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 ?