The Stocking was shipped and is on its way to our unit in Iraq!
We sent the books in a seperate package and had to make a monster size box for the stocking. It included lots of candy, including our favorite Christmas Cookie peeps, the traditional fruit cake, the not so traditional but very southern moon pies, DVDs, a Chocolate Moose, and Rudolph's head on a stick – he sings Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer. 
Thank you to all who participated!
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Many of y’all know that I sell military care packages. About half the time, the ones I sell are to folks who don’t know anyone deployed – they just want a package sent to a soldier or marine who will enjoy it. I pick out a contact from anysoldier.com and send it on. I usually try to match up home towns, etc.
A while back, someone requested a Halloween goodie pack be sent to a Marine in Iraq.
I receved a letter from that Marine yesterday.
He wrote:
Dear Beth:
Thank you so much for your awesome package! Your Halloween candy has motivated some of our Marines to make costumes! Nothing you would see on a normal Halloween, mostly sand bags and mortars running around. It should be quite interesting. Our unit appreciates all the support we get from wonderful people like you and we are very grateful.
Right now is considered winter in Iraq, which consists of lightning storms, sand storms and a lot of rains and of course, the heat. If you would like pictures, I have enclosed my email address at the bottom and I can send them to your email.
Once again, thank you so much for your package and for supporting our troops. God Bless.
I’m gonna ask for pics!
But I’d like to do more.
I bought a GREAT BIG Christmas stocking – about 3 feet tall.
And I’d like to fill it with goodies for the men and women (there are abut 25 men and 25 women in this unit) there. That’s where y’all come in.
I’m selling shares in the stocking for $5 each. Every penny will be used for goodies for the stocking. I’d just really like to do something nice for this young man and his platoon – they’ll be in Iraq until March-ish.
Click HERE if you’d like to buy a share!
If you do buy a share, make sure you include a personal note if you’d like!
Send a free printed postcard to U.S. Military personnel serving overseas.
It only takes a minute, it’s free, and it’s a great way to say Thank You with Veteran’s Day and Thanksgiving right around the corner.
Click here!
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I saw Flags of Our Fathers last night. I went with my mom, who was married to a WWII Navy vet and my son, who is a member of the Army National Guard and plans on joining the Marines after college.
It’s a wonderful movie – a big thumbs up from all three of us. Stay till the very end – they show photos of Iwo Jima and the flag raisers during the credits.
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It’s that time of the year . . . to send his or her favorite treats to your soldier or marine who won’t be home for the holiday!
Order a Halloween style military care package today!
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How to Mail Your Love to a Man
11 Care Package Treats No Man Can Resist!
Whether he’s gone for business, pleasure or in this case, a military operation away from home, there’s nothing like sending a care package to show a man how much you care! And no one knows more about sending love via the U.S. mail than the wives and girlfriends of U.S. military men, so take a look at their top tips (collected from members of the iVillage Military Wives and Dating a Military Man message boards) for sending a care package any guy would be grateful for:
Essentials
“I pack beef jerky (since it doesn’t melt), toilet paper (just in case the provided stuff is like sandpaper), batteries, gum and pictures. That’s about all I get to send my husband when he is gone, but he gets excited over anything that smells or looks like home. Which is why putting my perfume on the letter is a hit.” –hlilmomMementos
“Any little reminder of our time together is nice. I especially like to include ticket stubs from the last movie we saw. Because he doesn’t even know I saved them.” –txmom3071A Letter a Day
“I write him notes, but include the dates when I want him to read them on. Just in case the mail is slow I know he’ll have something new from me every day!” –militarygalsCute and Cuddly for Him
“Once, I sent my oldest teddy bear with a note saying ‘It’s for the lonely times. Big boys need stuffed toys too!’” –txmom3071A letter for every situation
“I include letters in separate envelopes. Each envelope has a certain theme to help him along: sad, lonely, sick and always a funny one — the ‘angry at me’ stack.” –txmom3071A Song in Your Heart
“I’ve made tapes of all the songs that reminded me of my boyfriend as well as songs that make me think of our relationship. I even included some songs that we just had fun with on a road trip, even though they’re not particularly romantic. For a little extra surprise, I record a message at the end of the tape so he could hear my voice.” –velvet_iceRedeemable for Love
“I like to include coupons for things he can redeem when he gets home, like a night away at a B and B. Most of the ‘prizes’ have something to do with spending alone time together since time itself is such a precious gift for us.” –lizzbert2000Lots of Laughter
“I burned some CDs with comedians doing stand-up because I didn’t want my husband to be depressed or grumpy on a long flight. He’s already put in a request for more!” –emmadaisyMemories
“Our private jokes, stories about times we shared and anything else memorable go on 3×5 cards. This way, he can read about them — and remember me — each day.” –hlilmomToys for Big Kids
“Novelty items are great, no matter what the age of the person receiving them. One of the first gifts I sent my husband was a yo-yo. It was just an impulse buy, but the whole troop loved it! I hear they passed that thing around until someone dropped it and it broke. This was before we were even engaged, and he still has it in his drawer as a reminder that love can be shown in many ways.” –brandielynnwBaked Treats
“Cookies! Two dozen fit right inside two Gladware containers. I make his favorite kind and let cool. Then, I line the inside of each container with Saran Wrap, leaving enough to cover the cookies. I pack them inside (carefully), then cover with the excess Saran Wrap. They will stay fresh for days and days that way. I’ve even sent them overseas! Trust me, every man appreciates cookies.” –butterflyqueen7
Until they all come home . . . .
We are proud to offer this special Support Our Troops Military Care Package for the soldier who likes to read.
This care package features BOOKS! We’ll stuff a flat rate box full of great popular fiction for your special soldier, airman, or marine to read and share with his buddies. We guarantee at least a dozen books in each pack – more if they’ll fit! You solider’s reading care package will include authors like Clancy and Cussler and feature lots of great action thrillers!