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 RCLPC Sends 300 Christmas Stockings to IraqSee NOTES below from our troopsMembers of Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church and people from McHenry County donated items to include in Christmas stockings that were mailed to 300 Marines and Sailors in Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron #29 at Al Asad Air Base, Anbar Province, Iraq. The stockings included hand-written notes, phone cards, CDs, DVDs, electronic games, socks, playing cards, puzzle books, batteries, grooming supplies, and candy and snacks. |
| Area businesses who sponsored donation boxes are McHenry County College; Huggable Hounds, Crystal Lake; Now and Then Scrapbooking, Crystal Lake; The Backdrop, Woodstock; Read Between the Lynes, Woodstock; and Java Junction, Woodstock. People pictured above who helped fill the stockings are:
Row 1: Marilyn Munz;
Row 2: Mary Moltmann, Ann Jarvis, Leanna Miller, Pat Moll, Raj Dencker, Dorothy Vick, Kathy Rabe, and Marie Randall.;
Row 3: Karen Nelson, Karen Leuchtmann, Doug Crane, Bob Tripp, Ed Bennett, and Linda Rosquist.;
Not pictured: Rev. Richard Floyd, Jodie LeFevre, Sue Hayden, Raechel Sowa, Daniel Sowa, Sherri Dees, Kim Stewart, Beth Esche, and Laura Esche. Below are several thank you notes that we have received back from our troops in Iraq in response to Christmas stockings and care packages that were sent to them. Dear Mary & Friends Your Valentine’s day package could not have come at a better time. My Platoon and I were 5 days in on our week long field op when they actually brought us mail. This was odd because they usually wait until we’re done training and we don’t have extra stuff to carry. Anyway the snacks went like hot cakes and there was nothing left after 30 min. Also another big hit was the magazines, almost everyone had something to read while there was down time. In my 3 weeks here I’ve already been in sub-freezing temperatures and 2 full fledged sand storms, who would have thought a desert could get so cold? Overall it’s not so bad, there isn’t much to spend money on so I’m actually saving some, and I met Scarlett Johansson and got a picture with her when she visited our camp. Well that’s about the extent of life in the sand box, we all appreciate what you do for us. All I have in return is a picture of myself so you can have a face with a name. Thanks again. -Charles Gay Dear Mary and friends, I recieved your care package and all I can say is wow! It has everything possible to make our lives just a little bit easier, even the DVD's are a great touch. Every one appreciates the snacks and the reading material. Again I can't say thank you enough for the package and supporting us. Charles R. Gay On behalf of our command, we want to thank your church for demonstrating Christ’s love to our Marines and Sailors. Have a great day! Jon Interesse Tenebras Lux "The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action." Daniel 11:32 To All Members of Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, I received one of your Christmas stockings and would like to express my thanks. Unlike some of my fellow Marines I will be in the states trying to get things setup back home. However I won’t be able to spend time with my family since they moved to Texas. But growing up around the military I know what it means to have family deployed. So again I want to say thank you. And I hope that all your holidays this Christmas Season are great and filled with joy and happiness. Cpl Rohman On behalf of my Marines and myself, I would like to thank you for the Christmas stockings that you sent to MALS-29 here in Iraq. Your bit of Christmas cheer helps to go a long ways during our deployment and to brighten our days even though we can’t be at home with our loved ones. I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and prosperous New Year. Sincerely, Paul Moreno "It's your world, make a difference in it." Dear members of The Ridgefield Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, I just wanted you all to know how much myself; and all of the other marines that I work with, appreciated the wonderful Christmas gifts that you put together for us. Your thoughts and prayers and kindness have not gone un-noticed and I know I speak for more than myself when I say that the gifts made the holidays all the more brighter. Again, thank you for your consideration and thoughts. God Bless and happy holidays! Marissa G. Mattu Good evening to all, My name is Cpl Parada, Jonathan. First of all I want to say thank you for the time and money that has been taking from ya’ll, to put together these stockings for the Marines here at MALS 29. Each stocking that has been received, has brought a smile to each person and a little closer to home. Thank you. Cpl Parada Good Afternoon from Iraq. I just wanted to say thank you for the stockings. Its good to know that there are Americans like yourself supporting us while were out here. I hope you have a very merry Christmas and a happy new year and again thank you so very much. Take care and be safe. Cpl Clary "The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for!!" Greetings Crystal Lake Presbyterian Church, I would like to thank everyone for the stockings that were sent out here to Al Asad, It really brightened up my and the Marines day. There are 7 marines in my shop, and I know that many other shops received your gifts as well. They will be out here through Christmas this year so receiving reminders like this that we are still cared about back home is wonderful. The shop is hectic right now preparing for the end of the year and our eventual transition back to the states, but we wanted to drop a short note back. Thank you again for the support. From the marines of SRD Sgt Harris Sgt Udey Cpl Clary Cpl Wilkinson Cpl Wijaya Lcpl Miranda Lcpl Brack Lcpl Meyers PFC Fuentes Thank you again for the gifts Sgt Udey |