Hero Blog

Impeccable and perfect

2012-05-06T20:10:00.001-07:00

They were passing out Mother’s day cards after church service today. Thank you! Your timing was impeccable and the card perfect. The guys in my Squadron had just been discussion our lack of options the evening prior. The card I received was from Lynn in Alberta Canada. Again, thank you!
-J.G.

From W.E. in Afghanistan:

2012-05-03T13:38:00.001-07:00

I wanted to let you know that I received the box of cards you sent and I want to thank you for taking the time to put these cards together for us. We've all enjoyed picking out our favorites to send home and I know our families have enjoyed receiving them. Thank you again SO VERY MUCH for your support!

Best gift I have gotten

2012-05-02T18:30:00.004-07:00

Thank you soooo much for the cards! I took most of them and shared the rest with my friends. I love cards and I write at least 100 a month. That was the best gift I have gotten since I have been here. You guys are soooo thankful and I have you guys to thank and thanks for thinking of us.

J.V.

How touching it was

2012-05-02T18:30:00.000-07:00

I don't possess the eloquence required to sufficiently describe how touching it was to see such beautiful cards, and to find out that they were perfectly free to anyone who wished to pick one up and send it home. It means so much, well first just to see anything that pretty in the middle of a desolate desert, but also knowing that people out there cared enough to make it possible for me to send some little bit of beauty back home too, to cheer lonely loved ones back home. There's something just extra special about being able to wrap loving words in a card of beauty to match, instead of filling in lines of the same old notebook paper every day. Not that there's anything wrong with the latter, but, sometimes it makes you feel even further from home when the letters you send look as plain and dull as everything else you see every day, and the love and emotion with which you fill them seem at times diminished by the fact that they look no different than a hastily scrawled memo or piece of scratch paper at work.
-K.S., Afghanistan

Appreciate you taking your time out to support us

2012-04-26T07:20:00.001-07:00

Sandy,

I wanted to take the time to thank you and your team for all the beautiful handmade cards we received today. We really appreciate you taking your time out to support us in this wonderful way. It really means a lot not only to ourselves but to our families back at home who receive these cards from us, not knowing that they come from Americans such as yourself. Thank you again and please continue to keep myself, my unit and our families in your thoughts and prayers.

TSgt A.D.

Thank you

2012-04-25T15:54:00.003-07:00

I just wanted to write and say thank you for the work you are doing. My husband is on his 6th tour in Afghanistan, and we have 3 sons at home. My husband sent a card to our 10 yr. old, and he just received it today. My husband wrote some encouraging words to help [him] through a tough time right now, and it made all the difference in the world to him right now. Thank you so much for all that you do, it really is very much appreciated.

J.S.

Attention to detail is so appreciated

2012-04-25T07:40:00.005-07:00

Hello Sandy,

I received your box of beautiful cards a couple days age while I was out on a mission. Today on my lunch hour I sent home Mother's day cards to my Mom, and all my Girlfriends that are Moms. Please let the individuals that make the beautiful cards know they time and attention to detail is so appreciated.

Many Thanks!

Regards,

SFC K.V.

We are using a lot of them

2012-04-24T07:50:00.003-07:00

Sandy thanks for the update on the cards. Keep them coming please we are using a lot of them in addition we are supporting a few units on Camp Arifjan, we are also supporting warriors in other parts of the world. By the way I love the Pictures of your dog, it makes me think of home every time I see him, how young is he and what is name?

SPC J.S.

Special station in our mail office

2012-04-20T07:53:00.002-07:00

Thank You Ms. Sandy,

Your package arrived today and my Commander and 1SG were very pleased when I brought it to their attention. We will be creating a special station in our mail office where Soldiers can pick up a card and hopefully get your address to write a little thank you in return.

We are very appreciative of your kindness and sacrifice from the homefront.

Please pray for our Soldiers and their families. Pray they return safe to their loved ones.

