SHOWING SUPPORT FOR TROOPS.Byline: Jim Feehan The Register-Guard SPRINGFIELD - Linda Christy carefully placed three toothbrushes, toothpaste toothpaste, n See dentifrice. , sunscreen sunscreen /sun·screen/ (-skren) a substance applied to the skin to protect it from the effects of the sun's rays. sun·screen n. , hand lotion lotion /lo·tion/ (lo´shun) a liquid suspension, solution, or emulsion for external application to the body. lo·tion n. 1. and other toiletries toi·let·ry n. pl. toi·let·ries An article, such as toothpaste or a hairbrush, used in personal grooming or dressing. toiletries npl → artículos mpl de aseo (= in a large zip-lock bag bound for Oregon National Guard troops stationed in Iraq. Christy and other members of the Coalition for Troop Support assembled the "comfort kits" for soldiers at a rally Saturday at Island Park in Springfield. The military can only do so much in providing for the troops' needs with soldiers having to pay for many necessities, Christy said. The comfort kits included toilet paper, moist towelettes, aspirin, feminine napkins, paperback books, snacks and other items. Why three toothbrushes? One is used to clean the soldier's rifle, one is used for tooth-brushing and the third is a spare, Christy said. "We want to give them a little piece of home because it's so horrible over there," she said. Kimberly Hudson of Eugene expected a larger crowd than the estimated 75 people who showed up for Saturday's rally. The event was sponsored by the Coalition for Troop Support, the United Soldier Support Organization, the Veteran's Motorcycle Association, the Veterans of Foreign Wars in cooperation with other local organizations. "The troops need more support from the public," she said. Hudson's husband, Jon, is among 705 Oregonians recently deployed to Iraq with the Oregon Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion 162nd Infantry, which has its headquarters in Cottage Grove Cottage Grove, village (1990 pop. 22,935), Washington co., SE Minn., near the St. Croix River; inc. 1965. There is farming (cattle, sheep, corn, and soybeans) and manufacturing (chemicals and machinery). . The group - which includes units from Cottage Grove, Eugene, Corvallis and Coos Bay Coos Bay (k  s), city (1990 pop. 15,076), Coos co., SW Oreg., a port of entry on Coos Bay; founded 1854 as Marshfield, inc. 1874, renamed 1944. and a detachment from Newport - is undergoing
military training in Texas and Louisiana before shipping out for a
one-year deployment to Iraq. The group is also the largest deployment of
Oregonians to Iraq since the war began.
The rally also raised money for an emergency relief fund for families of troops still away. Under the park's picnic shelter, Joel Scotti of Junction City Junction City, city (1990 pop. 20,604), seat of Geary co., NE Kans., at the confluence of the Republican and Smoky Hill rivers; inc. 1859. The rail, trade, and processing center of an agricultural and dairy area, it grew as the supply point for nearby Fort Riley, was gingerly gin·ger·ly adv. With great care or delicacy; cautiously. adj. Cautious; careful. [Possibly alteration of obsolete French gensor, delicate barbecuing burgers, hot dogs, chicken breasts and drumsticks. Scotti, a member of Emerald chapter of the Oregon Veteran's Support Association, pulled a two-year stint in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. The retired lawyer, who worked 10 years in the Public Defender public defender, governmental official who represents indigent persons accused of crime. U.S. Supreme Court decisions expanding the right to counsel to pretrial proceedings and holding that a person cannot be sentenced to even one day in jail unless a lawyer was Services of Lane County, said he hopes returning troops will face a warmer welcome than he received a generation ago. "We were met with disdain and disgust," Scotti said of returning from Vietnam. "We need to make certain veterans never feel that way again. You don't have to honor the war, but do honor the vet," he said. CAPTION(S): Alyssa Hudson, 9, plays in Island Park during a gathering to support the troops. Her father is stationed in Iraq. Organizers sought to gather `comfort kits' for soldiers and raise funds to help their families at home. W a r i n I r a q |
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