have become very familiar with the department of defense website, as well, due to the fact that they list casualties there.)

Good luck!  And have fun. 

Hi everyone.  My name is Barb, and I live near Seattle, and I've been a supporter of AnySoldier for almost 2 years now.  A friend of mine served in the Washington National Guard in 2004-2005, and a bunch of us who work with him sent many packages - knowing he would share with his fellow soldiers as well.  I also started reading blogs in 2004 and quickly gravitated towards the ones that supported the military, like Blackfive, Castle Argghhh and Mudville Gazette.  I don't remember now which one of them first pointed to AnySoldier as a way of connecting with the troops, but the rest is history. 

This new forum is awesome.  It really is a beautiful site - thanks again, Marty!!

 

Well, typical me, I just rolled right in and introduced myself on my own personal thread!

I love seeing all the different geographic locations.  Gran...I used to live in Fayetteville in the early 80s.  Pat Hodges Furth, I went to New College back when it was that weird hippie school.  and I know two Barbs in Seattle!  Must be something in the air out there.

I found my way to AnySoldier when I lost patience with a local Social-Services run holiday programs.  I normally adopt a family or pick some names off the Angel Tree for the holidays.  But there is often some kind of mix up,  It happened again this year, so I went looking for something else and found AnySoldier. By the time I found "You might be an AnySoldier junkie a few months later, I already met every criteria but one! 

And I'm going to give that beef jerky a try any day now, LOL....

Hi everyone....I'm Michelle from Santa Fe, NM. I was born in California, but grew up in Tennessee. My dad was in the Navy for 20 years and served during the Vietnam War where he met my mom. Guess you could call me a "retired" Navy brat .

I had originally signed up on a different site after watching an episode of Extreme Makeover: home Edition one weekend and requested a soldier. To my amazement, my soldier was requestiong "adoption" for not only himself, but his entire detachment so I lucked out and got a baker's dozen! I came across this site while browsing another. I am so glad that I found this site and I've passed it on to a few people that I work with who have also passed it on. After hearing the stories my dad tells about how things were when they returned after Vietnam, it made me realize that I have an obligation to let our brave soldiers know how much they are appreciated and they are supported.

Ok, here goes nothing...

I picked the screen name Mrs. Claus because I told my darlin' Hubby today that planning and sending packages to my soldiers made me feel like it was Christmas time all the time.  I love the search for something creative to add to the boxes; something unexpected that will make the soldier smile when they open the box. And packing the boxes is definately more challenging than wrapping Christmas gifts - after all, these boxes go half way around the worl before they get opened!  How can anything possibly be better than giving gifts and spreading positive messages all year around?  Especially when the recipients are so deserving of our support?

As so many of you have mentioned, I had trouble writing the first few letters, but now that I'm in the swing of it, I find myself daydreaming at work about the letter I will be writing that night.  I was lucky that the first contact I sent a box to, actually wrote back rather quickly so that little encouragement boosted my confidence.  Now I always have a note card tucked into my purse in case I have a few minutes to spare.

I only found AnySoldier last month but I'm already a junkie.  I can't let a day go by without checking all the lasted postings from the Soldiers, and now that I've found the forums, I'll never get any sleep! 

Oh, I should mention that I'm an Army Mom as well.  Luckily, my SPC hasn't been sent into harms way...yet.  But sending packages and letters now is good practice for when that day comes.  I just hope I can be as courageous as he will be when it happens. 

And one more thing - Thank You to everyone at AnySoldier for your service and for giving us an outlet for our secret desires to keep the Holidays alive and be Santa twelve months a year!

 

 

Hi Mrs. Claus!

I couldn't agree more. I sent off two packages to some soldiers from Ft Bragg today and I was so excited thinking that maybe just one person might smile when they get the letter I wrote (ok my first, but I tried and like all I will get better), the musical card, the pictures of me, my family and my goofy dogs, and the two packages of goodies and necessities, some of which they requested. I still have 3 more to mail to other groups this week! I am addicted too but only by sheer admiration and respect.

My kids have joined in. They were so excited about the Banner they made the troops (foam banner that read "USA ROCKS" that they made in glitter) and one package who mentioned he was a Dad of 2 ,he got the extra present: two suncatchers, each painted by my girls. They talk about the "soldiers" a lot, ask questions, they know their Uncle was there and might go back someday, but they love helping. Indeed, it is like Christmas.. there is nothing like the feeling of Giving, and for these men and women it is worth it... after all, it is nothing compare to what they give every day.

 ok, I really should work (I am typing this at work! )

 

 

Hi Everyone,

I'm from Southern California and I have been sending care packages since 2005 I have also involved my co-workers.

We all know what a great feeling it is to send a package and know it may brighten some ones day.

I would like to thank Marty and the support team for having such a great website. I have donated to anysoldier.com

in the past and plan to send them some much needed funds soon.    

Got freedom thank a vet.

Peace out. 

 

My name is Donna and I am from the big state of Texas.  I am a rookie to this site and have not sent my first package yet.  I hope to have it on its way in a few days.  I do not have any history so far with any organization, family or even part of any military unit.  I just support our country and our troops and was looking for a way to show support.  I think I found it.  Any direction any of you old timers can provide would be appreciated.

Hey Ya'll!

I'm a southern gal in SC.  I dated someone in the military for three years and aquired a new appreciation for our military women and men and their families.  When the relationship ended, the appreciation didn't! Since I wasn't sending packages to him, I decided to adopt some troops and continue the support. TADA - you find me here!

I know I'm a small ripple in the great big pond of military support.  I try to use whatever I can to help spread the word, including writing about anysoldier.com in one of my monthly columns for a local magazine.  My sister is a teacher and her classes adopted troops - of course we had to alert the local media! The more attention you bring to it - the more our soldiers will benefit. Thankfully, I'm a loud woman. (ha ha)

I love this forum idea and can't wait to meet all of you!! It's a great site and I know it's benefited so many - including myself in the new friendships I've aquired.  THANKS!

Hi All~

I'm Vicki from Minnesota and have been a supporter  along with Barry, since July 4th 2005 when I found this website.  I could never bear the way our troops were treated when they returned back from Viet Nam and wished to do my part to keep that from happening again.  I approached this idea with caution with Barry since he served during that era as an Army combat engineer.  It has been a healing experience for him to send packages in support of our troops.  I stopped counting at 200 packages and when the post office clerks knew us by name.

It has been even busier this year with over 3500 MN troops in Iraq. They are due back in July & August with the extension that placed their tour at 18 months plus 6 months training.  The Red Bull unit has served longer than any MN group in any war. 

 The internet, along with anysoldier.com, has connected people with troops in ways not previously possible.  Thank you Marty, Brian, and all those who make it happen.