Sarge96B:

That would be really cool.  Expect a Private Message around springtime. Ilove handmade stuff from the heart when all I can think about is home.  For us, it is really not the contents of the package (well, a very little bit), but the knowledge that we are doing something that someone out there appreciates.  With every single thing that I ever received overseas, it may as well have been written on saying "I am thinking about you...".   That is what matters most to people like me.

Hey there Sarge96B sign me up on your list too!!!!  I would love to send you packages when the time comes!  

The more you post here the more we will get to know you and it will be like writing to family when the time comes!!  Plus we can all learn what your favorite things are!  

Kris : )

Hello, My name is Rosemary.  I am a 58-year-old medical transcriptionist from Erie, PA.  I work full time from home on a computer for one of the local hospitals.  I found out about anysoldier a few years ago in an ebay chat room of all places.  A soldier had stopped in to chat because he was in the middle of nowhere and was bored that evening.  We asked him how we could send him something and he told us about anysoldier.  Life got in the way for a while, but I finally got a chance to check out the site and at first just read soldier posts.  I started to follow the posts of a soldier named Tobias Meister who was in Afghanistan.   I was getting a box ready to mail to him.  I signed on one night to see if he had updated his posts and discovered he had been killed by an IED.  I cried like a baby that night and made a promise to him that I would continue to support anysoldier and do whatever I could to encourage people to support our young men and women who put themselves in harm's way for us.  Today is the second anniversary of his death.  I encourage you all to do a search under old contacts and view the memorial video that can be found there.  If you watch it all the way to the end, you will be able to hear Toby and see the young family he left behind.    There is also a guestbook there and two years later, people are still posting to it. ,,the most recent being Shannon Walker, another anysoldier contact who was with him the day he died.  I had tried to send the box to her instead and she disappeared from the site.  Until I saw her post in the guestbook, I did not know what had happened to her.  I was so very glad she was still alive.    If any of you have friends like I do who wonder why you are always buying something for the soldiers....show them this young man....they will understand.

I look forward to being a part of the forum and sharing ideas and learning from all you wonderful people who share my passion.   

Rosemary

Hi, Rosemary.

Yep.  Soldiers are every where...even on e-Bay. It's good to have you with us.  I used to live in the eastern part of PA--around Allentown/Bethlehem. I miss the fall there with all the color.

I am truly touched by your testimony of Any Soldier.  That is an awesome story.  And, it shows what a wonderful heart you have.  You suffered the loss of a contact on a much more personal level than most of the rest of us have.  But, rest assured, we cry too.  I cry over every name that gets added to that "Lost Contacts" list, and I have never sent a box or letter to any of them.  I think those who love soldiers cry a lot--inside or outside.  You cry if you hear from them, or not.  You cry if they come home, or not.  I guess it goes with the territory.  We are, more or less, family here.  We do our best to help each other through those moments.  And, you are a welcome member of the household. 

Hi, Rosemary! 

A warm welcome & big hello from a neighbor to the south -- I'm from Pittsburgh!  Very nice to meet you.  Thank you so much for sharing your story.  I, too, have been brought to tears by the stories and am so, so thankful to have found this site. 

--Marilyn

Hi,

I've been here for a while, but never got around to this part.  (Although I thought I had).  My name is Sharon, I'm 53 and a single Mom even though my daughter is on her own now.  I work in an office of a small manufacturing company.

I'm second generation Amerian.  My Grandfather was born in Ireland, came here with his family when he was 2 years old.  He fought in WWI, my father & his 2 brothers fought in WWII, my cousins fought in Nam, and I've second cousins fighting now.

I support our troops and am grateful that there are still people willing to do whatever it takes to keep us free.  I'm grateful to them beyond words.

Sharon

Welcome Sharon! I think you'll find lots of handy tips here on the forum. tee hee!

Really, it's nice to get to know a little about you! I didn't know you were an army brat. My dad was reserves but there's no real military history in my family so it facinates me when families are rich in that tradition! Must make you very proud!

shelly

Sarge96B:

That would be really cool.  Expect a Private Message around springtime. Ilove handmade stuff from the heart when all I can think about is home.  For us, it is really not the contents of the package (well, a very little bit), but the knowledge that we are doing something that someone out there appreciates.  With every single thing that I ever received overseas, it may as well have been written on saying "I am thinking about you...".   That is what matters most to people like me.

