FROM HOME, WITH CARE GROUP SENDS 100K PARCELS TO MILITARY.Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer VAN NUYS - Sherman Oaks resident Judy Ihrig doesn't have any family members serving in the military, but she remembers all too well how the returning veterans of the Vietnam war Vietnam War, conflict in Southeast Asia, primarily fought in South Vietnam between government forces aided by the United States and guerrilla forces aided by North Vietnam. were treated: badly. ``I never want to see that happen again to anyone, any soldier serving in any group,'' said the 58-year-old Ihrig. ``This has nothing to do with your politics; it's about supporting the young men and women who are out there, defending us and protecting our rights.'' Ihrig was among hundreds of volunteers Saturday who filled the California National Guard The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. Armory here, assembling and filling care packages destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. for military personnel serving all over the world. Shortly after 12:15 p.m., a cheer rose from the assembly line: The 100,000th package had been filled. But even as Operation Gratitude Operation Gratitude is a non-profit, all-volunteer corporation that assembles and ships care packages to United States service members deployed overseas. Its mission is to lift morale and express appreciation of the work done by the American armed services. founder Carolyn Blashek announced the milestone, a voice shouted from the back, ``Let's go Let's Go may refer to: Television
``I'm very happy,'' Blashek said. ``But until I have an Operation Gratitude package in the hands of every single service member who's deployed, I'm not going to be satisfied.'' The nonprofit, all-volunteer Operation Gratitude, founded in 2003, sends care packages and letters to U.S. troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Guantanamo Bay Noun 1. Guantanamo Bay - an inlet of the Caribbean Sea; a United States naval station was established on the bay in 1903 bay, embayment - an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf and Kosovo, as well as those on military ships all over the world. At Saturday's drive, those volunteers filled boxes with items ranging from T-shirts, socks and packages of snacks to letters from schoolchildren schoolchildren school npl → écoliers mpl; (at secondary school) → collégiens mpl; lycéens mpl schoolchildren school , disposable cameras, Beanie Babies, batteries, deodorant deodorant /de·odor·ant/ (de-o´der-int) 1. masking offensive odors. 2. an agent that so acts. de·o·dor·ant n. and CDs. Some of the items, like the Beanie Babies, are for troops to share with children in the war-torn countries in which they are deployed, said Marty Martin, 49, of West Los Angeles
Other items, like a tube of Chap Stick, merely provide a little taste of America with a familiar brand. Most of all, though, the items are a tangible sign that people care, Martin said. Jason Martin, who will soon be heading back to Iraq, agreed: ``Even when it's from someone you don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. , if they're supporting what you're doing, it's a boost.'' The lucky recipient of the 100,000th care package - Blashek won't say who it is, or where he or she is serving - will get an extra-special surprise. The package features two tickets to a 2006 NASCAR NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing), organization that sanctions American stock-car races, est. 1948. It held its first race in Daytona Beach, Fla. Nextel Cup Series race donated by sponsor Checkers/Rally, the official burger of NASCAR. The lucky serviceman or woman who gets the package also will get free Checkers/Rally food for one year, plus a two-night stay at the San Francisco Hilton, two nights at the Harrah's and Harveys at Lake Tahoe, and a digital camera. Ken Lecheminant Jr., general manager for Star Chrysler Jeep of Glendale, brought a load of items donated to the dealership, part of a nationwide effort by Jeep. ``I'm proud to be an American when I see stuff like this,'' said Lecheminant, who spent five years in Vietnam as an Army helicopter gunner. ``I know how important it is to get something from home, to know that people care.'' Lisa M. Sodders, (818) 713-3663 lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com HOW TO HELP Operation Gratitude continues its efforts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today at the National Guard Armory, 17330 Victory Blvd., Van Nuys. For more information, or to volunteer, visit www.operationgratitude.com or call the hotline at (818) 789-0563. CAPTION(S): 4 photos, box Photo: (1) Operation Gratitude founder Carolyn Blashek, holding package, joins California National Guard Staff Sgt. Elizabeth Cowie, the group's military liaison, and other volunteers to celebrate the 100,000th care package off the assembly line. (2 -- 4) Volunteers, left, fill care packages to send to members of the U.S. military overseas, packages that contain, above, games to alleviate boredom during downtime. The group has shipped out, below, 38,000 packages since mid-November and plans to have shipped out 100,000 by this weekend. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News Box: HOW TO HELP (see text) |
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