Groups prepare packages for troops overseas

~ Any day soldiers receive a package is like Christmas, said a leader of one support group.

This holiday season, some area military personnel will away from their family to serve their country.

Currently there are 52 National Guardsmen from Southeast Missouri who will spend Christmas overseas, said Shanna Jacobson, a leader for the Family Readiness Group, which helps family members cope while their loved ones are deployed. "We've already prepared and shipped care packages for those soldiers, which should arrive before Christmas."

The deadline to get packages and letters to members of the National Guard before Christmas has passed, said Steve Engelmann, with the family assistance center at the National Guard Armory in Cape Girardeau. "But any mail is definitely appreciated."

Engelmann's son, James, is serving in the U.S. Army and will be home in January.

"I'm ready for him to get out of there, obviously, but I'm very proud of him," Engelmann said. "It's tough having him gone during Christmas, but it would be really tough to have a spouse over there."

For anyone wanting to mail something to a member of the National Guard, Engelmann said the soldier's name needs to be placed on the letter or package.

"Due to privacy issues, we can't just give out the names of these soldiers," he said.

People can, however, deliver items, such as nonperishable food and toiletries, to the National Guard Armory, 2626 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau.

"The soldiers like getting packages. They say every time they get anything, it's like Christmas for them," Jacobson said.

Delivering packages and letters to military personnel serving in the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps can be done several ways, said Tony Joyner, civic outreach director for the Air Mobility Command Public Affairs. But the only way something can be sent directly to a member of the military is by actually knowing the person.

Joyner said the Department of Defense suspended its mail programs, Operation Dear Abby and Any Servicemember, for deployed military in October 2002.

"There were several reasons these mail services were shut down," he said. "They bogged down the mail system and were preventing real mail, from family members, getting to the troops. But the big pressing issue was the anthrax scare and we started to have concerns because there was no way to track the letters."

'Dozens of ways'

Two Web sites offer ways people can support the troops during the holiday season -- www.aafes.com and www. defendamerica.mil, Joyner said.

"There are dozens of ways to make donations and there several organizations that can get the items to the soldiers," he said. "But with all the security issues, there are no direct addresses."

One organization, which people can make donations for the troops, is the American Red Cross of Southeast Missouri.

"The main thing we send is phone cards," said Mary Burton, director. "It's something that seems the most transportable and the least expensive to send."

Burton said the main problem with getting items overseas is the cost and regulations of shipping them.

"It's best if the donations are made to the American Red Cross and then we can get it to the military," she said.

For anyone wishing to submit names or e-mail addresses of area residents serving in the military to be published in the Southeast Missourian, e-mail the information to jfreeze@ semissourian.com.

jfreeze@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 131

Graphic:

Address for members of the National Guard

Soldier's name and rank

Company Unit

APO AE 09331