 |
Georgia Man Starts Massive Letter-Writing Campaign for Troops
(August 11, 2008) | 
|
|
|
WASHINGTON, Aug. 7, 2008 – The idea of getting
people involved in a letter-writing campaign to reach all servicemembers currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan --
about 178,000 -- may seem a little far-fetched for the average
person, but Cody Anderson is by no means “average.”
For several years, Anderson has been
collecting, packing, shipping and delivering care packages and
phone cards to U.S. troops stationed around the world.
Anderson, 53, a resident of Mineral Buff, Ga., has raised
$50,000 in supplies, including personal hygiene items, games and
snacks; $50,000 in phone cards; and $21,500 in Beanie Babies, to
be given to Iraqi children, for soldiers serving in Iraq and
Afghanistan. He has personally delivered phone cards to five
U.S. bases in Kuwait.
“I love doing this,” Anderson said. “We owe them so many ‘thank
yous.' The troops have given and continue to give so much. This
is a life-long love to show appreciation and respect. There is
always something to be done for the troops,” he said. With this sentiment, Anderson is on another mission for U.S.
troops. “Operation S.O.S.” is his latest venture. He stressed
the mission is a
|
|
For many years, Cody
Anderson, a Georgia man, has been collecting,
packing, shipping and delivering care packages
and phone cards to U.S. troops stationed around
the world. His latest mission, “Operation S.O.S.,”
is a letter-writing campaign for all
servicemembers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Because of his continued dedication to the
troops, Naples, Fla. Marine Corps League made
him a lifetime honorary Marine. Courtesy photo
via
ASY |
|
letter-writing campaign, not just a few letters
here and there. He said he's hoping to encourage everyone to
write one letter to every soldier, sailor, airman and Marine
currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with the
letter, Anderson is requesting participants include a $10 phone
card. |
| |
“It only takes five minutes to write a short letter of thanks,”
Anderson said. “The care, concern and love of a stranger can
make a big difference in a soldier's life. We can always find
something to do to uplift their spirits. This is just a small
token of appreciation. Troops are always looking for kind words
of encouragement.”
Anderson has already collected about 300 letters and has set no
deadline in receiving more until he reaches his goal.
Operation Give, a group that supplies humanitarian aid to
civilians in combat zones, also is helping Anderson collect
letters to send off to troops. Operation Give is a member of the
Defense Department's America Supports You program, which
connects citizens and companies with servicemembers and their
families serving at home and abroad.
“We are excited about helping Cody with these letters,” said
Paul Holton, Operation Give director. “I think what he is doing
is a great thing. He contacted us to help him with this project,
and of course, we said yes. I've been over there, so I know what
it's like to get letters back from home. Anything that we can do
to let the troops know we support them is important.”
Interested people should send their letters for the troops to:
Operation Give, Attn: Operation S.O.S., 2363 South Scenic Dr.,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84109. | |
By Sharon Foster
Special to American Forces Press Service
Copyright 2008
Comment on this article |
|
