New London group connects with soldiers (NE Wisconsin)

Appleton (WI) Post-Crescent ^ | 01-29-04 | Roger Pitt

[petuniasevan]

Posted Jan. 29, 2004

Ruth Reifsteck, a member of the Ya-Ya Sisters of New London Chapter of the Red Hat Society, helps pack boxes full of goodies to send to 18 area soldiers stationed abroad. Forty-five of the 67 members gathered Tuesday at United Methodist Church in New London. Post-Crescent photo by Sharon Cekada

About the Red Hat Society

• It began in November 1997 when Sue Ellen Cooper of Fullerton, Calif., gave a friend, Linda Murphy, a copy of the poem “Warning” and a bright red vintage fedora to celebrate her birthday.

• “Warning” begins: “When I am an old woman I shall wear a red hat with purple which won’t suit me” and continues on to state that aging can be filled with many frivolous and “freeing” moments.

• The Red Hat Society has grown to more than 16,000 chapters with about 300,000 members in 17 countries.

• Membership is primarily women 50 years and older. Their full regalia includes red hats and purple clothing. Women younger than 50 are identified as Pink Hatters and wear pink hats and lavender outfits.

 

New London group connects with soldiers

By Roger Pitt
Post-Crescent staff writer

NEW LONDON — Operation Red Hat would have made famed World War II Gen. George Patton proud in its planning and execution.

The goal of boosting troop morale is icing on the cake.

Forty-five of the 67 members of a local chapter jammed into a room Tuesday night at United Methodist Church. In about 30 minutes, they packed 16 to 18 pounds of provisions in boxes to be shipped to 18 area soldiers stationed abroad.

“I knew I would lose control as soon as we started putting the boxes together, but it all worked out,” said Barb Jaeger, queen mum of the Ya-Ya Sisters of New London Chapter of the Red Hat Society.

The project is special for two of the Ya-Ya Sisters, Linda Peterson and Suzi Snyder, who have sons serving with the U.S. Army Reserve’s 395th Ordnance Company, based in Appleton and stationed in Afghanistan.

“I feel better that he is in Afghanistan rather than in Iraq,” Snyder said of her son, Mike, a sergeant. “His unit is to return home in February or March, but Mike has no wife or kids and has decided to stay on two months in Afghanistan.”

The provisions included caramel corn, cookies and Chex mix prepared by Red Hat members, and a variety of donated games and puzzles. Local businesses and professional people contributed candy, toiletries, baseball caps, food products and money.

Each box included a camera and at least two phone cards.

The phone cards are special for soldiers and their families.

“Mike and I talked a half-hour by telephone during the weekend,” Snyder said. “It makes you feel better, more connected, when you can talk to them.

“I think this helps our soldiers because we are showing them support, even if it is a bunch of goofy old ladies wearing red hats,” Snyder said.

“It is not quite as worrisome having Brent stationed in Afghanistan. He is relatively safe despite the base being surrounded by land mines,” Linda Peterson said of her son, also a sergeant.

“The sad part is you can’t put life on hold. Brent’s brother Brady is planning to get married and we would like Brent to be there, but if we schedule it for Brent, then maybe somebody else won’t be able to attend,” Peterson said.

Jean Bleck, 86, watched in awe as boxes were quickly packed in the crowded room.

“These are our soldiers and it is a way we can support them,” Bleck said.

“I sent a box at Christmas to a nephew, Spc. Dylan Esterl, in Iraq. Our hope is that all the soldiers get home safe and soon.”

The packages include valentines from third- and fifth-graders at Emanuel Lutheran School and first-graders at Lincoln Elementary School, both of New London. “It will be a good local connection,” said Marcia Oberstadt.

Ruth Reifsteck’s hearty laugh could be heard as she tabulated the items being placed in boxes at one table.

“I think this is a good project. It meets our agenda of helping people,” Reifsteck said. “The soldiers getting these boxes will be totally ecstatic. We are sharing and I am sure they will share, too, because there is so much in these boxes.”

Wednesday morning, Jaeger and Oberstadt assessed the prior night’s work.

“Ten members who could not help brought in their items and donated money,” Jaeger said. “That makes 55 who helped. We signed two new members, too.”

[petuniasevan]

My mother is thinking of joining a Red Hat Society chapter. It would do her good to get out with "the girls" once a week.

Thanks to all these ladies for their active support of local servicepersons. The packages will be VERY welcome!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

NEW LONDON — Operation Red Hat would have made famed World War II Gen. George Patton proud in its planning and execution.

Forty-five of the 67 members of a local chapter jammed into a room Tuesday night at United Methodist Church. In about 30 minutes, they packed 16 to 18 pounds of provisions in boxes to be shipped to 18 area soldiers stationed abroad.

“I sent a box at Christmas to a nephew, Spc. Dylan Esterl, in Iraq. Our hope is that all the soldiers get home safe and soon.”

The packages include valentines from third- and fifth-graders at Emanuel Lutheran School and first-graders at Lincoln Elementary School, both of New London.

“These are our soldiers...”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

   Red Hat Society,

  R allying their hometown,

 It's for the troops,

Ping! 

[Gil4]

The Red Hat Society - Their motto: We don't do Windows

Oops, I guess that's another group with Red Hats.

[Alamo-Girl]

Bump!

[blackie]

Red Hat Society ~
Rallying their hometown ~
It's for the troops ~

~~ Big Bump ~~

[PhilDragoo]

Bump.