September 2009 Guam

This month we had 28 sailor in Guam stationed on the USS Frank Cole

They found us directly from our website, and were the first to request support.

We were so excited that the troops found a way to find us.

YEAH

We tried to theme it Football in Guam

considering it was the start of American football season.

Along with sending the general things they need or could use.

August 2009 USS Crommelin (FFG 37)

This month we did a frigate the USS Crommelin with 252 on board. (somewhere in the ocean)
They are home ported in Hawaii so we sent them a Luau.
We sent 293 boxes for the sailors themselves, 37 boxes of a Luau, Heads at Ease came threw with a pillowcase for everyone, and we had 252 personalized shirts that said the ships name and year. Unfortunately approx. 150 were stolen out of the back of someones car all packaged and ready to send.
The 252 were donated by a Florida company prographix. (thank you to them)
We had 2 Florida state packing parties, one held at the Bunker --a Vietnam vet memorial hall. (thanks to them also)
A Washington Packing party
A Colorado packing party
And of course moms from all over the Great nation of ours packing and sending things to our sailors.

MAS Special Hugs

We started a new sub group of Mollys Adopt A Sailor (MAS) called Special Hugs
This room is devoted to helping those active duty/reserves who have been injured or taken ill, and the Gold Star moms & family's.
We send cards and letters to the VA they are in, or to the home of the service member.
We have been able to have a few moms go into the VA and do visits also. they bring them a milkshake or DVDs,or just someone to talk with.
Its a great project, and one that is needed.
Hopefully soon we will have the funds to buy them easy to dress clothes (sweats, big t-shirts) as this is just a work in progress we are learning as we go.
I want to thank Brenda for being the Special Hugs mom and coordinating all these names and address's.
If you know someone that needs a special hug --please contact us through the website,and we will have someone get back to you.
God Bless our troops

Our 1 year birthday party

We went to the land & sea with 61 Marines on the ocean and 55 Sailors in Iraq.
We sent the essentials along with something birthday themed in each box or letter sent.
Our Marines were having a few babies born while away and so we sent them baby things and cards for THEM to send home.
Our Sailors had requested some official PT gear. So we hustled up and was able to purchase those for them (A BIG thank you to the NEX for allowing that )

And of course *heads at ease * stepped up with their pillowcases again for all the guys.

What we consider essentials you ask
Hygene items –---soaps, foot sprays, chapstick, lotion, things like that the everyday things we take for granted
Snacks ----- things that don’t melt, cakes in a jar, power bars, flavored water crystals. We try to get them things that are homey feeling.
Things that cure the boredom ----- Dvd’s, books, hand held games, you get the idea just things you may like.

So just in case you wonder how do I support the troops
There is just a little list of things ---its just that easy.
And never ever forget letters mean the world ---because once all those goodies from the box are gone , that letter is still there.
Will talk to you again next month with new adventures.
God Bless Our Troops ~Molly

4th of July in Afghanistan

These are a few pictures of things we sent to our 4th of July group. We have sent something from every state. Even Govenors got involved.

We hope this finds them safe, and that they return home soon.

We would be nothing without our military.

You don't need a huge crowd to say Thank you! just one person can make a military member feel special.

My self and another mom wanted to tell our 1 lone ship coming in for fleet week thank you. So we made up signs brought balloons and a flag.

We sat by the bridge and waited for the ship. Along came a mom who was all alone from Ohio who was there to see her son. She had not seen him in over a year.

Then another mom from the area called and said she was going to make and bring a banner.

We sat and waited-people started coming up and asking what we were doing. I kept saying thanking the Navy.

They stared sitting with us on the grass and waiting for the ship.

When the ship came in We Cheered and yelled and screamed Welcome to Portland.

And by gosh so did the crowd of maybe 50 at this time.

We went down by where they were docked and held our signs and clapped for them.

Here is the amazing part --- the commanders of that ship came right to where we were and thanked us ?? Thanked us for thanking them.

We live free everyday, we have the opportunity's to do anything we want at any time because of our men and women in the services. And they say thank you to us ?

Though it was nice, it made me a little sad --because they should never be surprised when people thank them. that's should be a daily thing IT SHOULD BE A REQUIREMENT !!

The reason I told this story is so that people can see ---you don't need a huge group to thank the military. You can do it alone and you may just find people will join in ?

And if not ---doesn't matter ! You will still let them know how special they are to us !!

GOD BLESS OUR MILITARY

Free Navy Mom Hugs

People ask me how the Free Navy Mom Hugs picture came about.

We started this group at Adopt A Sailor in July 2008 with 10 moms. By the time Dec 2008 rolled around we were up to aprox. 150 moms from all over the country.

We decided that Decembers group was going to be a whole ship,with the idea that we wanted to send a international phone card to each sailor on board. And some x-mas cards also.

It took us 6 weeks to gather up all we needed for the 253 on board and might I say we did it big and were able to gather 750 $10.00 international phone cards and and over 3000 cards and letters, along with boxes of goodies and a scrapbook for the CMC ! This was just moms with the help of schools and churches and friends.

When that ship came home some of us were there to welcome the sailors. We had food for those who had duty and could not leave the ship. And banners to welcome them home.

We also decided to hold signs for those sailors that may not have family to welcome them home and give hugs. How better to get a hug from a stranger then to start with a laugh :)

Plus really ---whats better then a mom hug ?

NYC Picnic update

NYC Picnic update :

This was not an Adopt A Sailor event ---just some wonderful Navy Moms that needed to be recognized.

