FReeper Canteen ~ Challenge: Support Our Troops! ~ Sept. 26, 2005

Porky Pig

[StarCMC]

Freeper Canteen
On A Mission

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to honor and appreciate at least one member of the armed forces by some act of conscious premeditated behavior.  Consider the following, if you will....

The inspiration:

On a thread here on FR the other day, one FReeper was doing his thing trying to motivate folks to get out and show their support for our troops at the "Support The Troops and Their Mission" weekend rally in Washington D.C.  While I would absolutely LOVE to be a part of that, realistically, it's impossible for me at this time.  But I started thinking about what I had done last week visiting the local recruiter's offices for the Air Force and the National Guard.  It was easy, only took a few minutes of my time, and hopefully it meant a lot to the guys I shook hands with (if the smiles on their faces are any indication, it did.) 

 

Another FReeper had, on the whim of the moment, taken a bag of cookies to some heroes and just said thanks.  How hard is that? 

 

The challenge:

I am challenging each and every one of you here in the Canteen -- and elsewhere on FR for that matter -- to on or before October 7th, make it a point to go out of your way to thank a military person IN PERSON.  I know some of you can't and this isn't a measuring stick for patriotism or anything else.  Take it for what it is ~ someone who loves and appreciates our troops challenging other folks who love and appreciate the troops to go out there in their own neighborhoods and SHOW IT!!  You don't have to spend a lot of money or time even.  There are so many ways to do it.  Here are some words from another Canteener, TRussell:

Hi all...another school season has started and with it comes the participation for the ProudPatriots support of the troops who are deployed.

Last year, when I was not employed, I was able to devote many hours of developing relationships with school principals and teachers. Every time the ProudPatriots put out a call for kids artwork for the troops, I went to each of the 10 schools in my area and asked them for help. That Relationship building is going to pay off this year! I am now gainfully employed, so I only have an hour a day (my lunch hour) to visit with the principals and teachers and rally them for the troops again.

I print out a flyer that is available on the ProudPatriots website, take it to each school with details of what the occasion is (Octoberfest, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines, Easter etc...), ask for their support and assure them it will only cost them for the supplies. I mail the posters, pictures, letters, handmade cards, etc... to ProudPatriots headquarters, and they get them to the troops.

I have received 2 letters of thanks from the troops that got some of the artwork. This is not something that we expect, but it is nice to hear back from them and to hear that the items touched their heart!

My desire is to be able to show the troops that they are loved and supported!

If you decide to do this in your town, please start out by going to the school administration and letting them know what you want to do.

It's fun, it's rewarding, and it's not that expensive to mail the finished products.

Hugs!
Tracy

Whatever you decide to do, just DO it!  I'll give you a reminder next week.  On October 10th, we'll have a thread for you to post your stories (with or without photos) about your activities.  Anyone who wants to can send me their stories in advance and I'll put them at the top of the thread.  If you need help trying to find a recruiter near you, try the links below.  Most of them have a place where you can put in your zip code and it tells you where the closest one to you is.

 

Resources:

Army:
http://www.goarmy.com/contact/find_a_recruiter.jsp?hmref=cs

Navy:
http://www.navy.com/

AirForce:
http://go.mappoint.net/airforce/PrxInput.aspx

Coast Guard:
http://www.uscg.mil/jobs/offices/recindex.htm

Air Guard:
http://www.goang.com/careers/Zipcode.aspx
(Not a real locator for recruiter, but you can find unit HQs)

Army National Guard:
1-800-GOGUARD


I also noted that at http://www.yellowpages.com I could find the location of the local Army Guard recruiter by having it search for "National Guard recruiter" in my state and then refining by zip code.

I could not find a good method for finding a Marine recruiter. They have a "contact a recruiter" online, but it doesn't give storefront locales. It's possible that they share office with Navy recruiters, but I don't know that for certain. I'd use the Yellow Pages.com route to see what you come up with.

 

 

So what do you say??  Mission accepted?  Speak up and let us know you're up to the challenge!!

 

 

(P.S. We will get back to Military Short Speak soon, but I thought this was important and I hope you do too!!)

[StarCMC]

Ok ya'll, I wanna know who's taking my challenge!!
Speak up!!

[ozaukeemom]

I think I am in the top 10! Now, I'll read it. ;)

[StarCMC]

Ping

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops and Keep them Safe.

Prayers going up.

[Soaring Feather]

[ozaukeemom]

OK, I accept. Now, I need to figure out what I'll do!
Thanks for putting this out there.

[StarCMC]

FIRST!!!

[Soaring Feather]

Evening, Star, thank you for today's thread. *HUGS*

[ozaukeemom]

Woo Hoo! Good timing. lol Thanks again for posting this thread.

[StarCMC]

Woohooooo!!!

Go for it!! You won't be sorry!

[StarCMC]

You're welcome Queenie!!

[gate2wire]

Bump

[StarCMC]

Ping (sorry I missed you in my first ping!!)

[HiJinx]

The Marines and Navy share an office here in Sierra Vista, so what you're thinking is probably true, Star.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Click on the pic and I'll guide you
to the start of today's thread




FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT
Showing support and boosting the morale of
our military and our allies military
and the family members of the above.
Honoring those who have served before.
CLICK HERE TO FIND LATEST THREAD.




Proud Patriots - Sending care packages, e-mails, and snail mail to US Military worldwide.
Proud Patriots is a group of private Americans who are working to ensure
that our brave military heroes receive the support we believe they deserve.

CLICK HERE
TO ENTER PROUD PATRIOTS




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[Soaring Feather]

Every time I see one of Military, be it at the grocery store or where ever, I walk up to them and thank them for their service. At first they are surprise, but always end up with a smile. Wonderful experience.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks Porky Pig for today's important thread.

[StarCMC]

Thanks Jinxie ~ it was the only explanation I could come up with!! I know Tom has experience with personally checking in on recruiters but I can't remember what he said about office sharing... Grrrr!!!

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

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[StarCMC]

So true ~ it always seems like they are shocked by it! :o) (But in a good way!)