thedrifter
12-12-07, 11:14 AM
Peoria-area organization among 12 winners
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
By ADRIANA COLINDRES
GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
SPRINGFIELD - Patti Smith of Peoria sometimes says that while her two sons were the ones who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, she's the one who got drafted.
"They say that when your children are small, you take them by the hand and lead them where they should go," she said. "But sometimes, when they grow up, they take you by the hand and lead you where you should go."
As a result of her sons' military service, she co-founded Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines, which helps current and former members of all branches of the service - most notably through "Operation Santa."
Since 2005, Operation Santa has sent annual Christmas stockings filled with snacks, toiletries and other items to troops. More than 23,000 stockings went out this year - more than double last year's figure.
The program, along with 11 other individuals and organizations, picked up a Homefront Hero Award on Tuesday. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn announced the winners at a news conference in Springfield.
"This has been the most terrifying-slash-fulfilling chapter of my life," Smith said after picking up an award certificate from Quinn. "In the Marines, they say that change is forever. I feel forever changed as well."
The 2007 version of "Operation Santa" officially ended Nov. 10, with 22,500 homemade stockings. In reality, though, it kept on going.
"The donations, as well as the requests for stockings, continued to come in," Smith said.
Working out of Smith's basement, volunteers stuffed another 500 stockings. They finished just a week ago.
"That was a complete surprise to us," she said of the program's popularity. "But you can't turn them down because word spreads in Iraq: 'This is what these people are doing. Write and ask them, and they'll do it for you, too.'"
The group's Web site is www.cipfm.us.
Quinn said that Operation Santa and other efforts to help members of the military are a "living testament to the power of American patriotism and volunteerism."
"We want lots and lots of hometown heroes in Illinois," he said. "There's no quota on this."
Other recipients of Homefront Hero Awards include:
- Elks Lodges of Illinois, for its "Serving Our Soldiers" program that sends packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Service Employees International Union Local 73 members in the vehicle services department of the secretary of state's office, for collecting food and other items to send to seven soldiers who had not been getting letters or packages from home.
Adriana Colindres can be reached at (217) 782-6292 or adriana.colindres@sj-r.com.com.
Ellie
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
By ADRIANA COLINDRES
GATEHOUSE NEWS SERVICE
SPRINGFIELD - Patti Smith of Peoria sometimes says that while her two sons were the ones who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, she's the one who got drafted.
"They say that when your children are small, you take them by the hand and lead them where they should go," she said. "But sometimes, when they grow up, they take you by the hand and lead you where you should go."
As a result of her sons' military service, she co-founded Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines, which helps current and former members of all branches of the service - most notably through "Operation Santa."
Since 2005, Operation Santa has sent annual Christmas stockings filled with snacks, toiletries and other items to troops. More than 23,000 stockings went out this year - more than double last year's figure.
The program, along with 11 other individuals and organizations, picked up a Homefront Hero Award on Tuesday. Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn announced the winners at a news conference in Springfield.
"This has been the most terrifying-slash-fulfilling chapter of my life," Smith said after picking up an award certificate from Quinn. "In the Marines, they say that change is forever. I feel forever changed as well."
The 2007 version of "Operation Santa" officially ended Nov. 10, with 22,500 homemade stockings. In reality, though, it kept on going.
"The donations, as well as the requests for stockings, continued to come in," Smith said.
Working out of Smith's basement, volunteers stuffed another 500 stockings. They finished just a week ago.
"That was a complete surprise to us," she said of the program's popularity. "But you can't turn them down because word spreads in Iraq: 'This is what these people are doing. Write and ask them, and they'll do it for you, too.'"
The group's Web site is www.cipfm.us.
Quinn said that Operation Santa and other efforts to help members of the military are a "living testament to the power of American patriotism and volunteerism."
"We want lots and lots of hometown heroes in Illinois," he said. "There's no quota on this."
Other recipients of Homefront Hero Awards include:
- Elks Lodges of Illinois, for its "Serving Our Soldiers" program that sends packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Service Employees International Union Local 73 members in the vehicle services department of the secretary of state's office, for collecting food and other items to send to seven soldiers who had not been getting letters or packages from home.
Adriana Colindres can be reached at (217) 782-6292 or adriana.colindres@sj-r.com.com.
Ellie