The Yellow Ribbon Campaign of Idaho wishes to recognize and honor each combat troop, from the State of Idaho that is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. It will do so by making an individual Yellow Ribbon for each one. Each Yellow Ribbon will be 2½ inches wide and about 5 to 6 feet long. On it will be the: DAY of DEPARTURE of leaving the United States, their RANK, NAME, UNIT and COUNTRY serving in. It is MOST IMPORTANT that we get ALL THE NAMES of the troops who are serving over there from State of Idaho. To get a Yellow Ribbon, we have to know they are over there.
All the Yellow Ribbons will be displayed in secure public buildings. On the date of final return, that individual’s Yellow Ribbon will be removed from the display. At the airport a color guard, family, friends and other vets will be there to greet the soldier. When he departs the plane or at a special homecoming, he or she will be presented with his or her own Yellow Ribbon, with our thanks.
Accompanying the Yellow Ribbons will be a roster of all the ribbon holders and their overseas mailing address. In that way, the public can write a note or letter thanking them for the sacrifices they have made to help keep us safe and free. Those addresses can be used to send CARE PACKAGES, a collection of everyday things we have here, but they don’t have or couldn’t get there.
The Yellow Ribbon Campaign of Idaho assists family members by paying for the mailing cost of CARE PACKAGES to our troops over there. We are trying to help not only the troops but also their families here. The Yellow Ribbon Campaign of Idaho is a non-profit organization endorsed by veteran service organizations throughout the state. In order to gain funds for mailing of CARE PACKAGES, the Yellow Ribbon Campaign of Idaho is asking for donations for car magnets, lapel pins, etc. All that money is put in a separate bank account. That is to be used to accomplish our goal and send CARE PACKAGES overseas. Any checks used to purchase these should be made out to YELLOW RIBBON CAMPAIGN OF IDAHO.
To make the public more aware by showing respect and awareness of our troops overseas, the Yellow Ribbon Campaign of Idaho presented the FIELD OF HEROES last Veterans Day, 11/11/04, at the football field of Irving Middle School, in Pocatello. On it was a cross for each one of our casualties from Iraq and Afghanistan. This event was well noted by not only the local media, but also National and International Press.
In 2005, the FIELD OF HEROES was observed at the POW/MIA AWARENESS RALLY at the Bannock County Fairgrounds, July 28-31. It will also be presented on Memorial Day, 2006.
http://www.yellowribboncampaignofidaho.org/ John Rogers has been selected as Yellow Ribbon Campaign Coordinator by American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, VFW, DAV, Marine Corps League and Fleet Reserve Association. The information on who and when of the next return, should be given to him to make sure the ribbons are made out. His contact information is below:
Free Stuff for Troops in Iraq and Their Families
http://www.operationhomelink.org/
- Free computers for spouses or
parents of deployed soldier in ranks E1-E5.
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/2/prweb106818.htm
- Free mail and
gifts sent to children of deployed soldiers.
https://www.operationuplink.org/
- Free phone cards.
http://anysoldier.com/ForSoldiersOnly.cfm
- To sign up for sponsoring
soldier care packages to theater.
http://www.appreciateourtroops.org/forourtroops.shtml
- To have
commander sign up for mugs for unit troops.
http://www.operationshoebox.com/
- Free shoebox care package.
http://www.treatthetroops.org/
- Free cookies.
http://bluestarmoms.org/airfare.html
- Lowest airfare available.
http://bluestarmoms.org/care.html
- Free care packages.
http://66.241.249.83/
- Free air conditioners/heaters.
http://www.heromiles.org/
- Free air travel for emergency leave, and for
the family members of injured soldiers to travel to medical facility.
http://www.bluestarmothers.org/airlinespecials.php
- Airline discounts
for R & R.
http://www.booksforsoldiers.com/forum/index.php
- Free books, DVDs, CDs.
http://www.militarymoms.net/sot.html
- Free care packages (your family
member signs up to have sent to you).
http://operationmilitarypride.org/smsignup.html
- Free care packages.
http://www.soldiersangels.org/heroes/submit_a_soldier.php
- Get adopted
to receive stuff.
https://www.treatsfortroops.com/registration/index.php
- Free gifts and
care packages.
http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Nov2004/n11232004_2004112312.html
- Free
shipping/packing materials for shipping to troops
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Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(ret)