Old Greeting Room

Introducing Myself

Eva Stealey — Sat, 17 Nov 2007 17:33:05 GMT

Hi, my name is Eva and I live in Greensboro, NC. I recently discovered anysoldier.com and think that the site is wonderful. I found units in each branch in both Iraq and Afghanistan that don't recieve much mail and have set out to change that. I have spent weeks making over a hundred christmas cards and writing letters for each and every one of them. My writers cramp seems miniscule compared to what our troops go thru and it is the least I can do. I pray that my letters will find the soldiers who need some encouragement or just a friend., and I plan on answering anyone who reaches out. If a letter makes even just one soldier feel like they are not alone than my letter was a success.

I met a navy medical corpsman right before he was deployed to Iraq and don't know how to find him. Can anyone point me in the right direction? This is his thrid tour and he never gets anything from home, I would love to send him a care package, if only I knew where to send it. It would be great if anyone could help me but until then I will continue writing letters, making cards and care packages because I know how important it is to our troups, just as we know how important our troops are to us.

May God Bless them all and bring them home safely to us.

Eva

Introducing myself

vtleogal — Sat, 19 May 2007 04:21:50 GMT

Hello everyone

I live in Raleigh, NC and I absolutely love this site. I have adopted soldiers over the years via personal contacts since my brother served 1.5 yrs when the war first began. A veteran actually told me about this site and I love it- I just started about a month ago and I am on my fifth package to a 5th different contact. I feel it is my duty as an American to help any way I can. Like someone else wrote, I own a lot of anysoldier stuff - my van is proudly decorated with the sticker and magnet as well as another suppor the troops magnet!

This may sound weird, but I really do feel compelled to continue to help these men and women. In addition to my brother who served, I have several military friends, and my repsect is beyond explanation. I hope that if any soldier reads these posts, that they know how much we love and respect all of you!! I love sending packages in the hope that it might make just one person smile. If any soldier does read this, help us out and don't be afraid to state exactly what you want or need- I just packed a box full of the normal food/toiletries but also lights for reading and equipment to talk on the computer... per request.. so don't be afraid to ask.. we owe all of you!

I have rambled enough Thank you to the owners of this site too! I have used every link you have asked, registered my MVP card, etc:) I got Target in Raleigh to donate a $25 gift card towards my purchases tonight on behalf of anysoldier.com!

My kids love sending art work, so if anyone has any ideas of some good things that they can do, let me know. They want the soldiers to know how much they care (yes even 8 and 4 yr olds understand)

Thank you to all!!

--Lynn

Memorial Day?

Helen — Fri, 25 May 2007 09:46:29 GMT

Okay guys, help out the Limey please. What is Memorial Day and how does it differ from Veterans Day and our Remembrance Day?

On my 2007 calendar, US Veterans Day is on 11th November. In the UK we have a minutes silence on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, the time when the guns of the First World War stopped, and we have services on the nearest Sunday to remember the fallen of that war and "all the dead of all the wars." This sounds sort of similar to Memorial Day to me? Do you have two remembrance days? Do you have poppies?

Forgive my ignorance.

Helen

Hello from Florida

Maxine Kolbe — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 23:46:19 GMT

We are great grandparents from Brooksville, Fl., origionally from N.J. When our grandson came home

safely from Iraq we wanted to send packages to others deployed. "Any Soldier.Com" site was found

and we have been sending care packages since Oct. 2005. As we could not afford to send as many

as we would like we asked our Mobile Home Community to help us. They have been wonderful

in their support. They donate hand made skull caps, cooL neck scarfs and helmet caps, money

and many bought items. Also helping us is a lady that read in the newspaper what we are doing

and sent us a donation from a nearby town. Six months later her son was killed after only five weeks

in Iraq. Her family started a fund for "Lea's Prayers and Postage" in memory of their son Lea.

