It's Never Easy

Throughout history Mothers have sent their boys (and now girls) off to war. Though the cause may be noble, it is never easy to send a child into harm's way. The soldiers are brave, yes, but those who love them and are left behind show courage too.

As a parent, you would do anything to make a Tour of Duty easier. A Mom can't control the enemy, but she can send love and support through packages from home. Recognizing the sacrifice and easing home-sickness through care packages may seem too simplistic. It is not. Just ask a returning soldier. It means the world. It means Home.

I remember my cousin Terry sent her boyfriend cookies. Her sweetie's tour was in Viet -Nam. He later shared the sweets had arrived pulverized. The cookies were more like flour than crumbs. He poured the mess into his field helmet, mixed it with water, and ate Terry's Toll House offering like soup. In the middle of a hostile jungle, Monroe savored every bite. It was sweet. It was familiar. It was from someone he cared about. It was something from not where he was, but where he wanted to be. The cookies meant home.

If you would like to make a soldier's holiday better, contact your local Blue Star Mother's group. They have a list of items that our men and women in uniform request and like to receive. Drop it off and they will mail it to local men and women who are serving our country.

If you want a face with a name, I have one. CPL Eli Lamb. Eli grew up and was educated in Muskogee. He was deployed to Afghanistan last week. His Mother, Jackie Lamb, sent this information to me. I thought I would share it with my readers and perhaps they would want to send 19 year old Eli a little love from home. It would be well-received so far away and would be well appreciated by his very nervous Mother. Funny how something so simple could mean so much. We all like to know we're appreciated. We all like to know we're loved. God Speed Eli. Be safe. Be safe, all who serve our country. We are all so proud of your sacrifice and service. May we always remember. May we never forget.

(What follows is word for word from Mom, Jackie.)

Eli LOVES Skittles, original flavor beef jerky, Snickers, Sudoku, anything about OU. Some other ideas would be newspaper articles about the Roughers and updates on classmates. Kazoos, card games would be fun gifts that he could share with his brothers there, giving all of them something to do. He also loves "redneck" stuff- Jeff Foxworthy is a hero! Believe it or not, he also loves the Beverly Hillbillies and Gilligan's Island, so if you could find old comics or books of them he would like that. Hand wipes and baby wipes are always welcome since showers are few and far between. A package would need to be sent about the 3rd week of Nov. or so in order to get there by Christmas and they aren't guaranteeing that they will then, but no later than that. They are saying 4-5 weeks delivery times, maybe a little longer.

(Eli's address follows:)

Cpl. Lamb, Eli W.
2d AA BN B Co. Det A/Unit 73576
FPO AE 09510-3576

chrissie