Part 2 of 2: The Task At Hand

Tuesday evening hours are consumed in the search for additional soldiers to bless on the website for AnySoldier.

Supplies donated by generous givers on Tuesday are portioned out. Sgt. Allison Chaidez and her Marines will be blessed with that second box...and even a third after doubling everything here to fill up another. Every penny has been accounted for. There is still $265.00 left over. The next three days are absorbed in the task of readying five boxes that receive hand-painted scenes for a happy New Year to young men and women thousands of miles away.

My first stop Wednesday morning brings me to Sports Authority for hand warmers. Two weeks ago I did not know what a hand warmer was, but an unexpected invitation to a basketball game prompted an acquaintance to share this wonderful invention with ME. Looking back a week later, I realize it was nothing short of Divine intervention because Cpl. Guajardo was chosen after reading that she and the other 43 soldiers in her company must stand an eight hour post in a rickety old watch tower with a steel floor that conducts a great deal of cold during their midnight shifts.

Their initial request: hand warmers.

Cpl. Karin Poole asks for the usual hygiene and snack items since their schedules often conflict with meals at the chow hall. She makes a special request for recreational darts because they have a dart board...and lots of broken darts.

I decide to bless Cpl. Poole and the 25 men and women in her company by sending them a small gift that will enable them to resume their dart throwing sessions.

And then there's 1st Sgt. West who has a company of 135 young men. He writes:

With Christmas and the New Year's looming, I’m sure that Weapons Company Marines and Sailors will be feeling a little sad and homesick. While everyone here is proud of our job, we would all rather be at home. However, mail, while slow, is very well received. Support organizations like “Any Marine” make all the difference when you are so far away from home and loved ones. We wish all of our family and friends back home the best.

I want to thank Any Marine on behalf of the Marines and Sailors of Weapons Company. The support network that you provide from the home-front brings forth a tremendous morale boost. Our “Warriors” look forward to your care packages and letters that arrive daily.

Pictures are posted of this Sargeant's soldiers. I imagine how quickly 135 guys go through toothpaste and shaving cream. A 4lb. bag of chocolate candy will last several weeks at our house. It won't last an hour with all of those men, but we have to start somewhere don't we? Loaves and fishes; it will be enough to show them that we appreciate their effort and sacrifice.