Archive through February 13, 2003
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Archive through February 13, 2003
Gail | Friday, January 24, 2003 - 04:39 pm     Something they were showing on the news here in Colorado Springs last night was an article about members deploying and having to give up their pets - they are either putting them into long term boarding or having to give them to the humane society. Possibly if you live in an area where people are deploying maybe offering to take care of their pet while they are gone would be a really good way to show support too? |
Grooch | Friday, January 24, 2003 - 05:02 pm     Great idea, Gail! And here is the link to find out more about it. Link |
Pamy | Friday, January 24, 2003 - 06:39 pm     I had started a thread with info on the Military pet rescue and it must have been archived. Thanks for posting the link Grooch!! |
Grooch | Monday, February 03, 2003 - 02:39 pm     I just found this link on my newspaper's website. Maybe TVCH can adopt a platoon. Adopt A Platoon |
Gail | Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:19 pm     Grooch - thanks for the link for the pet program. I will register later tonight. |
Ginger1218 | Monday, February 03, 2003 - 03:35 pm     Grooch, I like that idea, about adopting a platoon. I would be glad to participate. |
Seamonkey | Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 02:54 pm     here's a column from our paper today.. just a "little" thing but made me smile. And I even live in Fountain Valley Tuesday, February 4, 2003 Small light imbued with spirit By GORDON DILLOW The Orange County Register This is just a small story about a flashlight. The story starts last month in the tiny town of Manning, Ore., when Dave Brown gets the call he's been dreading: His son, Everett, an 18- year-old Marine at Camp Pendleton, is shipping out for the Persian Gulf. Dave, 50, an Army veteran, feels what a lot of fathers might feel: Pride, fear, and a nagging sense of helplessness. He wishes he could go with his son, to protect him and guide him, just like he always did. But he knows he can't. Still, Dave has to do something; he can't just sit there. Then he remembers Everett telling him he wished he had a really good flashlight, that the standard-issue flashlights are too big and bulky. Dave decides that's what he'll do: He'll get his son a flashlight. He'll get his boy the very best flashlight. Dave checks around and finds that among the finest flashlights in the world are those made by a Fountain Valley company called SureFire. Dave decides to buy Everett a $200 M3 Combatlight. So Dave puts in a call to SureFire and talks to an inside sales rep named Debbie Wilford. Debbie tells Dave they can ship the flashlight the following week. Uh oh. Dave explains that his son is shipping out from Pendleton in a few days, bound for the Middle East and God knows what. Next week will be too late; he's gotta get him this flashlight! And suddenly, listening to Dave's voice, Debbie senses that this is about more than just a flashlight. It's about a worried father trying to do something for his boy as he sails off to a looming war, some small thing to help keep him safe, and bring him home. Debbie, 49, of Tustin, thinks about her own son, who's in college but who could be standing in Everett's boots, and about her brother and cousin, young men like Everett when they served in Vietnam. She wants Everett to have this flashlight. Equally important, she wants Everett's father to be able to give it to him. So Debbie tells Dave not to worry. Everett will get the flashlight. She'll take it to him herself. And she does. On a Sunday morning, on her own time, Debbie makes the 45-mile drive down to Camp Pendleton, finds Pfc. Everett Brown among the thousands of milling Marines and gives him the flashlight. Everett has that flashlight with him, like a little piece of his dad, when he ships out aboard the USS Boxer. The whole thing leaves Dave a little choked up as he tells me about it by phone. "She (Debbie) kept saying it was a small thing," Dave says. "But it wasn't a small thing to me. For her, a stranger, to care about my son - I can't tell you how much that meant." As for Debbie, she seems puzzled that anyone would find what she did particularly noteworthy. "When I heard the worry in his (Dave's) voice, I decided it was the least I could do," she tells me. "I guess my heart just went out to him - and to all the parents who are going through this." So that's it. That's the small story about a flashlight. Except that it wasn't just about a flashlight after all. And for such a small story, somehow it casts a powerful light. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTACT US: (714) 796-7953 or gldillow@aol.com |
