Franklin Lakes Supports Our Troops

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On the afternoon of Saturday, December 1, 2007, Post 5702 was bustling with activity, as we hosted a number of Franklin Lakes' community groups under the auspices of the Republican Forum to pack and ship packages to our troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to Forum member, Ann DeKorte: "Working with the VFW to ship the holiday packages to the soldiers in Iraq, was a wonderful way to start the season. This project originated during the summer months when  Maureen McLaughlin and I were asked to head a project on behalf of  The Forum.  The project we both recommended and were committed to was the holiday soldier project.  Through the generosity of Members of The Forum, we were able to coordinate the items which were shipped to the soldiers.

The students at Academy of Most Blessed Sacrament wrote the cards to the soldiers and the girls scouts were some of our volunteers helping us stuff the stockings. Debbie Mele was not only our shopping partner but house photographer as well.  This was a project that was a joy to work on for each person involved." 

Since supporting our troops by sending packages to members of the military serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is one of Post 5702's ongoing projects, the Post was prepared to assist in this effort by providing a venue for assembling and packing the boxes, creating mailing labels, and filling out the necessary USPS forms. Some of the packages were sent to units such as the 5/7 th Cavalry and the 447 AEG/ESFS, a unit from the NJ Air National Guard, but several packages were also sent to members of our Post and local members of the military who are serving in those combat zones. The forty-six packages assembled on that afternoon were promptly shipped by Post 5702 Quartermaster, John Beahm. The Forum generously helped the Post with shipping costs. Including the recently shipped 46 packages, Post 5702 was involved in shipping 252 packages to members of the military during 2007.

Posted below are excerpts from letters we received from members of the military who were the recipients of the packages:

Letters from Iraq

"...Thank you for your kind gifts sent to the Airmen and soldiers here at Sather Airbase, Baghdad, Iraq. We wish all of you and your families a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year. Say thanks to all who helped with the packages."

"...Thank you so much for all you have sent here to the troopers in Iraq. Especially since Christmas is fast approaching. We received the stockings and other items and are enjoying them.

Thanks so much,  

"...Earlier today we received the holiday items that all of you sent to us. I wanted to write and ask you to thank everyone who took their time in order to make our tours here better. Spending the holidays here in Baghdad will be difficult for many of the troops in our unit, but, having people back home who care enough to take the time to send things to make our lives better makes things that much easier. Thank you all for your support."

"...I am with the 5/7 Cav,"Bandit Troop". On behalf of all of us Cav members, here in Iraq, we would like to thank all of you for the packages you sent. Because of people like you, we soldiers can really feel the appreciation of our fellow Americans. Every gift is received with a smile. Each time a letter or package arrives it's like Xmas all over again.

Please know that we serve as volunteers for our family, friends and people like you. Thanks for taking time out from your busy schedules to think of us, guys you don't know, serving thousands of miles away.

So, not just from us, but from our families also, thank you very much. Seasons greetings and may God bless you all."