We have become best friends and now I pack the packages and she pays most of the mailing for us

and many other people. We love our military and hope to keep sending as long as our boys and girls are deployed.

HELLO FROM GEORGIA

Debinga — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:37:18 GMT

I am not new to ANYSOLDIER but I am new to the forum....I am truely blessed to have found this site and to have made some wonderful lifelong friends with my sponsored soldiers....we mainly keep in touch through emails, but it is very nice to open an email and see that they are doing well. We even do a little instant messaging now and again. It is truely and awesome bunch we have for soldiers...Thanks ANYSOLDIER for having this site....Debbie

Hello From Tennessee

Kool Treets For Our Troops — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:33:21 GMT

Hi, I'm Susan and I'm looking forward to getting to know you guys! I love it that we all have the same goal......Loving & Supporting Our Troops!

Hello Fellow Junkies--Any Bucky Badgers out there??

libral40 — Tue, 15 May 2007 19:15:52 GMT

Hi! My name is Cheryl and I live in Elk Mound, WI. I'm 47, have a husband, 2 daughters, 3 step-daughters, 11 grandkids, 5 Siberian Huskies, and 8 cats! I have been sending packages through Anysoldier for 3 years, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I didn't know anyone in the military when I started this, but now I have a large extended family who invite me to their weddings, send birth announcements, and have even met with me! I have a special concern for the troops in Afghanistan as it sometimes seems to be the "forgotten war." Marty and his family have done an awesome service here, and I promote it every chance I get--my friends and family are probably sick of me!

One of "my soldiers" that I got to know 3 years ago when he was in Afghanistan is deploying to Iraq. I have corresponded with his mom and grandma for 2 years as well, and they invited me to Iowa to visit them before he left. I had a wonderful time meeting them all, though it sure is hard to say goodbye to a young man heading to Iraq. At the end of June, another one of my soldiers from MN who is just returning from Afghanistan will visit us on his way back to his regular job at the Pentagon. These are just a couple of many examples of how this website has connected strangers and made them "family" I'm looking forward to sharing stories and ideas with all of you!

"The only thing harder than being a soldier is loving one." Cheryl

Greetings From Michigan

Zoey — Mon, 21 May 2007 22:20:33 GMT

Thank You, Thank You,Thank You to anysoldier. This site is FANTASTIC!!!! I have been using anysoldier for almost a year. It's amazing all the work that Marty and his crew do. I can't thank-you enough.

I am a huge anysoldier junkie as you all are calling yourselves. I have been supporting our guys and gals since July of 2003 and find it very rewarding. All of them are truly dedicated and deserve the highest respect and support that any one can possibly offer. I myself find it very hard not wanting to request everyones name to try and help them all in one way or another. Which leads me to a question I have for anyone who can help. Do you keep 1 soldier or do you send to multiple contacts.

I have 13 contacts right now and find myself feeling it's not enough. What more can I do. Right now I'm sending 2-4 boxes per week. Not all to the same person, just making sure they all get at least 1 box a month.

Thanks Again Marty and crew

GOD Bless America and keep out troops safe

Hello from Pennsylvania!

PA Dutch — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:17:34 GMT

Hello all! I am new to the whole forum thing, so please forgive me if I don't do everything correctly I only came across anysoldier in March and boy am I addicted! I think it's a great site and I feel like this is what I am supposed to do. I started off this year deciding that I wanted to do some kind of charity work, so I started with Project Linus. They give out quilts to children in crisis. Then I came across a site to make quilts for wounded soldiers. Then somehow (can't remember how) but I came across this site. I LOVE it. Of course, I feel that I was lead to this site for a certain reason. I can't tell you how much joy this site has given me. I wish I could win the lottery so I could take care of everybody on here! I'm sure everybody feels the same way! I have learned so much information and I am ashamed that I didn't realized how bad conditions were. That's why I feel like I have to make up for that ignorance on my part. Now, I feel it is my duty to inform everybody about this site and how much good a simple letter or package can do! Luckily, I have a few people helping me out with items and postage so that's a great help. Anyway, that's my story.