Dear Soldier,

 I am a big supporter of ya'll.  Just wanna say thanks for serving. Your in my prayers everyday. Thanks for saccrafising your life for us and protecting our freedom. I would love to keep in touch with you and your unit more by letter. I send the song "I'm already there" by Lonestar to you and your soldiers. Also "come home soon" by SheDaisy. I have a shirt that says "Support our troops" and i wear it proudly. Please stay safe and thanks again for your service.  send me a message sometime.  ~Jessica~

Thanks for the welcome Shelly.  I don't think I'm an Army brat.  My Dad didn't make the service a career.  I don't think (if he were alive) that he'd like me being referred to as an Army brat anway since he was Navy Special Forces (LOL).  I must admit though, that I may as well have been brought up in a military situation.  The man was fierce.  He tolerated NO questions about his rules or what he said, and we had to pay attention when he talked.  He did NOT like to repeat himself and didn't hesitate to let us know it.  He wasn't perfect, but he was great in my eyes!!

Hugs,

Sharon

Hello, I'm from NJ and stumbled across this site when I wanted to send a card or care package overseas.  Even better was getting a soldier with a K9 unit as I love dogs.  Now I could help people and dogs.  Soon after getting my first address, they multiplied and I now have three addresses.  It will be so exciting when I get a confirmation that one of my packages was received. 

I am a Learning Disabilites Teacher Consultant.  My real love is for my greyhound, Princess.  I give donations and attend greyhound events often.  In addition, I give to cancer research as I am also a survivor.  Besides reading and doing crafts once in a while during free tim, it's Texas Holdem' all the way!

 My father served in the Airforce for four years.  My Grandfather is a WWII Navy veteran who served on a ship called the Sarpedon.  He also helped put the finishing touches on the USS NJ. Today he told me that he built most of the USS Missouri at a Navy shipyard in Brooklyn.  He lived through typhoons in Okinawa and had stories about Shanghai and had many amazing stories, some sad, some heartfelt. 

 Well, I may have to set a budget aside for this as I've been spending like crazy for the K9's and Soldiers.  This site has helped quite a bit with all the suggestions and mailing tips. Thanks.

Welcome all you newbies!   It's good to hear from some of our military also. 

Have a wonderful new year, and keep supporting and posting on anysoldier.com. 

I've gotten many good ideas from you all - old junkies, and newbies.  

God bless! 

Hello, my name is Angelia (the ‘i’ is silent).  I am a mother of 4 girls 28, 24, 20 & 4, yes 4 yrs old!  We recently adopted our little princess when my sister-in-law walked into Child Protective Services and gave her up!  Yes, she is on drugs – oh well that’s a whole story in itself.

We are originally from Southern California and moved to Frisco, Texas November 2006.  What a shock, we moved here during one of the coldest and wettest winters and spring ever.  We also made it for the 109 degree summer, which was the temperature while I was shopping for a house for us.  We actually like it here and never thought we would leave California (Santa Barbara).

My husband and I are Navy League Supporters and I have been lucky enough to fly on/off on CODs of the USS Lassen and USS Reagan. We had the privilege of hosting the soldiers for 4 days in Santa Barbara in 2005 and I was one of a small group that helped plan and support their visit. What a privilege it was to meet and get to know all the sailors on the ship.

Since then I have trying to find a way to write and get involved with the military.  I don’t know why I never thought about asking some of contacts/friends I made on the USS RR but didn’t and now I’m here!  It’s been terrific.

My first time on I was a little leery but when I actually received the address of my contact I headed out to Target and tried to buy everything on the list, I did.  Amazing it didn’t fit in the two boxes I bought so the next day I went back to purchase more boxes and more stuff for two more contacts.  I learned a lot reading the different stories and needs of the soldiers. 

My other hobbies are family, taking the little one to her activities, scrapbooking family albums, going to church, reading, skiing and traveling.

I haven’t met a lot people here in Texas, so I try to find new and different things to do.  I look forward to supporting the soldiers on this site.

Angelia

Welcome Angelia -

    We have some similarities.  I have 3 daughters - 30, 28, and 20,  and my son in law was on the USS Ronald Reagan at the time you hosted the Santa Barbara visit.  So I can personally say to you,  Thank you very much!      He is still with the carrier however he's away from it for awhile. 

    I'm glad you are there for your niece.  How sad for her at 4 years old to have her mom leave her.   I hope you meet some people in Texas in your area.