Support the troops

[frogcycle]

While getting them the hell out of there is the #1 thing to do in supporting them, in addition we can

- lobby for increased, not decreased, VA benefits (including but not limited to medical/rehab)
- support local centers for homeless vets
- lobby for job opportunites for vets in our workplaces
- watch for casualties from local area, and find ways to support the families

- Support those in-country by contributing to any efforts to assist (I am aware of a couple of recent campaigns to raise funds for a weapon-mounted light, for better body armor by friends and family of individuals. If you hear of one of these, pitch in.

- Support those in-country who do not have anyone back home. This link describes a program to "adopt a soldier" or unit and provide a bit of human contact from "folks back home".

http://www.anysoldier.com/index.cfm

This is a great program. I am sure it is obvious to all of us here how stressful it must be to be in the midst of this c-f. Now imagine a kid who does not have a wife/husband/SO back home sending letters, who does not have two parents - or even one - writing letters. The feeling of loneliness and isolation is unimaginable. Any little bit of moral support can make a BIG difference.
And not just the youngsters. As I update my website honoring the fatalities, I can "read between the lines". Some have many local paper articles quoting family and friends, many photos, etc. Then there are those that just seem to go unnoticed. I dig and dig, googling and yahooing. Sometimes I eventually find plenty - it was just a common name that was hard to isolate with websearch. But sometimes there is just nothing. And some of those are career soldiers - fairly senior noncoms, in their 30s or 40s. It is pretty clear the military has become their life. They may be grizzled old tough guys, but they are human, and they are ours, and reaching out to them can not only be good on a personal human-to-human level; it can have an effect not only on their morale but on all those they lead.

We didn't send them there, the American insurgents now in control of our executive branch did. But as American citizens we have an obligation to do whatever is within our power as individuals to inject a modicum of positive mojo into the debacle.

[w8liftinglady]

1. You're right.Thanks for posting this

k&R

[Union Thug]

2. I don't know. Sounds like a bunch of do-gooder, pinko, commies to me

<sarcasm off>

Thanks for the post!

[Arkansas Granny]

3. The AnySoldier website is an excellent recommendation. My

co-worker and I have sent several boxes of snacks, toiletries, letters, etc. and they are very much appreciated. What is appreciated most, from the sounds of the letters and emails we've received, is knowing that someone cares that they are over there (regardless of how you feel about why they are there). If you want to do something that makes someone feel good, as well as feeling good about yourself, you should check it out and give it a try.