Sheelagh

Hello from Florida

Phenix — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 17:42:36 GMT

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to introduce myself quick. My name is Val and I live in Ocala, Florida with my two teenage daughters. I had mentioned to a friend that I had been researching a way to send gifts and letters to particular soldiers who may not recieve as much, if any support from home. Her husband sent me your website and I have barely left it alone since! I have several questions, but I will endeavor to post them in the appropriate places at a later time. (I'm supposed to be working right now!)

I just want to say a quick Thank You to AnySoldier.com for providing us a way to help those who are doing so much for us.

Thanks again,

Val (Phenix)

Guess I'm #3 from Oregon

Mrs. A — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 03:42:42 GMT

Glad to see others from Oregon, Willamette Valley between Eugene/Salem

I've been using Any Soldier almost from the time they started and sure appreciate the work they do. My husband and I send on our own during the year and work thru Marine Corps Family Foundation for the holidays. July 1 is our fundraising kick off for the year. I keep hoping I will win the lottery or something so I can help support this site and the troops even more. Can't think of a better way to spend my money.

Even though I have been doing this for quite a while I've picked up some great ideas on the forum already, so thanks everyone for sharing. Like Major Pain says - One Team One Fight!!

Hello from Minnesota!

Jenifer_one_N — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 18:29:03 GMT

Hello everyone, My name is Jenifer, and I am currently from a small town in rural Minnesota (formerly from Minneapolis). I found AnySoldier.com in November of 06.

I have an older brother who served in Operation Desert Storm, and he said the letters and packages from home were so important to everyone, and that mail call was the best time of the day, IF it was a day he got mail. So we tried to send letters, cards, and packages so that he received mail on as many days as possible.

I don’t have any relatives or close friends currently serving, but I still wanted a way to show my support, so I searched on the internet and found AnySoldier.com. It has been one of the best things I've ever done. I've met some great people, and I've gotten many of my family and friends involved. I almost feel guilty when I get a thank you, because I feel like this has done way more for me than it has for "my Soldiers"!

I'm thrilled to have a FORUM where I can ask some questions and give/get tips from other supporters. Thanks, AnySoldier!!!

Hi from Southern California!

MustangLover — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:29:13 GMT

Hello everyone! I was recently introduced to AnySoldier.com by a friend stationed in Iraq. When I asked him if he needed anything, he directed me to this site and now I am HOOKED! I really enjoy reading what the soldiers have written. Some posts break my heart, others give me hope that they are doing ok over there.

My brother-in-law is a Lt. Col in the Marines, so we are a military family. I am married with 2 kids and we are heavily involved in 4H with the kids raising sheep and poultry.

My hubby and I have a new Mustang which we show and cruise all over! It has been fun writing to the soldiers telling them about our car and including photos. I did find one group who were professed Mustang freaks, so we have "adopted" them.

I look forward to chatting with you and comparing notes! Semper Fi!

Hi from Washington

Vetwife — Sun, 03 Jun 2007 15:49:47 GMT

My name is JJ and I have been with anymarine.com for almost a year. My family and I live just outside of Portland, Oregon and my husband is a USMC combat vet from Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I work at an alternative school in the inner city helping teen parents finish their education and get into college or vocational training. My husband now works with special needs kids in an elementary school. We have a son age 4 and a daughter age 3. We recently returned to my husband's old USMC base (where we met) in Hawaii and had a chance to visit with young Marines. I am trying so hard to keep this brief, so let me just say that, based on our experience with those young men, the love and support that we are sending in our packages runs deep and long in the hearts of those in harm's way.

Hello from Texas

lromath — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 15:23:10 GMT

Good Morning:

says Linda from Texas. I am a retired math teacher currently working as an adjunct professor in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I supervise student teachers and teach one class on exceptional children.

