Rep's Corner

Support Our Troops

Recently, I was talking with my son, who is a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force training in Oklahoma to fly jets. I was and continue to be amazed at how well trained, how committed, and how dedicated to our country these young people are. I thank God every day that he is not in the current conflict in Iraq but also realize that there will be future missions in defense of democracy. I continually tell him how proud I am of his efforts and the efforts of all our young people in our armed forces, but it didn’t seem like I was doing enough.

This past week, in a show of support and patriotism, members of the House and Senate joined Governor Bob Taft in a rally for our men and women of the military who have been called to active duty in operation Iraqi Freedom. At the rally, appropriately titled Ribbons for Freedom, many citizens from around Ohio joined us in supporting our troops by donating items needed for care packages to send overseas.

There are several ways that we can show our support right here in our own community. First, and foremost, we can all pray for the safe return of American men and women currently fighting for freedom on foreign soil. We can give blood through the American Red Cross’s military program. And, we can join various organizations and support several programs that send needed items to our soldiers.

The American Red Cross has developed the “Quality of Life” program, which allows groups to gather items such as candy, books, playing cards and other supplies to be distributed to our servicemen and women. They also have a contract with the U.S. Department of Defense to supply blood through its military program. The military is currently especially in need of type O blood, but all donations are welcomed. You can obtain more information by calling the Red Cross at 1-800-(GI)VE-LIFE.

Perhaps you would rather brighten the life of a soldier through correspondence. Through the AdoptaPlatoon program, an effort managed by mothers with children in the military, supporters can become pen pals with members of our military. Operation Dear Abby, a similar venture, has teamed up with the Defense Department and the U.S. Department of the Navy to allow people to send personal greetings through secure e-mail to our troops overseas. More information about these programs can be found online at www.adoptaplatoon.org, www.operationdearabby.net, or http://anyservicemember.navy.mil/.

One more option available to members of the general public is the ability to send a care package. Operation USO Care Package, sponsored by the USO of Metropolitan Washington, enables individuals to donate care packages. However, for safety and security reasons, only certain items may currently be sent to our troops. To learn more about what to send and how to send it, call 1-866-USO-GIVE, or log on to their website at www.usometrodc.org/care.html.

No matter how you choose to support our men and women in uniform, I encourage you to get involved and stay involved. These troops need to know just how much we appreciate their efforts and the sacrifices they’re making so that people across the world might enjoy the same freedoms we enjoy each and every day.

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© Copyright 2008 State Representative Lynn Olman. All rights reserved.