Photo By Spc. Laura Bigenho | Air Force Capt. Craig Dorn, advisor to the Iraqi air force and coalition air force...... read more read more
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Army Spc. Laura M. Bigenho
28th Public Affairs Detachment
CAMP VICTORY, Iraq -- Most people don't start thinking about Christmas until late in the year. However, for hundreds of troops at Camp Victory, a dose of holiday spirit will come several months early thanks to the generosity of people and organizations in the United States.
"When III Corps arrived in December, the Chaplain's Office did not have enough time to plan a Christmas event," said Maj. Stephen Sheridan, chief of medical logistics, Multi-National Corps-Iraq. "So I thought, let's have a 'Christmas in July' event instead."
With help from a friend in the States, Sheridan said he took the idea and "ran with it."
"My buddy Ken Howard told me that he believed the average American supported us over here, but didn't know how to do anything, so he suggested that I connect with the Chaplain's Office," Sheridan said. "I used a baseball analogy — the Chaplain's Office was the catcher, (American supporters) were the pitchers, and I was the coach — making the troops the winners."
Sheridan started sending fliers to the States in February. In addition to an explanation of 'Christmas in July,' he included gift ideas and mailing instructions on the flier. Since then, more than 265 packages from 59 individuals and 23 organizations have piled up.
The numbers continue to rise.
"I was pleasantly surprised by the overwhelming support," Sheridan said. "From the numbers (given), I think it was a huge success."
Spc. Denise Monroe, chaplain assistant, MNC-I, has spent several weeks behind the scenes organizing and allocating boxes to religious support teams according to their needs.
"We got some pretty good stuff – we got a ton of granola bars, Girl Scout cookies, soaps and shampoos, but we mostly got individual care packages," Monroe said. "The (RSTs) were able to come in and take however many boxes they thought they could give away."
She said the main purpose of the project was for troops to get a care package from home at a time when many are far into their deployment, but still have a long way to go.
"Just having a package to open is always good for people who are kind of missing home, especially now because we're (several) months in and still have (several) months to go," Monroe said.
From the Americans and mail clerks to the chaplains and RSTs, Sheridan said he is grateful for everyone who helped make the project a success.
"We have great Americans back home who sent all the care packages," he said. "Our chaplains and religious support teams are such an important asset — I could not have done this without their support."
Monroe said it was fun being able to have a part in the project.
"It's been fulfilling to see all the people come and pick up the stuff, knowing it's going to troops," she said.
Although Christmas is months away and many will be spending it away from home, Sheridan said he hopes they will be blessed this month.
"I know it picks up my spirit when I receive a package, so I am hoping that the troops are blessed by people's generosity and are reminded of the great support from home," he said.
| Date Taken: | 07.13.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 07.13.2007 00:37 |
| Story ID: | 11248 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 148 |
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