Boy Scout War Support

[Zahnada]

I don't mean to start a topic concerning the contraversy surrounding the impending war with Iraq. I'll leave that to the Issues and Politics forum. I'm wondering what if any actions your troops take to support the troops in the war? Regardless of our personal feelings about the legitimacy of war, it should be considered a given that we, as Americans, support our young men who have been called upon to fight. Is it the place of BSA to take an active role in that support?

 

Also, I'd like to connect this to the fundraising topic. Can a Boy Scout troop do fundraising for an organization like the Red Cross in uniform? Just curious on where the lines are drawn.

[Bob White]

To answer your last question first the only way a troop, scout, or scouter could raise money in uniform for say the Red Cross would be if the National council of the BSA approved it. That's not to say you couldn't encourage your scouts to do the same thing as cicitizens and not as representatives of the BSA.

 

The other alternative is do something other than fundraising. for instance during World War II Scouting was greatly involved in the Victory Gardens program and in promoting the purchase of War Bonds. They also did volunteer work for families whose mothers and fathers were involved in the war effort. I think giving aide to families and to children whose parents are overseas would be a greatly appreciated service.

 

Bob W.

[matuawarrior]

One way to support our troops in the field is to have our young boys and girls get together and send "Care Packages."

 

During my tour of duty in Desert Shield and Storm" receiving these packages not only brought up my moral but also those of my squad and platoon.

 

There were so much stuff in the packages:

disposable razor blades

socks

sun tan lotion

sun glasses

writing material

reading books

pictures of who sent the package

foot powder

 

It was great to receive these, I put the suggestion to my Troop and Crew last night. the SPL and Crew President believes its a great idea.

 

You can get names of service members who have deployed in your area from the local paper or recruiting office.

 

I'm not sure if the military accepts "Dear Any Soldier or Sailor" letters or packages anymore due to the high security measures. I could be wrong. We found out that sending packages to someone from the island that's deployed anywhere usually receives the items.

 

It's a suggestion,

 

Matua

[Twocubdad]

Assembling care packages for sailors and soldiers was an annual holiday service project for our pack until the military suspended it after 9/11 due to security concerns.

 

It's a little more work, but we've been able to continue the project the last two Christmases by making contact with units ourselves. A year ago, we worked with the mother of a local guy who had been deployed to Afghanistan. We collected all the stuff and she helped arrange shipping. We just shipped everything to this one guy who got to distribute it to his unit.

 

This year I made contact with a reserve Col. who put us in touch with an active-duty chaplain. The chaplain then got us the FPO addresses of several units. Unfortunately, both the chaplain and the reserve Col. have been deployed, so I no longer have those contacts.

 

Right now, it may be tough making those connections, but I think either of those two route will get you there.

[KoreaScouter]

I said this in another, previous string, same subject...

 

Find local families of mobilized/deployed Guard & Reserve members from your communities. Offer to mow their grass, take out their trash, walk their dogs, change their oil, whatever chores they need done that their husband/father/son would do if he were home. These families can be somewhat invisible, since they're not in the active-duty family support net, and will really appreciate what you can do for them.

 

Speaking only for myself, I think that would make a bigger difference than trying to get a box of cookies mailed overseas, especially as difficult as that's become.

 

My opinion...

 

KS

 

 

[red feather]

Our troop PLC voted on and passed a proposition to support selected families of deployed Guard and Reserve units in our area. They will develop the contacts and proceed from there.

 

By the way the vote was unamimous and enthusiastic.

 

yis

[matuawarrior]

KS:

 

That sounds like a real good service project. I'll bring it up to my troop/crew at the next meeting. But, its not only Father, husbands and sons. It's also Mothers, wives, and daughters that are now members of the guard and reserves.

 

Matua

[Eamonn]

Thanks For Some Very Good Ideas.

[KoreaScouter]

Absolutely right! I didn't mean to imply by my use of male pronouns that only fellas are involved...

 

KS

[purcelce]

Here are a few tidbits when it comes to care packages and letters to the troops.

I'm active duty military and where I work we deal with these questions.

 

1. Things are different that the way it was during Desert Strom. You cannot send "Any Service Member" letters. All packages and letters must be sent to an individual address.

Also Recruiting stations DO NOT have the names and addresses of those deployed. Best thing to do is get in contact with your local Army/Air National Guard unit or Army/AF/NAVY/USMC unit in your area. They might be able to help out. But call first.

 

2. The American Red Cross is accepting "care package" items. Get the stuff to them. But Call first.

 

3. The USO is another place you can get the stuff to. Call them first

 

4. See if your friends, neighbors, co-workers, and scouts have family members deployed. You might get an address that way.

 

5. See if you can help out the Families of deployed members left behind. A lot of these folks have become instant single parents. They may need errands run, lawns cut, etc.

 

 

6. http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourceFileView?file=Holiday_Help.htm

Go to the above website. It has a lot of good suggestions on how you can help.

