Posted on 10/14/2004 3:08:01 PM PDT by Brad’s Gramma
That's SO cool!!! Thank you VERY much!!!
(I'll accept trial cookies, btw............) :-)
Oh now you've gone and done it.
I'm going to be talking to Laura (Bush) later. We'll SEE about that invitation.......
Thanks everyone...!!!
Do you live in Fresno?
Do you live in Fresno?
Oops! Man I hate it when that happens.
No!
But all the BETTER for our experiment!! I'm in OC. Bake the cookies. See if they last on your kitchen counter. If you have any left....send 'em south!
HA!!!
"Let's Roll"
Time to get holiday boxes into the pipeline to our guys and gals a LONG way from home...
I used to live OC!!!!!! We moved from Placentia to Fresno about a year ago. Wow, small world!!!
I'm sorry Lady, I must be thick as a board tonight. What is the address we send phone cards to?
Well get BACK here!!!! Now!
We could bake cookies together!! Brad could be the tester of said cookies!
Bookmarking this to save for later...GOOD INFO!! Thanks!
I need to confirm this with my soldier, but I believe he said the latest we can send stuff is Dec. 6, in order for it to get there in time. I need to reconfirm that date. Anyway, I plan on sending this stuff way earlier than that, like November. I want him to be able to enjoy his tree for as long as possible.
Don't mess with Texas!!! Laura won't appreciate your meddling. Seriously, best of luck with this thread, and I think you're terrific to take this on.
Scroll up to that really pretty post that MoJo2001, not I, put together...it's in there somewhere.
It's an address in VA.
You could also follow the link to proudpatriots.com
THANK YOU!!!
Thanks for the ping!
Do you mind if I mention an organization that really needs help adopting out soldiers? Its called www.operationac.com.
I've been corresponding with the person in charge and she said that there are still many soldiers who don't have anyone. That makes me so sad. Unfortunately, I can't afford to adopt more than one. I guess I could write, but would feel awkward not being able to send them stuff.
You are most welcome. Of course, you'll have to humor Brad's Gramma, but it's worth it for the troops ;)
Some good news for our troops!!!! Pass along.
Congress approves spending bill with 3.5 percent raise for servicemembers (pass on this good news)
Stars and Stripes ^ | October 13, 2004 | Lisa Burgess
Posted on 10/14/2004 6:05:35 PM PDT by Former Military Chick
ARLINGTON, Va. — Democrats and Republicans came together over the weekend to iron out their differences over the National Defense Authorization Bill, resulting in a $445.6 billion piece of legislation that will now go to President Bush for signing.
The bill includes an across- the-board 3.5 percent pay raise for all men and women in uniform.
And worried about servicemembers stretched thin by repeated deployments in Iraq and elsewhere, Congress also boosted the Army’s end strength by 20,000 and the Marine Corps’ by 3,000 by the end of October 2005, the end of the government’s fiscal year.
Other key provisions include:
¶ Making permanent the increased rate for imminent danger pay from $150 to $225 per month.
¶ Making permanent the increased rate for family separation allowance from $100 to $250 per month.
¶ Extending several special pays and bonuses for active-duty members and reservists.
¶ Elimination of out-of-pocket housing expenses.
¶ $10 billion for military construction and housing.
¶ Enhanced Tricare benefits for reservists and family members.
¶ Six months of coverage made permanent for all personnel separating from active duty.
¶ Elimination of Social Security offsets to the Survivor Benefit Plan, a decades-old law that reduces benefits under the military’s Survivor Benefit Plan by one-third for military widows after they attain age 62.
¶ More than $2 billion for force protection measures, including armor, munitions, communications and surveillance programs.
¶ The legislation contains provisions to eliminate procurement obstacles and field commercially available technology as quickly as possible — the goal is no more than 15 days from a combatant commander’s request to the contract award.
¶ An increase of $572 million to produce up-armored Humvees at a rate of 450 per month.
¶ An additional $100 million for Vehicle Add-On Armor Kits.
¶ An additional $40.8 million for night-vision rifle sights.
¶ Authorizes $8.9 million for the Advanced Mine Detector, a lightweight, handheld, ground- penetrating radar.
¶ A provision that will reimburse families who purchased body armor for servicemembers not issued the equipment during combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.
¶ Authorizes a multiyear procurement of 100 new aerial refueling tankers, replacing an Air Force leasing deal with Boeing that has caused enormous controversy both within the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill.
¶ Requires a Stabilization Strategy on Iraq — President Bush must produce a report on his strategy for stabilizing Iraq, including his strategy for standing up professional Iraqi security forces.
When Bush will sign the document into law has yet to be determined, White House spokeswoman Maria Tamburri said Tuesday.
Laura and I are like *this*. Don't worry. :-)
"I believe he said the latest we can send stuff is Dec. 6, in order for it to get there
in time. I need to reconfirm that date. Anyway, I plan on sending this stuff way
earlier than that, like November"
That Dec. 6 date sounds similar to last year's cutoff.
But last year, I sent my holiday packs to Iraq before Thanksgiving.
Here's a good starting point for folks who are interested:
http://www.usps.com/supportingourtroops/welcome.htm
(at least for Iraq...remember you've got to fill out the customs form!)
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