~~Brenda had sent me a video of the whole park and there are about 1000 people just doing their Memorial day things. They have a caution taped off area that they are making the food and the picnic tables for our troops. She just called crying and made me cry too ---she says *Molly 25 Marines just got off the bus and the whole park starts cheering and clapping people are coming up to the tape area to watch the guys come in. Greeting them and shaking hands --the PGR showed up and she just called me when I was writing to you all and the crowd is screming and cheering now the sailors have arrived. She said every body is standing up from the blankets and cheering ---- I could hear them on the phone. OHHH The tears !! God Bless them --- they are getting cheers and cheers for what they give to us !!!

I can tell you that SueS from NY, Brenda from Texas and others (names will follow once I know) are having a free BBQ for 75 Sailors and 25 Marines in Staten Island on midland beach. They recieved funding through a company CNA that was filtered through the USO, who will also be providing entertainment for this event. This is what it is all about Moms !! Support and saying thank you. I love that we all have our nitch yet work together for the same cause. This was just a Navy mom who wanted to serve a BBQ to some sailors. They went out and got the help --and WHAM. The Navy is providing rides to the sailors, they are not sure yet how the Marines are coming (probably in the back of Navy moms cars ) I put information on twitter for them and invited any active military member to attend if in the area.This was not sponsered by anyone-until this mom went to her company and got the help. (I wish I knew that navy moms name ) Anyway A Big Thank you to our Fleet week Moms out there on their mission this weekend. BRAVO ZULU Moms ----- there is nothing a Navy Mom cant do !!! HOOYAH

Washington State Packing Party

Donna D, Barbara Dereks Mom , Susan mom to Nikko, and Storymom - at Marcos - with the 12 boxes headed to Molly's Adopt A sailor Sea Bee's in Afganistan 4th of July-- we are sending 3 GREEN boxes from the evergreen state

Do you see the Green Bee I am holding??? What could be better than sending a bee to a Seabee???/ tehehehe

4th of July Party in Afghanistan

Hi and Hello to the most wonderful NAVY Moms/Dads/Loved Ones on this planet!!

I’ve kept a secret for a very long time, and it’s time to let the cat out of the bag.

Molly contacted me February 18th. Yes, this is my personal best on secret keeping. She wanted to know what I thought about being the Mom of the month….for July, but why are you contacting me now?

Instead of adopting for just one month, we are adopting our group to begin delivery so they can have the best 4th of July on record in the sandbox!!! We want them to have all the fixin’s by July 4th.

EVERYONE, WE ARE SENDING THEM THE BIGGEST AND BEST 4TH OF JULY ON RECORD.
YES, I’M YELLING.
WE ARE THROWING A PARTY IN AFGHANISTAN FOR A HUGE GROUP OF 129 SEABEE’S!!

WITH MUCH LOVE FROM ALL THEIR NAVY MOMS, NAVY DADS AND NAVY LOVED ONES.
Holy Goodness Gracious!!! Whew. This is big.
What does this all mean exactly?

We want to send them a piece of home from every state!!! Every state in the union!!! 50.
5-0 and I know we "can do" this. --Get it...SeaBee motto: Can do. I crack myself up.

That means, POSTCARDS from your state.
Send a postcard of your beautiful state to let them know how much they are appreciated and loved by all their Navy Moms! Navy Dads & Loved Ones too!! Get everyone involved, we will tally the postcards, and locations of each.
Our goal is a postcard from every single state!

Those of you that are having get-togethers, and packing parties, send your state. Whatever that means to you. State Birds not allowed. Do not send livestock. Yikes!

BUT WE ALWAYS WANT TO INCLUDE SOME RED, WHITE AND BLUE!

Wait, do you hear the screeching brakes in your head. Good, because we can’t have one single firework, sparkler, or even a popper. I’m sure you will visit me in jail if we even try something like that. That would be way bad.
The above has been a public service announcement along with Staci’s conscience; she really doesn’t want to have anything to do with jail.

DETAILS:

OPERATION PARTY IN THE SANDBOX DATES:

START SENDING THE LOVE JUNE 9TH AND COMPLETE BY JUNE 16TH

Let's all sign the same thing this month, when we send our postcards/letters/etc.

Love Molly's Adopt a Sailor Mom
Your name here

We want them to start recognizing our big group, and we can do this by "Brand Image" --I think that's what they call it in the marketing world. I don't really know since I'm in the computer world, but I think you know what I mean.

AND we are ultimately shooting for the stars on our adoptions!

Why we send to the military.

What is the most critical or best thing I can send?
Your SUPPORT! This is NOT an attempt to resupply the military, or fix every logistical problem. What counts here is the morale of the Sailor. Send a letter or a new Army tank, they both help, but a Sailor that knows he/she has the support of the folks at home will use that tank far better than without the support.
Count on that.

We will continue to do our best to list the items requested by the Sailors.

Again, this is not an effort to get you to spend a bunch of money, it is about you sending support to those who give us the freedom to express our thanks for our freedom.

Will I get a thank you from the Sailor that gets my package?
We hope you do, but we do not guarantee it.

The Sailors are under no obligation to reply. They can't be. We can't burden Sailors are busy doing there jobs. Sure can't have their leadership tell them to reply either. If you get a reply, it is voluntary by that Sailor.

However, if you want to really increase your chances of getting a reply, simply pre-address an envelope to yourself, a few pieces of paper, and maybe a pen and put them in your package. No need for a stamp on the envelope. In your letter to the Sailor which you also put in the box, ask him/her to drop you a quick note or more and ask if there is anything in particular you can send.

Many of the troops are asking that you include your email address in your letters and boxes if you would like a reply or thank you. This is of course far easier for the troops that have Internet access. This is completely voluntary on your part and does not guarantee a reply. But it helps.

Our Mission

As a group, we would like to adopt a group of sailors and send letters and/or packages. I think we could make a big difference in some sailors lives if all of us would just write one letter (you can do more if you want)