Imagine being overseas away from your family and your home for months. That’s what most people think about when they think of soldiers deployed. But what they don’t normally think about is how the soldier also has to part with a way of life they’ve been accustomed to for decades in their home country. I’m not just talking about exciting things like their favorite restaurants or places to visit. I’m talking about even just the mundane things they don’t have access to: their toothpaste brand preference, their favorite shampoo, or even a good set of nail clippers. This stuff seems boring to us, but it’s a dream to military personnel stationed in a foreign country with no availability to purchase goods they normally would in their home country. One thing many small organizations decide to do is put together shipping boxes full of goodies to send to armed forces deployed in foreign countries. The organizations ask for donations of commonly used items that we often take for granted. These heavy shipping boxes are stuffed to the brim with goodies for the soldiers. Hair gels, combs, floss, socks, and even candy fill the boxes. Sometimes the locals even throw in things to remind the soldiers of home: pickled vegetables, popcorn, pictures, and newspapers. This is a nice piece of home for the military personnel to hold on to (or immediately consume if it’s something yummy).
Another thing many people add to their packages are cards and letters explaining their gratitude for the soldiers’ bravery. Little kids draw cute pictures and cards while adults write heart-felt thank yous to people who would quite literally give their life for our safety. This is a nice addition to the care package as often times the soldiers want to write back to the people who send thoughtful letters and gifts. Writing home gives the soldiers an extra connection with the people from the organizations who sent the boxes. It often feels like the war is something intangible to us because we do not witness it every day as these brave men and women do. They fly around the world to protect our country and many other innocent lives around the world. Often they endure many hardships and discomforts living in a foreign and many times desolate area. These little tokens of our gratitude show the soldiers how much we care and support them on a daily basis.
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Geovanni Melendez
I like to write about lifestyle and organizing.
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