I always know Mom is proud of me. It is one of those things that I never question I just know because she tells me and shows me in so many ways. Today however, She was so proud of me and Grateful to one man that she cried ... Let me back up ...
Does anyone remember Operation Secret Squirl Santa?? Well, We sent 80 stockings and 80 care packages totaling over 15lbs of candy and 100 lbs of other "stuff". To me and my family it was an honor to serve the men that are serving to protect the right to live the life we do and I never expected anything in return. It needed doing so me and my family got the community to do it. It was never about anything else but stepping up to do what was just the right thing to do. Here is the video I made and sent to the troops. The first part explains why I did what I did....
Does anyone remember Operation Secret Squirl Santa?? Well, We sent 80 stockings and 80 care packages totaling over 15lbs of candy and 100 lbs of other "stuff". To me and my family it was an honor to serve the men that are serving to protect the right to live the life we do and I never expected anything in return. It needed doing so me and my family got the community to do it. It was never about anything else but stepping up to do what was just the right thing to do. Here is the video I made and sent to the troops. The first part explains why I did what I did....
Today,however, this little project to do the right thing became something I will remember as a milestone in my life forever. It was no longer about me and Sarge. It impacted others and those other became real. I don't know if that makes sense but today I got something I have had the pleasure of giving from time to time. At those times I thought that it was never enough to say thank you on paper for whatever that person had done. Remember this Great Honor?? At that moment I only hoped that Sir Will understood how much I truly appreciated what he had done for us.
Today I understand that a paper like that can melt a heart and bring tears of pride to a mother's eyes and make a 15 year old Boy feel like a man and make his chest swell with more pride then I knew I had in me. So what am I Babbling about ... This came in the mail today ...
Today I understand that a paper like that can melt a heart and bring tears of pride to a mother's eyes and make a 15 year old Boy feel like a man and make his chest swell with more pride then I knew I had in me. So what am I Babbling about ... This came in the mail today ...
On the back were signatures of real people that I hope were touched by our project...
You can't really read it in the picture but here is what it says....
"RJ Straw has demonstrated an extensive support to international Troopsdeployed in Afghanistan under ISAF NATO Mission. As simple a token of appreciation as Christmas Stockings are they have enlighteded a particularly sensitive time of the year for many soldies who are thousands of miles away from their loved ones. Acts of generosity as like his are the ones inspiring us to accomplish our mission and keep going in our fight for Freedom. RJ Straw has, therefore, made a sigificant contribution to the success of Regional Command West Combined Joint Operations Center. I proudly state that RJ Straw is now part of our small RC (W) CJOC family and reflects great credit upon himself."
Herat (Afghanistan)
Signed
Pablo Gomez Lera
Lieutenant Colonel SP ARMY
Director CJOC
Regional Command - West
There was even a personal note from Sarge that I will keep forever with my certificate that means just as much if not more to me then the Certificate. I know that sounds bad but I appreciate the fact that a soldier overseas found time to write me a personal note of thanks to let me know that I had touched so many. (Not like he didn't have enough to do??)
So I put forth this question ... Have you written a note of thanks to someone for a little thing they did? Trust me when I say it makes all the difference in the world.
"RJ Straw has demonstrated an extensive support to international Troopsdeployed in Afghanistan under ISAF NATO Mission. As simple a token of appreciation as Christmas Stockings are they have enlighteded a particularly sensitive time of the year for many soldies who are thousands of miles away from their loved ones. Acts of generosity as like his are the ones inspiring us to accomplish our mission and keep going in our fight for Freedom. RJ Straw has, therefore, made a sigificant contribution to the success of Regional Command West Combined Joint Operations Center. I proudly state that RJ Straw is now part of our small RC (W) CJOC family and reflects great credit upon himself."
Herat (Afghanistan)
Signed
Pablo Gomez Lera
Lieutenant Colonel SP ARMY
Director CJOC
Regional Command - West
There was even a personal note from Sarge that I will keep forever with my certificate that means just as much if not more to me then the Certificate. I know that sounds bad but I appreciate the fact that a soldier overseas found time to write me a personal note of thanks to let me know that I had touched so many. (Not like he didn't have enough to do??)
So I put forth this question ... Have you written a note of thanks to someone for a little thing they did? Trust me when I say it makes all the difference in the world.
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