thedrifter
06-28-09, 06:11 AM
Marines are far from forgotten
Volunteers assemble care packages for troops serving in Afghanistan
By STEPHANIE GOMES
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Jun 27, 2009 @ 10:19 PM
PEORIA —
This Marine mom knows just what her son needs while stationed in Afghanistan - stockings, a toothbrush, some ChapStick and ... ketchup packets.
"They do not have ketchup over there," said Jeniffer Brian, who is from Bellevue. "They miss their ketchup."
But more than just ketchup, the troops of the 8th Engineer Support Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps are receiving love and support from those back home.
About 40 volunteers gathered Saturday morning at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church to make care packages for these Marines. With the help of donations from the community, about 150 packages were assembled.
Brian was the driving force. Feeling helpless about her son Steven Fisher, 19, being deployed about three weeks ago, she took action for her Marine as well as the others in his unit, which is stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan.
"The day he deployed, I didn't know what else to do," said Brian, who created advertising flyers to promote the event. "This the only thing we can do."
Said Fisher's stepmother, Mandi England of Washington: "She's put a lot into it."
Both women tried to hold back tears as they described their cause.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the packages were put together, filled with reminders of home - boxes full of snacks, toiletries and books.
Although many of the volunteers are related to Fisher, others in the community offered their support, too.
The Diveley family of Chillicothe also has a relative in the Marines, who soon will be deployed to Japan.
"With any Marine cause, we try to help out," said Traci Diveley, whose brother is a Marine.
Rev. Terry Cassidy of St. Ann's was happy to donate a room at church for the cause. Cassidy served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
"Being a veteran myself, I know the importance of having support," he said. "There wasn't a lot of support then for the guys coming back."
Caterpillar Inc. donated $350. Fisher's grandmother Cyndy Jefford, a Caterpillar employee, played host to a "Proud to be an American" luncheon fundraiser.
"Numerous times we're driven to tears with the generosity and patriotism of others," she said.
Brian has named her cause "Avenging Angels" and said she plans to conduct similar drives every four months. She said she hopes to send the packages to the Marines within two weeks.
Stephanie Gomes can be reached at 686-3194 or sgomes@pjstar.com
Ellie
Volunteers assemble care packages for troops serving in Afghanistan
By STEPHANIE GOMES
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Posted Jun 27, 2009 @ 10:19 PM
PEORIA —
This Marine mom knows just what her son needs while stationed in Afghanistan - stockings, a toothbrush, some ChapStick and ... ketchup packets.
"They do not have ketchup over there," said Jeniffer Brian, who is from Bellevue. "They miss their ketchup."
But more than just ketchup, the troops of the 8th Engineer Support Battalion of the U.S. Marine Corps are receiving love and support from those back home.
About 40 volunteers gathered Saturday morning at St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church to make care packages for these Marines. With the help of donations from the community, about 150 packages were assembled.
Brian was the driving force. Feeling helpless about her son Steven Fisher, 19, being deployed about three weeks ago, she took action for her Marine as well as the others in his unit, which is stationed in Kabul, Afghanistan.
"The day he deployed, I didn't know what else to do," said Brian, who created advertising flyers to promote the event. "This the only thing we can do."
Said Fisher's stepmother, Mandi England of Washington: "She's put a lot into it."
Both women tried to hold back tears as they described their cause.
From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., the packages were put together, filled with reminders of home - boxes full of snacks, toiletries and books.
Although many of the volunteers are related to Fisher, others in the community offered their support, too.
The Diveley family of Chillicothe also has a relative in the Marines, who soon will be deployed to Japan.
"With any Marine cause, we try to help out," said Traci Diveley, whose brother is a Marine.
Rev. Terry Cassidy of St. Ann's was happy to donate a room at church for the cause. Cassidy served in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
"Being a veteran myself, I know the importance of having support," he said. "There wasn't a lot of support then for the guys coming back."
Caterpillar Inc. donated $350. Fisher's grandmother Cyndy Jefford, a Caterpillar employee, played host to a "Proud to be an American" luncheon fundraiser.
"Numerous times we're driven to tears with the generosity and patriotism of others," she said.
Brian has named her cause "Avenging Angels" and said she plans to conduct similar drives every four months. She said she hopes to send the packages to the Marines within two weeks.
Stephanie Gomes can be reached at 686-3194 or sgomes@pjstar.com
Ellie