Thank you again!
Respectfully,

SGT C.J.

Thank you from the wives!

2012-04-19T05:56:00.003-07:00

From RC: I just received the box of cards today. Everyone in the office was glad to see them. I try to get a few letters a week out to my wife and kids. Every time I write one I make sure I tell the guys because most of them do not write home. There idea of writing home is a email. So now that I bother them so much they have started writing home. So from all the wives back home thank you for sending this out to us.

Wonderful cards

2012-04-18T23:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Operation Write Home,
We just wanted to take the time to thank you for the wonderful cards you sent us here in Kuwait. It means so much to us that people back home are thinking about us and taking the time to send us such wonderful cards.
Hopefully this note finds you enjoying your family and friends, God bless you!
Lt L.C.

Always come in handy and at the right time

2012-04-18T23:38:00.000-07:00

Thank you so much for the box of cards, they always come in handy and at the right time!
Yes, I am scheduled to redeploy 1 May so please do not send another box.
Thanks for being an awesome person and keeping in touch! Blessings to you and your family!
LtCol M.W.

We appreciate hearing from Daddy!

2012-04-16T21:38:00.002-07:00

To all of you involved with Operation Write Home:

Thanks so much from a family of a deployed soldier who has sent us several cards that bear your logo on the back of them. The cards are always beautiful and I can't begin to tell you how much we appreciate hearing from Daddy! Thank you to everyone involved who has been making our year apart from Daddy a little bit brighter. You all are a blessing to so many!

Gratefully,

S.F.

Your hard work and effort is making a difference

2012-04-16T21:34:00.000-07:00

Sandy,

Just wanted to send a short note expressing how thankful we are for the cards you've sent us. My chapel is in an area where people coming in and out of Bagram often spend a few days before moving out to their

destination. Because of that we have a high turnover of people and many stop in to get a card to mail home. Please know that your hard work and effort is making a difference here to our Soldiers, Airmen, and Marines.

Courage and strength to you,

Chaplain (CPT) E. J. M.

TF ATLAS CHAPLAIN

The quality of the cards is impressive

2012-04-16T00:07:00.002-07:00

Just wanted to send a note of thanks from Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan. I’m using your cards to send my bride love notes each week. The quality of the cards is impressive. Thank you and your contributors for their efforts.

Sincerely,

LtCol B.K.

Our desire to move forward is due to your backing

2012-04-14T08:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Ms Allnock,

The latest box of cards arrived yesterday afternoon. Certainly the Mother's Day cards will be useful.

My two year tour in Afghanistan is coming to an end on May 1st. The end of the tour will be almost bitter-sweet. During the last two years I worked very closely with the British Embassy and the US Army to build a vocational school at the detention facility in Parwan. The "students" are unique. They are men who have been captured on the battle field. A good portion 65% are not hard core insurgents. Rather, they got caught up in the insurgency through economic necessity. They are what we call the $5.00 a day insurgent.

We hope that by teaching men who will someday be released with a skill, they will no longer have a need to work with the insurgency. To that end, we've built a vocational center that teaches carpentry, masonry, plumbing, welding, electrical and rebar work. The curriculum is certified by the Ministry of Education and when the men graduate they are presented a diploma by the Minister. Also since there is a 70% illiteracy rate throughout Afghanistan, we also teach the men how to read and write in their native language. This is a life altering skill. When the men are eligible for release we try to find them employment in their home province.

The reports so far have been positive. Once the former detainees realize that the U.S. and the Afghan governments have improved their lives, they turn their backs to the insurgency. This in turn is saving Americans. If we save one life, it's a success.

Leaving here is hard. The successes are plentiful but there is so much more that needs to be done. Thankfully there are many good men and women to continue what has been started.

Believe me when I say that none of the good work could happen without the support from home. The troops do read the papers and watch the news. They are affected by the reports of declining support for their efforts. The tangible show of support by the great people at Operation Write Home and other organizations goes a long way. Your backing of the men and women in uniform makes a difference everyday. Our soldiers are the greatest in the world. They deserve our support.