I became an anysolider junkie after my nephew returned from Iraq and we had struggled the get "stuff" to him and his unit. Anysolider was very new then and my family celebrated its creation! My granddaughters and I mail every month. We are sad that the flat rate box rate increased but still think it is a good deal. Unfortunately, Katie's soldier got only band-aids and shaving cream this month Our favorite things to send are water flavor packets, nail polish and pedicure items and coloring books and crayons.

Nice to meet you all.

Linda

Hello from Oregon

deb — Thu, 31 May 2007 00:45:36 GMT

Hi!! My name is Debbie and I live in the great state of Oregon. I have been supporting the troops since the summer of 2004 and I am so glad that I found anysoldier.com. I initially "adopted" a soldier through another site, but I didn't like the restrictions they imposed and it was very difficult to be tied to one soldier who I didn't ever hear from. Don't get me wrong, I don't do this for the thanks or recognition, but it was extremely difficult to know what to send when I didn't know his needs or wants. I like anysoldier.com because I can spread the wealth a little more

God Bless our troops and may they come home safe and sound.

A day in the life of an AnySoldier Junkie...

Anonymous — Sat, 26 May 2007 18:00:03 GMT

Ok,ok, so it's just a morning in the life.

Got up and checked the forum, responded to a few posts. Wrote a letter to a couple of soldiers.

Went out around 11:30 to run errands. Uh-oh! That front tire looks pretty low. Darn it! Oh, well. Better take it in before the place closes. Got a lot to do this weekend.

Fill out the paperwork at the service desk to get my tire repaired. Wallk into the waiting room. Oh man! Look at all those magazines! They are overflowing the little coffee table. Time to clean some out. I think I will help. LOL

I sort through every single magazine. There are People, Time, and Sports Illustrated; nice mix. There are March, April, and May issues. I pull every March issue and head back up to the service desk.

I tell them I noticed that their magazine supply has exceeded their space and ask what they normally do with them. They usually pitch them. I tell them about AnySoldier; they tell me take all I want. Ha. I stick with the March issues. No sense in pushing my luck. I want to be welcome to take the April issues when I come in for servicing next month.

I leave them an AnySoldier card and tell them they can go on the website every month and find a soldier looking for magazines. They thank me.

My car is ready. I hop in and scoot on over to the post office, where I mail my AnySoldier packages. I swing by the secondhand store nearby, check out the bin with kids toys, pull half a dozen Beanie Baby sized toys.

Next stop...the Dollar Tree! I should buy stock. But this morning, I am going to pick up just one thing I need to finish up a package for a soldier. A half an hour later, I load three shopping bags into the back of my car and head home.

Time to check the forums again...

Are there any TEXAS people Out here??

ProudSoldier — Thu, 31 May 2007 03:15:42 GMT

ProudSoldier here just wanting to know if we have any Texas people, it seems like North Carolina is taking the lead in people on this board, and I think GA, gee I feel all alone are there any Texas people out there, Please post if you are, I am not from Texas, I mean born wise, I am from Puerto Rico, but I am currently station in TEXAS, at the Worldest Largest Army Post. How sweet it is.. Proud Soldier who loves to wear his Uniform.

Home-school parents?

Sara B. — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:33:28 GMT

I'd like to hear from any fellow home-school parents, and have any tips on how you've incorporated this program into your children's learning experience. My daughter is 6 and my son is 3. Does anyone know how well received field-trips are military bases? I am so new to the military stuff - someone will have to let me know if this is a ridiculous idea!

Blessings!

Sara B.

Hello from Cleveland, Ohio

Diana — Wed, 23 May 2007 18:49:39 GMT

Hello everyone,

My name is Diana and I am from cleveland, Ohio. I am an Anysoldier.com Support Junkie. I am single with no kids and I work as a home health aide in home care. I spend alot of my spare time writing to soldiers i have been supporting for the past two yrs who are on their second tour or who are at home.I have been fortunate to be able to meet a few that i supported and it was really great. I love Anysoldier and what they do for the soldiers and for people like myself who have this uncontrollable urge to help. It is very satisfying for me to be able to help as well as helpful to the soldiers on the receiving end.