Teatime | Tuesday, February 04, 2003 - 06:09 pm     What a great story. I'm glad you put it here, Seamonkey. |
Not1worry | Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 11:19 am     Wow, I got choked up just reading that. Thanks. |
Faerygdds | Wednesday, February 05, 2003 - 02:51 pm     I got 4 lines in and decided to read this to my DH... not fair not fair not fair... I got half way thourhg and had to read it through tears welling in my eyes and a great big lump in my throat! Great story... hard to read... aloud that is... |
Seamonkey | Saturday, February 08, 2003 - 05:10 pm     Yep.. I got that big ol lump when I read it.. |
Reiki | Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 06:28 pm     Here is a web address to a San Diego TV station that sends emails to the ships deployed out of San Diego. My nephew was out to sea during 9/11 and said that they loved getting emails just as much as snail mail from people. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/51918/page.html |
Sawheel17 | Sunday, February 09, 2003 - 09:13 pm     I'm in. Like the platoon idea too. |
Heyltslori | Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 09:45 am     I sent a package to the USS Constellation yesterday...and I just wanted to let everyone know that when you send something like that you have to fill out a customs form, so allow yourself a few extra minutes at the post office.  |
Pamy | Tuesday, February 11, 2003 - 10:30 am     That is great Lori!!! The guys will be so excited!!! YOU ROCK!!!!!!!! Where did you find time to make a package with all the cheering you are doing for me in the Survivor slowasmolassas game??? |
Carolinakisses | Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 01:20 pm     Reiki, Thanks so much for the link for NBC. I posted a message and now have several e-pals. HeyItslori, Several of the guys are from the Constellation. Do you have a family member aboard? |
Heyltslori | Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 01:39 pm     No... Pamy has a friend who is aboard. She provided me with the address. |
Pamy | Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 03:23 pm     I also have a friend onboard the USS BOXER, he was the best man at our wedding, they just recently left. |
Heyltslori | Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 05:18 pm     Pamy...the email from NBCSanDiego isn't going through to the USS Boxer. It comes back undeliverable, so the address they have must not be correct. Maybe your friend knows the general email address there? I'd hate for that ship to be left out. |
Pamy | Wednesday, February 12, 2003 - 06:43 pm     Thanks Lori, my DH said their satelite might not be working right now, he said to try agian in a few days. If you hear there is still a problem, I will contact our friend's wife and see if she has any info on the email situation, again thanks, LORI ROCKS!!!!! |
Heyltslori | Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 04:55 am     Good point Pamy...thanks for checking into it. I actually wrote to them at NBCSanDiego and asked if they had any updates and this was their response: Dear Lori, At any given time, some ships may not be receiving mails. All of them have received thousands of messages however. Only one has asked to be dropped from the program so far. Sincerely, Bob Ponting Managing Editor NBCSandiego.com So that's good to know! I guess if anyone is trying to reach a particular ship they will just need to keep trying. I received several responses, all from the Constellation...so things are working well there.  |
Pamy | Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 07:10 am     That's good to know, Lori. I think when the ships are in transit(to the gulf) is when the satelite is down more often. The 'Connie' has been in about the same location for a couple months so I think that is why their satelite is working well. |
Phatcat | Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 08:54 am     http://gulfwarvets.com/index.html My best friend's husband served in the Gulf war and died shortly after returning home...leaving her with 3 small children to raise alone. She gave me this link. I thought some of you might be interested to see this site. We need to keep our service men and women covered in prayer. |
Goddessatlaw | Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 09:44 am     The computers are down in Afghanistan, too. Have been for the past couple of days. Wonder what's going on. |
Vixeninvegas | Thursday, February 13, 2003 - 11:02 am     I also did the message to our troops email - thanks for the idea - I was surprised to get like 10 responses so far (a couple even with pictures) requesting more info & thanking me for caring. It really touched my heart & its nice to have some new email buds. |
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