Showing Support

And Thanks

To the Editor:

Last fall I began my mission to send boxes of appreciation or “Thank You Gifts” to our young men and women serving our country in the Gulf. It started when I saw a good friend crying in the cookie isle at Stop & Shop as she tried to choose a cookie that would reach her son serving in the Air Force in the Gulf, and what type of lotion would soothe his severe sunburn. I thought surely the government must supply sunscreen. I was wrong. There are many things these young people need so badly and just cannot get, for various reasons. Some are in remote areas and can only get supplies by helicopter; the supply convoys from the military branches are being attacked, and so on. The more I learned the more important it became to show these young people even on a small scale, that we at home support them and think of them.

The parishioners at St Rose were astonishing. Their donations on Veterans’ Day weekend filled my son’s pick up truck! Thanks to Father Weiss for letting me collect that weekend, the Social Concerns Committee at St Rose, the St Rose Youth Group for helping me pack up a huge shipment, Bev Maley who helped in such a huge way with my little neighborhood redeemable can and bottle drive to collect money for shipping the boxes, and to my neighbors on High Rock, New Lebbon, Aspen and Beagle. Neighbors whom I’d never met were so wonderful, dropping off treats and toys to send. And a special thank you to Conrad, my young neighbor who donated his box of redeemables, even though that is his only source of income, being only 7. And to Donna Samuels and Gingerbread School House in Monroe. The preschoolers drew fabulous pictures for the service people, and the parents donated a huge amount of much-needed items and packed them up during the holiday season, when we have no extra time!

My first goal was to reach as many people as I could to let people know of this need. The parents of these servicepeople have already loaned us their sons and daughters to protect our freedom. They shouldn’t have to worry about getting sunscreen and skin lotion to their children. Certainly we would share our sunscreen with a little one at Dickinson Park! Now these same children are grown up and defending our country. We should continue to share with them.

I enjoyed meeting so many wonderful Newtowners and talking to parents of servicemen. I was even able, on two occasions, to share in the most wonderful news: “He’s coming home.” Until every military family can say those words, please keep these people in your thoughts and prayers.

Deborah Altieri

30 High Rock Road, Sandy Hook                           February 9, 2005