 

YIS and God Bless the Troops!!!!!!!!!!

 

Cary

 

[purcelce]

Here's some more info on what you can do to help out the troops.

 

 

 

What can you do to show support for servicemembers, especially those serving overseas? Below are Websites for several organizations that are sponsoring programs for members of the Armed Forces overseas. Servicemembers do value and appreciate any expressions of support you can send them.

 

Donate a calling card to help keep servicemembers in touch with their families at Operation Uplink at

 

Send a greeting via e-mail through Operation Dear Abby at or

 

Sign a virtual thank you card at the Defend America Web site at

 

Make a donation to one of the military relief societies:

 

Army Emergency Relief at

 

Navy/Marine Relief Society at

 

Air Force Aid Society at

 

Coast Guard Mutual Assistance at

 

Donate to"Operation USO Care Package" at

 

Support the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services at

 

Volunteer at a VA Hospital to honor veterans who bore the lamp of freedom in past conflicts. Find the VA health facility nearest you .

 

Support families whose loved ones are being treated at military and VA hospitals through a donation to the Fisher House at .

 

Reach out to military families in your community, especially those with a loved one overseas.

 

Please do not flood the military mail system with letters, cards, and gifts. Due to security concerns and transportation constraints, the Department of Defense cannot accept items to be mailed to "Any Servicemember." Some people have tried to avoid this prohibition by sending large numbers of packages to an individual servicemember's address, which however well intentioned, clogs the mail and causes unneccessary delays.

 

The support and generosity of the American people has touched the lives of many servicemembers, over 300,000 of whom are deployed overseas.

[LauraT7]

here's a good one I'm recommending to our troop -

 

as my son and I are also involved in working with Golden retreiver breed rescue and re-homing - the search and rescue, bomb and drug sniffing dogs and handlers are dear to our hearts. MOST of these dogs come from shelters and rescues and are retrained for their jobs in the police, fire, rescue service and military.

 

http://operationmilitarypride.org/packages.html

 

the above link can provide you with info to send care packages for a dog / handler team.

how cool is that?

[matuawarrior]

Sorry for the mix up on going to recruiting stations. I meant to say local reserve or guard armories that may have deployed members. I get the two mixed up for some reason.

 

Matua

[scoutldr]

NEWS RELEASE from the United States Department of Defense

 

No. 139-03

(703)697-5131(media)

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2003

(703)428-0711(public/industry)

 

TROOP SUPPORT MAIL POLICY STRESSED

 

To bolster force protection, the general public is urged not to

send unsolicited mail, care packages or donations to service

members forward deployed unless you are a family member, loved

one or personal friend.

 

On Oct. 30, 2002, the Department of Defense (DoD) suspended the

"Operation Dear Abby" and "Any Servicemember" mail programs due

to force protection concerns. Although these programs provide

an excellent means of support to friends and loved ones

stationed overseas, they also provide an avenue to introduce

hazardous substances or materials into the mail system from

unknown sources. Unsolicited mail, packages and donations from

organizations and individuals also compete for limited airlift

space used to transport supplies, war-fighting materiel and mail

from family and loved ones.

 

Recently, DoD has become aware of organizations and individuals

who continue to support some form of the "Any Servicemember"

program by using the names and addresses of individual

servicemembers and unit addresses. These programs are usually

supported by well-intentioned, thoughtful and patriotic groups

who are simply unaware of the new risks facing deployed military

forces. Some individuals and groups publicize the names and

addresses of service members, ships or units on Web sites, with

good intentions. The result, however, is a potential danger to

the troops they wish to support.

 

DoD cannot support creative and well-intentioned efforts that

defeat force protection measures, but can instead recommend

alternatives to mail and donation programs. To show support to

troops overseas, the following are recommended:

 

* Log on to the following Web sites to show support, to include

greeting cards, virtual Thank You cards and calling card

donations to help troops stay in contact with loved ones:

 

http://www.defendamerica.mil/support_troops.html

 

http://www.usocares.org/home.htm

 

http://www.army.mil/operations/iraq/faq.html

 

* Visit Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals and nursing

homes. Volunteer your services to honor veterans who served in

past conflicts.

 

Mail from family members and loved ones has always been

encouraged and the military mail system will continue to work

hard to get that mail to servicemembers overseas.

 

Web version: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Mar2003/b03222003_bt139-03.html

 

 

[dsteele]

The Chief Scout Executive has asked that we all put red, white and blue ribbons on trees around our neighborhoods. For more information, go to www.scouting.org and click on the link.

 

I just purchased 200 yards at JoAnn fabrics for $3.99 per 25 yard roll. I'm going to take it to the council service center tomorrow so people can take a hunk for free for their trees.

 

It doesn't benefit the soldiers now, but I hope it tells them they were supported when (God willing) they come home safely.

 

Dave Steele

ASE