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Helping America’s
Soldiers |
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By Mike Pabis Previously, the Craig Hewitt Chapter was thrilled to help out the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division in Fallujah, Iraq by sending 17 boxes of models, supplies, and personal items for the soldiers to enjoy. All 17 boxes were shipped to the soldiers at the end of January to members of the 82nd Airborne Division’s Aviation Brigade Headquarters. Because of the overwhelming reaction to donating goods to the 82nd Airborne, my company’s (Bank One) site in Lexington, KY asked the Craig Hewitt Chapter asked if the club would like to once again participate in donating models to soldiers. This time the models would go to soldiers recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. For the past few months, Bank One’s Lexington site has been donating a variety of items to those soldiers who are recovering from wounds received overseas. Without hesitation, the club stepped up and was happy to take part in helping America’s soldiers any way we could. At the January monthly meeting, members began bringing in kits they were willing to donate to the soldiers. Before the end of the night, 11 models were contributed for donation. The club was also gracious enough to donate $50 towards supplies. This money was on top of the $200 donated toward supplies for the 82nd Airborne Division. Avalon Books and Hobbies was again kind enough to handle the ordering of the supplies for the soldiers. In February, club members contributed an additional 15 models to the effort. All totaled, 26 models of different types were donated. The type of kits donated were aircraft, armor, ships and cars. The soldiers will also receive the basic tools to complete the kits in the form of paints, x-acto knives, glue and sanding sticks. The combination of models and supplies filled three large boxes. Shortly, the donated items will be sent to Walter Reed Army Medical Center for the soldiers to enjoy. I have asked the soldiers to write back and let the club know how they are doing and if they would be willing to share any pictures of themselves. Hopefully, the club will receive some letters and pictures back from the soldiers. Those that I receive, I will do my best post them on the web. Through the two donation drives, the Craig Hewitt Chapter was able to donate:
If you would like to have a similar program within your chapter you can. A website www.operationmilitarypride.org has been set up where an individual can sign up to correspond with a soldier. If an individual or club would like to continue on the program that the Craig Hewitt chapter and other clubs have started, feel free to do so (please include some basic supplies whenever possible). A club could request to be put in contact with a soldier in a particular area or unit, within reason. Also remember that our troops are deployed all over the world, so you can request someone who is in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, etc. The site also contains a list of practical and food related items that soldiers have requested. I would encourage all IPMS members to continue what has begun. Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coastguardsmen would appreciate your kindness and generosity. Once again, I would like to thank the many members of the Craig Hewitt chapter for donating so many items for America’s wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Without their help, none of this would have come together. Also, I would like to thank the Bank One Lexington site, Pam Ozanick, and Mitzi Stojsavljevic for coordinating the shipment and distribution of the models to the soldiers. The combined efforts of both the Craig Hewitt Chapter and Bank One were able to make it possible for the soldiers to receive some enjoyment and entertainment while recuperating. Mike Pabis |
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February 2004 |