thedrifter
02-05-09, 07:44 AM
'Unsung heroes' connect: Nurses send soldiers gifts
By Devon Lash
STAFF WRITER
Stamford Advocate
Posted:02/04/2009 11:01:16 PM EST
STAMFORD -- Nurses at Stamford Hospital struggle to describe the camaraderie they feel with soldiers.
Some said they share a feeling of being underappreciated.
"Soldiers are unsung heroes, just like nurses," a woman called out during a monthly meeting for the hospital's pool nurses.
"It's important to have a reminder that people care," said Kathleen Stuart, a direct admission nurse.
"We can relate, especially during the holidays, when we don't always get to be with our families," said Marie Fils, a staffing coordinator.
About 20 nurses Wednesday packed that spirit -- and a load of vacuum-sealed snacks -- into eight cardboard boxes to ship to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. They stood around a long table laughing and talking as they signed short messages on Hallmark cards included with the boxes of granola bars, dried soups, Chapsticks, packets of hot chocolate and socks.
"I am grateful for your service," one message read.
"Peace out, Friend, come home soon!" said another.
The idea grew after Sarah Sanders, director of clinical resources and a nursing supervisor at the hospital, shipped four soldiers and Marines boxes of snacks, hygiene products and letters as a Christmas present from her crew of nurses.
"It was so positively received by the staff," Sanders said. "I think we are going to make it into a tradition."
The soldiers were listening.
"You know what it's like to work until you're blurry-eyed," Troy Battaglia, a Marine from Westchester Country, N.Y., e-mailed in gratitude after receiving a package from the nurses
for Christmas.
Sanders found the names and addresses of the soldiers on anysoldier.com, a Web site that lists volunteer contacts that pass out mail to soldiers, airmen, Marines, sailors and Coast Guards that don't receive much mail.
Since the Web site began in 2003, it has arranged for package delivery to nearly 1.3 million members of the armed forces.
The nurses pitched in to buy the snacks and hygiene supplies, which the Post Office ships for a flat fee of $10.95 to any soldier.
The gesture is particularly poignant for Stuart.
For two years, her nephew, a Marine, has been engaged in Special Operations abroad. She could not say where or describe his duties because she is not allowed to know.
"That's what he wanted to do," Stuart said. "He wanted to serve our country."
The most important thing for him is a "welcome home" when he returns, she said.
The packages the nurses stuffed Wednesday won't reach her nephew, she said, but they'll make some other soldier smile.
-- Staff Writer Devon Lash can be reached at devon.lash@scni.com or 964-2242.
Ellie
By Devon Lash
STAFF WRITER
Stamford Advocate
Posted:02/04/2009 11:01:16 PM EST
STAMFORD -- Nurses at Stamford Hospital struggle to describe the camaraderie they feel with soldiers.
Some said they share a feeling of being underappreciated.
"Soldiers are unsung heroes, just like nurses," a woman called out during a monthly meeting for the hospital's pool nurses.
"It's important to have a reminder that people care," said Kathleen Stuart, a direct admission nurse.
"We can relate, especially during the holidays, when we don't always get to be with our families," said Marie Fils, a staffing coordinator.
About 20 nurses Wednesday packed that spirit -- and a load of vacuum-sealed snacks -- into eight cardboard boxes to ship to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. They stood around a long table laughing and talking as they signed short messages on Hallmark cards included with the boxes of granola bars, dried soups, Chapsticks, packets of hot chocolate and socks.
"I am grateful for your service," one message read.
"Peace out, Friend, come home soon!" said another.
The idea grew after Sarah Sanders, director of clinical resources and a nursing supervisor at the hospital, shipped four soldiers and Marines boxes of snacks, hygiene products and letters as a Christmas present from her crew of nurses.
"It was so positively received by the staff," Sanders said. "I think we are going to make it into a tradition."
The soldiers were listening.
"You know what it's like to work until you're blurry-eyed," Troy Battaglia, a Marine from Westchester Country, N.Y., e-mailed in gratitude after receiving a package from the nurses
for Christmas.
Sanders found the names and addresses of the soldiers on anysoldier.com, a Web site that lists volunteer contacts that pass out mail to soldiers, airmen, Marines, sailors and Coast Guards that don't receive much mail.
Since the Web site began in 2003, it has arranged for package delivery to nearly 1.3 million members of the armed forces.
The nurses pitched in to buy the snacks and hygiene supplies, which the Post Office ships for a flat fee of $10.95 to any soldier.
The gesture is particularly poignant for Stuart.
For two years, her nephew, a Marine, has been engaged in Special Operations abroad. She could not say where or describe his duties because she is not allowed to know.
"That's what he wanted to do," Stuart said. "He wanted to serve our country."
The most important thing for him is a "welcome home" when he returns, she said.
The packages the nurses stuffed Wednesday won't reach her nephew, she said, but they'll make some other soldier smile.
-- Staff Writer Devon Lash can be reached at devon.lash@scni.com or 964-2242.
Ellie