Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Kim Harris | Australian Chief Petty Officer Michael Davis of Force Support Unit-ONE, Middle East...... read more read more
LIFE SUPPORT AREA, Kuwait — The Girls Scouts of Central Texas have a lot to be thankful for, and they showed their gratitude to the American soldiers serving in the Middle East by generously sending care packages filled with Girls Scout cookies and handmade thank you notes.
A recent overwhelming shipment of care packages shipped to the Chaplain at Life Support Area, Kuwait, lead American soldiers to share their goodies with Australian service members. As a result they have built a bond and created a friendship with coalition forces from Australia.
The Australians recognized the patriotism of the girls by sending tokens of their appreciation and sharing a little bit of their "Aussie" culture. Force Support Unit-ONE Executive Officer, Squadron Leader James Pritchard noted that in Australia they do not have as many organizations as Americans do to support the Armed Forces. According to Pritchard, only a select group of the Australian population is in the military, and thus fewer people serve.
It was the first time that the Australians decided to make a collective effort to reach out and recognize an American organization. They were touched and impressed by the care and effort the girls' put into decorating their colorful hand written cards. They also appreciated the time and dedication it took to put together the great efforts. "We thought, that besides the American soldiers who received and appreciated the gesture, we also appreciated the cookies," Pritchard said. "We fight alongside the American soldiers and we want the girls to know they have friends in faraway places," said Pritchard.
Australian Chief Petty Officer Michael Davis received some of the Girl Scout cookies. "I thought they were awesome," he said. "It was a kind and thoughtful gesture, for them to send the cookies and for the American troops to share them with us," Davis said. "We are doing an important job over here and it is important to thank them for recognizing that," said Davis. Davis is no stranger to community service. He recalls supporting his children's local sports center and community child care center. Just as with the American forces, volunteerism is a fundamental value of the Australian forces.
Captain Tye Driver is another member of the FSU-ONE who wanted to express her gratitude to the Girl Scouts of Central Texas. "It was a considerate and wonderful idea for them to give of their time and to do this for the American soldiers. They were very nice," said Driver. She explained that the Australian forces conduct collective efforts to support fund raisers for cancer associations in Australia. The way that the Girl Scouts have openly volunteered their time, really meant a lot to the FSU-ONE soldiers.
Faith Brown is the Member Services officer for the Girls Scouts of Central Texas and the creator of the Operations Cookie program. She was delighted to hear that her program received recognition. "I started the program in 2006 and it has grown into something wonderful," Brown said. "Each year it has an even larger impact than the year before."
Brown has personal reasons for starting the program. "Operation Cookie has a very special place in my heart because my father was career Air Force," said Brown. "I remember when I was a little girl helping my mom put care packages together to send to my dad and his unit in Vietnam. I know how much those packages meant to him and everyone who served with him." Her memories of those times, gave her the dedication to start Operation Cookie program for the soldiers.
The Australian service members have developed a special place in their hearts for the Operation Cookie Program and in return have sent more than thirty cards of appreciation back to Faith Brown and the Girl Scout of Central, Texas. The cards are adorned with kangaroo pins attached to them; the pins are keepsakes to remind Brown and the girls of their new "Aussie" friends.
| Date Taken: | 07.03.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 07.28.2009 04:26 |
| Story ID: | 36886 |
| Location: | LIFE SUPPORT AREA, KW |
| Web Views: | 224 |
| Downloads: | 194 |
This work, Force Support Unit-ONE Thanks Central Texas Girl Scouts, by PO2 Kim Harris, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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