Greetings from Ozark, MO

Sara B. — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 18:09:32 GMT

Hello, my name is Sara, I'm married and the mother of 2 little ones. I just found this website about a month ago. The Lord has really put a fire in me for these selfless men and women. It does not take long to become a "junkie", does it? I welcome any advice on the best way to send large amounts of stuffed animals to Serbia. So far, I have only used the flat-rate boxes to ship in. I thought there may be a better way to ship something so bulky yet so light. Although the folks at my local post office are very easy to work with, I thought I would seek advice from the real experts! Thanks to everyone who loves these contacts. Blessings!

South Carolina junkies?

Cindy Cloutier — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 18:35:28 GMT

My name is Cindy and I'm a fortysomething copy editor at the (Charleston) Post and Courier. I know I'm not the only supporter from South Carolina and would love to make contact with others in the area. Like so many others, I've discovered I have a real addiction to Anysoldier.com and from experience have learned how to modify my impulses to try to stay within a budget, most of the time anyway.

The owner of the Curves workout facility in Goose Creek where I'm a member, set up a table in the gym, providing a place for members to bring in donated items and now all I have to do is pack up the boxes, identify a service member and write a letter. Whenever she gets financial donations, she gives it to me for postage. So now I can feed my addiction without spending so much money. Often while packing up the boxes after a workout, somebody will come up to me to ask what kind of things they can bring in. Some of it's more practical than others (you wouldn't believe the numbr of Southern Living magazines there are), but through the magic of the site's search engine, I can almost always find someone who requests something that's been donated.

I'd love to hear from others who might like to pool resources for a project of some kind, or even just to share funny or poignant stories from our experiences as support junkies.

Why I do what I do

Lilly — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 03:02:58 GMT

Hi, my name is Lilly and as if I didn't already spend enough time on this website, Marty had to go and add FORUMS!!!

Short version: Why I do what I do - I feel I owe it to the servicemen and women in harm's way. I couldn't do what they do but I sure as heck appreciate that they VOLUNTEER to do what they do. I sleep better at night knowing the U.S. military is on the job 24/7 around the world.

Long version: Anyway, true confessions, up until June of 2006, I pretty much ignored the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. I never watched the TV news, I never read anything in newspapers or magazines about them. First, I thought they'd be over soon. Then I just thought if I ignored them long enough, they would go away. Well, they haven't gone away. They have gotten worse. I am not proud of my ostrich behavior. Sticking one's head in the sand and ignoring reality is not a good thing, in the long run.

Last year in June, a woman I would see weekly at a meeting was not there for two weeks. I asked her about her absence and she said her daughter had been home on leave from Iraq. Suddenly, the war was personal - I knew someone with a child serving in the army in Iraq. I love to bake, so I offered to send her daughter some homemade cookies and brownies. I mentioned something at work and a group of us sponsored a collection drive. We got enough stuff donated that we mailed 4 boxes a week from July 1 to September 30. Not only did my friend's daughter benefit, her whole platoon benefited. And her being a regular recipient of 4 care packages a week made her VERY popular! It was a really good feeling to help out her and her fellow soldiers.

I sought another soldier to support through another website when my friend's daughter was heading home. All I got was their name and mailing address. Some of the soldiers I was assigned were leaving within a month of getting my first letter. They were kind enough to e-mail me to tell me not to send packages because they wouldn't be there to get them. I was assigned one soldier who I have kept in touch with since last September. His unit was one of the first to be extended. Next month, he will go home after almost 16 months in Iraq. He is a convoy escort and has survived 2 IED explosions. I pray he can make it safely through one more month so he can get home safely to his family.

