With the deadline for the Osama Bin Laden hand-over approaching, we need to make sure our troops get a good sendoff when they are deployed. Keep an eye out for any troop\squadron\ship deployments and be sure to be there if you can when they leave. Nothing in the world increases the moral of a serviceman\servicewoman like the sight of cheering, supportive civilians as you deploy.
The sight of flag-waving crowds lining the edges of fences around the taxiways certainly helped the aviators (Pilots fly in the Air Force...

) in my squadron. While I personally will always remember the supportive folks clamoring on the pier as we manned the rails when our carrier disembarked.
Other ways to help are to send non-expirable goodies to deployed squadrons, carriers, divisions. Store bought chocolate chip cookies will last a LONG time on the shelf and in the package, approximately 30 seconds once the package is opened by a soldier or sailor with throngs standing behind him with that "you aren't going to eat ALL of them are you?" looks on their faces.
If you can't do that, try sending a letter to "any US soldier, sailor, or airman" and let them know how important they are to us.
I will try to find some general contacts to send simple stuff like this out soon.
Also, If there are any out there who have contacts or family currently serving in Navy SEALs or other special forces branch, contact me so we can get some stuff to the guys on the "real" front lines. (Often BEHIND the lines...)
I'm going to contact Dan and see if we can't get some sort of special "Mustangworks" thing going here...
Expect to see the folks currently stationed in the middle east now to see some of the early nastiness, so I'll also try to get a contact for any squadrons\divisions currently deployed out there.
I'll have more info later, but be sure to do all you can. These folks do what they do for US, it certainly ain't the pay....
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Adam "Hammer" Packett:
Moderator, Gulf War Veteran
GO GET 'EM BOYS!
[This message has been edited by Hammer (edited 09-17-2001).]