I’m happy to report that Operation Holiday Cheer appears to have succeeded in its aim to spread good tidings to troops from Rhode Island serving overseas. My office has been hearing from a number of Rhode Islanders who’ve received the care packages that we collected donations for and shipped in mid-November.
Here’s an excerpt from one letter: “A huge THANK YOU for all of those excellent care packages!! They were filled with lots of great stuff, and really put some big smiles on a lot of faces out here! It really means a lot and we just can't thank you enough, or put into words how good it feels to be thought of, especially around the holidays when many of us are missing home the most. … GO PATRIOTS!”
It’s clear from the words and the photos they sent that it does mean so much that we are thinking of our troops who are serving their country at the holidays.
You can still show your support by helping the troops’ families in RI, either by calling the Rhode Island National Guard’s Family Assistance Center at (401) 275-4361, or sending a check to the American Red Cross, Attn: Military Family Relief Fund, P.O. Box 2496, Providence, RI 02906.
When our troops are sent overseas, it should be our mission to support them and their families. My heartfelt thanks and holiday wishes go out to our service men and women who are far from home this holiday season.