A Red, White and Blue Christmas for our Troops.

The Brookings-Harbor Redshirts are so proud to be able to send packages to our troops. The thing that we have learned over the years from our troops thru letters and pictures is that our troops are  not only brave but they have great hearts. They love being in the military, they love their country, they love what they are doing. They work with people that don't want them there,, and they comfort the local children and people. It truly takes a special person to do what they do. There sacrifices are many so  let's keep them in our prayers' and honor them every day of our lives as they are the ones protecting us from harm.

November is when we do our regular Christmas for our troops. We will be sending 100 to 150 packages again this year. It is winter there so we will sending comfort food, warm hats and gloves, socks and pocket warmers. Our organization also likes to send the goodies of Christmas, decorations, candies, cookies, and fudge. We will also send fun gifts and practical gifts. They like to receive Christmas cards so they can send them to their families and friends. This is something we send all year round by sending all occasion cards. 

We put a lot of thought and work into our shipments and we love doing it.  Our group will make over 100 handmade ornament again this year for our troops. We have been doing this for the last 6 years. Every year they are something different. We wrap all of our gifts before sending them for our regular and our Christmas in July.

We are very grateful to all of our supporters and honor all of you for your dedication to our troops. Thank you for keeping our dreams going to continue to send packages, "Until They All Come Home".   

Here are a couple of recent letters from our troops!

Dear Brookings-Harbor Redshirts

My name is Hector Alvardo and I recieved a care package from you the other daywas a little late cuz I just got back from R&R. But, I really appreciate it. Its always great to recieve mail fro, back home. Helps with moral and lets us know that people care about us back in the states. But I passed out the goodies with fellow guys they enjoyed them very much and the hygiene stuff you sent was a hit also. But, I also enjoyed the picture you sent love the senerity "sorry terrible speller". I have it put up on my wall. It was nice writing you I wil stay in contact.  

Thank you again,

from Hector Alvarado

To each and every Member of the Redshirt Society,

It is very nice difficult to write what is in my heart when your eyes are filled with tears and there is a lump in your throat when you realize that a group of almost perfect strangers have done something quite awesome for me bringing unbeiveable happiness and joy by taking of their time to put together a box filled things sent from home andsent with love by men, women and children that I don't know. Jessica and Tina and the entire family of Jessica want to say thank you from the very bottom of our hearts for sending her and many others your love and support May god bless you and keep you in the hollow of his hand today and forever.

The Brookings-Harbor Red Shirts and all the troops who benefited from your generosity wish to thank you for contributing to A Red, White and Blue Christmas for our Troops.

We have received a number of thank you letters from some of the recipients letting us know just how much it means to each soldier just to know that someone back home cares about them and is thinking of them. We were able to spend close to three thousand dollars purchasing and shipping our 208 Christmas packages and we thank you, the donors on GlobalGiving, for giving us the extra help to make Christmas even more special for our troops.

If you wish to see a slideshow of the Red Shirts mailing the care packages you helped us send, just to to the Brookings-Harbor Red Shirts website and enter the site. On the first page at the top is a link to watch the Christmas slideshow at the post office.

It is already mid February, so we are going to retire this project. However, we have another ongoing project that helps us send care packages throughout the year, and we will have special projects from time to time as we hear back from the troops and discover their current or special needs. I will leave you with a letter we received from one of the soldiers in Afghanistan who's team of soldiers received some of your care packages. (Letter follows)  

Thank you very much for the care packages. I received several boxes before the holidays. My mom gave my address to your organization.  I am on a tour here in Afghanistan at a very remote forward operating base (FOB). Our supplies here are very limited and we all rely heavily on care packages for items needed on a daily basis. I distributed the boxes to various service members here. I am an ER nurse here with a forward surgical team, kind of similar to the TV show MASH. Today we had our 365th surgical case and I should be leaving here on Thursday. I'm currently stationed in Alaska and will be home soon.
Thanks again for all of the care packages. I found a letter from a WW2 vet. And I will write below what he says about soldiers in war and care packages. Joe Bingham

" a soldier in the war-zone, can't see the support sticker on your car, or even the flag on your front door. He can't hear your vocal support or the prayers you've said before.
But a letter or package, that they can hold in their two hands, would mean so much more to them, just knowing that you understand."

Thank you for all your support,

With Gratitude,

Frank Muller,

Brookings-Harbor Red Shirts