Remembering Veterans Day

From the Department of Veteran Affairs (link),

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

Veterans Day is a time for us to remember those who served and sacrificed.   The RomVets, female veterans who write romance books, continue to serve ...

Geri Krotow, Navy Veteran, is hosting me on her blog today at this link.  Learn how you can support her in sending romance books to deployed service personnel.

Diana Cosby, Navy Veteran, kicks off the 5th Annual Food Bank Food Drive Challenge at this link.  Diana is giving away her MacGruder Brothers series to one randomly selected reader who leaves a comment on her Facebook about giving to a food bank.

Jessica Scott, Army active duty, is hosting a fundraiser for Project Sanctuary at this link.   From its website, "Project Sanctuary takes our military families from battle-ready to family-ready by providing six-day, outdoor, therapeutic retreats in a healing environment and ongoing family support services for two years following each retreat."

Wreaths Across America is accepting donations to place a wreath at military gravesites as part of its mission (link), "Our mission, Remember, Honor, Teach, is carried out in part by coordinating wreath laying ceremonies a specified Saturday in December at Arlington, as well as veterans’ cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond."

Readers can support deployed personnel through Operation Holiday Card at this link.

PBS is hosting a special program, NAVY SEALS - THEIR UNTOLD STORY, 9 pm - 11 pm, Eastern Standard Time.  For more information, check out this link.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Boy Scouts lay lei at Punchbowl
National Cemetery of the Pacific

Supporting Deployed Personnel - Holiday Cards, Charity Swags, and Lollipops!

Several readers are bemoaning that stores are already offering Christmas merchandise, even before Halloween and Thanksgiving.  While I agree with the sentiment, the Christmas merchandise reminds me of the deadlines to support deployed personnel.   

I offer a few tips to bring holiday cheer to them ...

1.  I have addresses for several deployed personnel.  If you are interested in supporting them (and others in their unit), contact me by email, sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

2.  Holiday cards are an easy project for Scouts, classrooms, youth groups, etc.   You can use boxed cards or construction paper to write generic cards that will be distributed to members of the unit.   I've already scheduled my son's scout group to write cards on Tuesday, November 11, Veterans Day.

3.  Charity Swag:  The holiday season bring unsolcited mail from charities seeking donations, including calendars, pens, and other swag.   If you have items you can't use, consider sending them to deployed personnel.  

4.  Lollipops:  Lollipops go a long way with the local children.   How about sending a bag along with the holidays cards and charity swag?  

5.  Other items to send for local children:  new or gently used stuffed animals, small toys, blankets, diapers, school supplies, children's books, and linens, especially pillow cases.  The staff use pillow cases to distribute donations.  

You can send these items by USPS via domestic rates.  The USPS discounts the large flat rate box for APO address.   For larger quantities, you can send via parcel post.  It will take up six weeks, but the need will extend even after the holidays.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Operation Holiday Card ..... A Letter from a Deployed Airman

From a deployed soldier ....

In my 22 years in the Air Force, I've never been witness to such outstanding support and caring. There have been so many packages filled with such great items that I've been able to share with my entire unit. And the hand-written cards and letters are obviously filled with such thought and caring.

On average we've received about 4 packages and countless cards and letters every week for the last month alone from various organizations across the United States. We greatly appreciate the time and effort and thought put into those care packages. All of the items that we cannot immediately use at our base, we are sending to other bases in more remote locations throughout Afghanistan. Last week we collected and sent forward almost 40 boxes as part of our "Operation Pay it Forward".

Thank you for your kindness and generosity and thank you for remembering us and helping to make our time away from those we love a little easier. It is Americans like you that keep our country the best in the world. It's always a great feeling when you know someone back home is thinking of you, supports
what you are doing, and appreciates the sacrifice.

Warmest wishes for the holidays!

Weekly Winners and Operation Holiday Card

We are all winners with Operation Holiday Card - link.

We have winners at SOS Aloha:

Anne Barton's ONCE SHE WAS TEMPTED
- Erin wins a print copy.

Eileen Dreyer's ONCE A RAKE

- Molly wins a print copy.

Elizabeth McKenna's VENICE IN THE MOONLIGHT

- Maureen wins a print copy.

Roxanne St. Clare's BAREFOOT BY THE SEA

- Melody wins the "sea themed" holiday ornament.

Winners - please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Operation Holiday Card - 6 easy steps to cheer deployed personnel

dma.wi.gov

Operation Holiday Card is now underway!   Kelley is a long time volunteer with SOS America Inc.  She manages the list of deployed personnel requesting mail.  She has two names, from separate units, seeking mail for 200+ personnel in their unit.    

How can you help?

1.  Gather a group around the table - family, friends, scouts, sports teams, youth groups, etc.

2.  Sign boxed holiday cards .... or make your own from construction paper.  Add pictures!

3.  Insert a small treat, such as tea bags, hot chocolate, Slim Jims, etc., into card.   Place card into envelope but leave blank (each POC will write in soldiers' names).

4.  Place envelopes in larger container ... I recommend the Priority Mail large flat rate boxes - they are discounted for APO addresses.

5.  Contact me at sos.aloha@yahoo.com for the mailing address of the unit seeking cards.

6.  Mail box by November Wednesday, November 27, to ensure delivery by Christmas.   

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City