Not printed in the news, but nice news nevertheless:
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OPERATION GRATITUDE

by Sgt. Christopher Stanis, 1AD PAO

BAGHDAD, Iraq – This holiday season, Santa isn’t the only one making
a list and checking it twice.

Thousands of 1st Armored Division Soldiers in Iraq and service members
throughout the U.S. military who are deployed overseas will be
remembered this holiday season because of Carolyn Blashek and
Operation Gratitude.

Operation Gratitude is a program that has been providing support to
troops since the build-up for Operation Iraqi Freedom, from one
woman’s living room.

Encino, Calif., native Blashek started Operation Gratitude after she
was unable to enlistment in the Army Reserves following the Sept. 11
terrorist attacks.

“Following Sept. 11, I tried to join the Reserves, but was politely,
though firmly, told I was way too old,” Blashek said.

But with the war on terror raging, the now-48-year-old knew there was
something she could do to support the troops and the nation.

“I looked for ways as a civilian to support the military,” Blashek
said, “and eventually found the (United Services Organization) at (Los
Angeles International Airport.) I volunteered there one, then two days
a week, and became the volunteer coordinator.”

While working one night at the USO, Blashek received a visit from a
soldier who was in dire need of talking to a chaplain, or anyone
available.

Since Blashek was the only one working at the time, she listened to
his concerns.

“He said he was (home on emergency leave) to bury his mother, his wife
had left him years ago and his only son had died as an infant,”
Blashek said. “He said, ‘I am going back (overseas) and I don’t think
I will return this time, but I don’t think anyone would care.’ That
was when I realized the need for service members facing war-time
danger to know that someone back home cares about them.”

So began Operation Gratitude, an independent, non-profit organization,
originally funded solely by Blashek.

She sent her first four packages in March to a primarily female unit
that she learned had run out of hard-to-get supplies.

Soon after word of the operation got out, family, friends and
community members began contributing to the funds – approximately 15
to 30 dollars shipping per package.

Through October, Blashek shipped 650 packages.

During the weekend of Nov. 8-9, a “Support the Troops” holiday drive
kicked off.

Because of the magnitude of the event – more than 200 volunteers
assembling 3,500 packages – the operation was moved to the Army
National Guard’s 746th Quarter Master Battalion Armory in Van Nuys,
Calif.

To date, the holiday drive, running through mid December, has mailed
more than 4,000 packages.

When it wraps up, Blashek plans on continuing to mail at least 100
packages a week until every soldier on her ever-growing list receives
a box.

Originally, Blashek gathered names of soldiers by word of mouth,
asking friends, family and everyone she met if they new troops serving
overseas.

In 1AD’s case, contact with Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, assistant
division commander for support, provided names to Blashek.

“Brig. Gen. Hertling arranged for names of troops to be forwarded to
me,” Blashek said.

Now her Website, operationgratitude.com, allows family members and
soldiers to sign up names on their own.

Blashek foresees Operation Gratitude as a permanent means for
civilians to show their support of the military in a direct and
hands-on manner.

“My intention,” said Blashek, “is that Operation Gratitude will
continue for as long as the United States Military has any service
person deployed anywhere in the world.”
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On the Poco Loco out of Deale, MD
on the beautiful Chesapeake Bay!