Maxine Rills on the Needs of Our Troops

My husband sent me this Maxine viral thing that's going around on the Web. I thought you might enjoy it as a reminder that this blog has a segment on it that gives you resources for ways to help our troops inexpensively and thoughtfully. Besides, I just love Maxine. She reminds me of my Aunt Hazel, now deceased. She would have approved!

MinoritiesWe need to show more sympathy for these people.
* They travel miles in the heat.
* They risk their lives crossing a border.
* They don't get paid enough wages.
* They do jobs that others won't do or are afraid to do.
* They live in crowded conditions among a people who speak a different language.
* They rarely see their families, and they face adversity all day ~ every day.

I'm not talking about illegal Mexicans ~ I'm talking about our troops! Doesn't it seem strange that many politicians are willing to lavish all kinds of social benefits on [others], but don't support our troops, and are even threatening to defund them?

------

Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence. Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/. Her novel, collection of creative nonfiction and much of her poetry is informed by interest in leading the world toward acceptance of one another. Find her web page dedicated to tolerance at http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/tolerence_and_utah_links.htm.

Janet Elaine Smith Blogs on a Great Way To Do Good for Our Troops

So, it's nearly Valentine's day. Time to do some loving in all kinds of ways. So how does that pertain to tolerance or our troops?

Quite a bit ago, Janet Elaine Smith blogged about an experience she had up in her neck of the woods. It's a little like "Pass It Forward." Not wholly original but it so nicely demonstrates that we can do so much more than talk about support for our soldiers. Janet is a fine writer. You'll love her account of passing some love to troops.

Find it here: http://janetelainesmith.blogspot.com/2007/02/iraq-vet-presents-special-moment.html.

She also shared this:

"Another time, a little gal who is a teller at our bank recounted to us each time we would go through the drivethrough window where she worked how many days it would be until her husband came back from Iraq. He had been there 22 months, the longest of any National Guard unit. The day before he was due home we stopped and got a gift certificate for her and her hubby from Red Lobster. She said she couldn't accept it. Ivan (Janet's husband, since deceased) just waved it off and told her it was a small token of our appreciation of the job all of our men and women were doing over there.

"We later heard from the staff at Red Lobster that they requested 'the quietest corner in the restaurant because they had been surrounded by friends and family almost non-stop since he had gotten home.' They told them about our giving them the gift certificate."

-------

Carolyn Howard-Johnson wrote the foreword for Eric Dinyer's book of patriotic quotations, Support Our Troops, published by Andrews McMeel. Part of the proceeds for the book benefit Fisher House. Her chapbook of poetry won the Military Writers Society of America's award of excellence.