As we reflect on the 10th anniversary of 9/11, I wish to pay tribute to the many men and women serving our country. I am not a writer or a journalist so I don't possess any fancy flair for writing. I am just a wife, mom, daughter, sister and patriot who speaks from the heart. When I started this organization, Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas, over 6 years ago, little did I envision the growth it would take in the number of soldiers we reach, the number of volunteers who have joined but mostly the growth within our inner selves.
I have learned that sheer passion and doing something with that passion can accomplish great things and make a difference in so many lives, many of whom I will never meet. Has it been difficult, yes. Has it been time consuming, yes. Has it been worth the hard work, most definitely YES!!!
The friendships that I have made with my volunteers, donors and especially with our soldiers, I hope will last a lifetime. All our volunteers have different reasons for becoming involved and very few have actual family members serving in the armed forces but we all share a love for the USA and have a profound desire to better the lives of those serving in harm's way to protect this country that we so love. I am proud to call them my friends.
For our donors, your unwavering support makes all this possible and does not go unnoticed. Without your kindhearted and amazing generosity, our all-volunteer organization would not be able to supply the multitudes of goods that we send. Know that 100% of your donations goes toward sending these coveted care packages. For that, we thank you on behalf of our troops.
For our troops, your sacrifices to make this world a better place cannot be easy. We applaud your strength and pray it continues to hold you up until you return to your family and loved ones. We often forget you volunteered for this and knew the risk when you signed up. Yet you went anyway. You kissed your family goodbye knowing you might never see them again. I cannot imagine the difficulty in seeing you go. To the soldiers who are here in the United States, possibly recovering from injuries, we can't thank you enough for all you have done. While too many folks have heroes that are entertainers, movie stars, and sports figures, you are the TRUE American Heroes. You are indeed a special person and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
To many of our past contacts, Wendle, Princeton, Steven, Maria, Gary, Rick, Pamela, Michael E., Josh, Shea, Adam, Crystal, Andrew, John, Jacklyn, Samantha, Melvic, Darren, Shannon, Logan, Matt, Rolando, Chris, Suzanne, Michael S., Jeffrey, Randal, Lee, Jerry, Danny, Thomas, Jeffried, Jason, Chuck, Thomas, Mary, Kevin, Sarah, and so many more, we thank you for serving as our conduits in distributing our boxes to those in need. You were our eyes and ears and we relied on you to move our care packages downline to those troops in the more remote areas who might not have access to basic amenities, or perhaps with little running water or hot meals. We often forget that these men and women are so far from home and do not have the luxury to drive to a store for the most basic of goods such as a simple hook to hang their towel or a bar of soap if they were able to bathe.
To our current contacts Anthony, Robert, Samuel, Xuan, Ricky, Bill, Patrina, Brian, Patricia, Duane, John and the many chaplains at various bases, your ability to access over 15,000 soldiers, marines, sailors and airmen in both Iraq and Afghanistan is astounding and we will do all we can to continue with our mission of sending you care packages every 6-8 weeks. Thank you for continuing to take the time out of your busy schedules to communicate with us. Your feedback is so important and the letters and emails we receive from you are gifts in themselves. They makes us more certain of why we do what we do and that much more determined to continue sending these morale boosting care packages to you brave men and women serving in harm's way. They are a small token of appreciation for a debt of gratitude we can never repay. It is our honor.
One more thing.....
God Bless America and all those that defend her. Come home safely.
Sincerely,
Nancy Carter
