By: John Dow
Submitted: 2009-12-10 18:28:41 | Word Count: 527
There are a lot of ways you can support our Armed Forces overseas this Christmas Season. Taking a few minutes out of your holidays to thank our servicemen in some small way really makes a difference. Sending Christmas Cards, care packages, long distance prepaid phone cards, or donations to the USO and other support organizations can mean a lot when you re sitting 3,000 miles from home in a foreign country.
Due to the nature of the locations and for the safety of our troops, it s best to go through a legitimate and authorized organization. Many communities have local National Guard and Reserve Units that you can contact to offer your help and contributions. You can also volunteer time, donate money and items, or even just send a Christmas Card.
[ advertisement ]
I know some companies that have adopted military units and have ongoing programs to support the men and women in many ways. Offering help to families who s primary bread winner is serving his country can be another way you can help out. Helping out at your local VA Hospital or helping soldiers who have recently returned to civilian life is great too.
Small gestures can mean a lot to our troops. Just to know that someone appreciates their efforts and would like to thank them for their service can have a big impact. Letters, cards, and gifts from home can cheer up any soldier s day. This is especially true during the holidays.
A good way to find local military units is to go to the National Guard website at www.ng.mil and go to the Resources page and click on the national map. That will give you the local websites of the National Guard and any support groups information. Another easy way is to contact your local recruiting office for any of the services. They can direct you to local and national groups that support our troops.
If you belong to a club, civic group, or other organization a great way to celebrate the holidays is to participate in some way to show your support. Sending CDs or DVDs with Christmas music, a care package with Christmas cookies and treats, have everyone buy a Christmas card and get friends and neighbors to sign it. Donate a toy to charity in the name of your favorite soldier and send them a post card about it.
Whenever I travel I make it a point to stop and thank servicemen I see in airports. I ve seen so many people offer their thanks and support, a small gesture, but I can tell by the looks on the recipients that it helps. So this holiday season, whenever you travel, make an extra effort to stop and acknowledge any soldier and wish them well.
After all, the holidays should be all about spreading good will and making someone s day just a little better. And who better than one of our own soldiers, serving his duty for our country. Many of our troops will be in harms way and far from home this holiday season and anything we can do to show our appreciation is a very good thing.