Thank you for taking care of our soldiers. Our desire to move forward is due to your backing. In essence, our success is your success. Please pass along our sincere gratitude to the members of OWH.

Best
L.B.

Dedication of the vocational school

Brightened my whole day

2012-04-12T23:42:00.000-07:00

My husband is currently serving in Afghanistan and we have been separated by deployments several times in our marriage. I remember one of his first deployments to Bosnia back when our children were just toddlers, I would love to wait until the kids were in bed each night before checking the mail just in case he had written a letter so I could enjoy his words by myself. Now the kids are much older and our primary means of communication during deployments is either email or SKYPE. Rarely do I receive a hand written letter. Last week when I checked the mail, Bryan had sent me a beautiful card made by one of your volunteers that brightened my whole day. In fact I have it hanging on the bulletin board in my office.

I just wanted to say thank you for the products letters and encouragement the Operation Write Home not only gives our soldiers, but their families as well.

L. B. in Kansas

He sends me lovely letters

2012-04-12T23:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Operation Write Home team,
I am the wife of SSG K.W. and he is on his third deployment. He sends me lovely letters in the beautiful cards your organization provides. I truly appreciate the beauty of each card I receive. Thank you to each person who takes the time to create the card, and to Operation Write Home for providing the cards!
Sincerely,
L.W.
P.S. my husband sends me a card almost every day!

Big Thank you from P.C. in Afghanistan

2012-04-05T18:30:00.001-07:00

Part of a letter I received from a contact: "..The cards are beautiful, better than most store bought cards and the fact that they are homemade with love makes them even better. My soldiers and I are thrilled to flip through the box to see which ones we are going to take! If I can put in a request please may I get some for Memorial Day and 4th of July red white and blue. We can always use thank you cards to send those for the care packages we receive. We appreciate your support of us while we are on mission."

Thanks for all your support and all you d

2012-03-24T10:50:00.004-07:00

Just wanted to touch base with you and let you know I will be departing next month. I will be passing the torch for these great on to V.D.; she will be here until next year and will be able to ensure our team gets the deliveries.

Thanks for all your support and all you do for our troops. Operation Write Home makes a positive huge impact on morale, and we all sincerely appreciate your role in getting the cards out!
J.H.

Being put to good use

2012-03-20T23:16:00.005-07:00

We have received the most recent box of cards. I want to thank you so very much. They are definitely being put to good use. It takes less than about 4-5 days for them all to be scooped up.
M.C.

How gorgeous the cards are

2012-03-20T23:16:00.004-07:00

Thanks again for all of your support, and please extend my thanks to all of the wonderful card makers. My son, family and friends have always talked about how gorgeous the cards are that they receive, and I know it makes my son's day to get a card from me.
L.K.

Brought a great smile to my heart

2012-03-18T08:36:00.000-07:00

Hello gang, just to let you know my sweetheart is deployed to Bagram Afghanistan and yesterday I received one of your cards in the mail from her. She works 6 twelve hour days and 8 hours on Sunday. Yes 80 hours a week. Resources are very limited for her and she was very proud to be able to send me a card from your program not to say it brought a great smile to my heart to get it delivered to my mailbox here in South Bend, Indiana. When we did speak she told me about Operation Write Home and I want to thank you for your efforts.

Keep up the good work.

Doug B.

Wall of thanks

2012-03-17T21:15:00.000-07:00

Our wall of thanks to Operation Write Home! We LOVE all these cards from our soldier. They are too cute to stash in a drawer, plus the kids like looking over and over again at what Daddy sent them!

Each one special

2012-03-17T21:02:00.002-07:00

Hi Sandy,

I received a box of your wonderful cards today. I love each and everyone of them as I know someone from back home spend their time making each one special.

please pass on my gratitude.

Respectfully,

SFC K.V.