Soldiers

In January while watching TV a  blurb came on about adopting a soldier.  

I have to admit, I live in my own little world.  I have great respect for everyone who has served our country and can't imagine being without a loved one while they are training or deployed, but I had never heard of adopting a solider and know nothing about the military.  

Maybe it is finding my Dad's Army things and letters and knowing what he missed out on during his time in the Army.


Maybe it is knowing people who are in the National Guard.


Whatever the reason,  this brief item on TV got my attention and we read about it online and  adopted our first soldier through AdoptAUSSoldier.org.   When you sign up to adopt a soldier you are told not to expect a pen pal.  They have jobs to do and many don't have internet access, etc.  We are simply there to support them and let them know they are not forgotten.  

As soon as we got the contact information for our solider we decided to send a quick email, just to let him know we were here for him, in the off chance he did have access to the internet.  Within 30 seconds we got an email back from him.  It was so wonderful to communicate with him, even briefly, and find out a bit more about him.  

We sent letters and a care package over the next month.  

They ask that you wait a month before adopting a second soldier, to make sure the commitment is one you want.  So at the 1-month mark, we adopted a second solider.  He is  what is termed a "silent soldier."  We haven't heard from him.    We pray for them both, write letters, and just sent a care package.  

The website is a HUGE help and answers many questions we had... including how to do a care package!  The care packages are so much fun to put together. 

We have learned a lot from the site,  especially about how much receiving mail means to the soldiers.  

So if you have some time to write a letter or send a card, please consider adopting a soldier.   You can send care packages if you like as well,  but what they really need is support and to know that people are thinking of them and care.  Simply, to know they are not forgotten.

God bless all our soldiers and their families.