I wish I could remember who told me about anysoldier.com. I didn't find out about it til January of this year. I was hooked from day one. I loved that you could read the soldier's own words and find out from them directly what they needed. I also liked that you could see how many men and women they were representing, where they were from, and when they would be redeploing home. I requested my first soldier contact on January 15. I still send that contact a care package of goodies and a new movie each month.

I am blessed with a good-paying job. I maile 4 to 8 packages a week, sending everything from chewing gum to books to tampons to power tools. Although I don't do this to hear back from the soldiers, it is always a great honor and a real joy to hear from them. I e-mail a couple of my care package recipients regularly. I have few regulars I send care packages to at least monthly and I have some that are one-time recipients, usually because they drop off the site for whatever reason. If I have to be addicted to something, I'm proud that it's anysoldier.com. As long as I have an income, I will continue to support our soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen.

So now I read everything I can get my hands on about Iraq and Afghanistan. I watched CNN's special reports over Memorial Day weekend because I felt I owed it to my soldiers to learn more about what happens there. I try to read all the soldiers' entries daily but when I can't do that, I at least look for updates from my contacts. When one of my contacts drops off the site, I pray that it's because they went home (safely!), got all of what they needed, or are just too busy to keep up the updates.

I wrote a lot - I talk too much, too, just be glad this wasn't in person or I'd still be bending your ear!!!

I'm glad to be part of such a special group of people and Marty, you are the best and this site is the best. I'm committed for the duration or until my job gets outsourced to China or India...

Lilly

Greetings from Southern California

JrManda — Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:16:57 GMT

I'm from East Los Angeles, CA work in Downtown.

I learned of AnySoldier.com through a gossip blog - Pink is the New Blog, a few months ago. I instantly became hooked on reading the soldiers post. It took me a while to pick a soldier because I have limited funds, and even though I do realize a letter is worth a lot to them, to me sending something was more important. Also because I never know what to say in a letter.

I currently have 7 soldiers (I had to stop myself after the 8 - one unit has come home) I try to send a package to each every paycheck. I subscribed to magazines to be able to send to them. Even when I send the packages, I don't know what to write in the cards I send, so I let Hallmark do the writing for me.

C'mon, Okies!

Janet — Thu, 31 May 2007 04:24:12 GMT

Hello, folks! I'm Janet and have lived all my life in Oklahoma. My sister-in-law told me about the website back in October of 2004 and I have been totally addicted - with the support of my patient husband! - ever since. The last time I counted (a while back) I had written to over 200 contacts. My original intention was to choose ONE to support on a regular basis. Ha! That didn't last too long. I usually have four or five regulars I send packages to and several more I send letters and/or smaller packages to each month. I always wanted to support our military, but didn't know how until Marty showed me the way. I got involved in order to help the troops, but I feel I have gained way more than I've given. I have enjoyed developing friendships with several of my "regulars" and currently have about nine who have returned home but still stay in touch. I've supported one guy through two tours, and I've just begun round two for another, with one more in the wings getting ready to head back in June. I know there are combat multipliers. I believe we support junkies are support multipliers. Spreading the word and getting others involved is almost as much fun as packing up a box of goodies to ship. As a substitute teacher in a middle school, I have been able to help a good number of my students to connect with penpals. I do all I can to teach them about true patriotism and being grateful to the people who sacrifice in order for the rest of us to enjoy the freedoms of this wonderful country. I probably should have chosen as my user name the one I always use to sign my letters to the troops - Okie Buddy.

“Freedom is still expensive.
It still costs money.
It still costs blood.
It still calls for courage and endurance, not only in soldiers,
but in every man and woman who is free and who is determined to remain free.”

- Harry S. Truman

C'mon, fellow Okies! I know you're out there! I've seen others from my state acknowledged in posts on the website, so I know I'm not the only one. I'm getting jealous of all the people discovering "neighbor" junkies. Don't be shy. This is a friendly place!