American men and women are fighting the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan and we owe them our support and encouragement.  I, for one, do not believe you can support the troops but not the war, not their mission.  It is a liberal lie from the same folks who are trying to keep the ROTC and recruiters off campus and are willing to intimidate military representatives if that is what it takes. 

For the rest of us, those who understand we are in a fight to the death with radical Islamic fascists who would just as soon saw off our heads as look at us... we need to show our troops we support them.  Here are a few suggestions how:

*  Adopt a military unit or an individual soldier in Iraq or Afghanistan.  Ask around and you will find someone who is either related to or knows someone in the combat zone.  Get the trooper's address and send him or her a thankyou letter and ask if he or she would be willing to be the recipient of items for the unit.  Anything from books to goodies is appreciated and it shows the soldiers you care.  Entire companies can organize soldier drives.  My company has done several, with the employees buying items from Sam's and other big stores and the company paying the shipping charges. 

*  If you see a military person in uniform or someone with a GI haircut, ask if they are active duty and then thank them with a handshake or a pat on the back.  At airports, you will see soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in uniform.  Take the time to thank them in public.  Start a round of applause for them.  Offer to buy the trooper a drink or lunch.  But don't let them pass you by without a warm thank you.  It means a lot, yet costs so little.

*  If you spot a trooper in a restaurant, call the waiter over and pay the trooper's tab.  I prefer to do it anonymously, as it is as though anybody and everybody is thanking the military person.  Plus, you avoid any awkward thank yous coming from someone who has given so much.  Often, if you do this, the restaurant will want to split the tab with you, which is fine, because you are passing it along and generating more support for our troops. (I do the same for police and firemen.)

*  If you are on an airplane that is overbooked, or are sitting in first class and there are miltary men and women on the flight, offer your seat to them.  They've earned it. 

*  If you have special concert or other event tickets or gift certificates, consider calling your local VA hospital and inquiring if they have a program that can get the items to wounded soldiers.  See if there are any programs in your area that help wounded veterans or simply visit them.  Contribute to one or more of the many charities that benefit wounded warriors or help send the children of those killed in action attend college.

*  If you know of a young man or woman recently discharged from the service (it doesn't matter if it they are regulars, reservists or National Guard), help them get a job and get reintroduced to civilian society.  Treat them as the heroes they are.

Honor our troops and honor their mission.  They are protecting us from the barbarians and the least we can do is show them we care.

Contributed by Shane Briscoe on September 21, 2006 at 03:38 PM in Caring about our troops, Shane Briscoe | Permalink

Comments

Posted by: ponsdorf

Quite right. I have a couple of Army guys in Ramadi I exchange emails and somtimes chat with. Both say that thanks is nice, but do not call them Heros. It's wonderful bit of perspective. One is a Lifer, the other can't wait to get out.

I don't get out much so I have yet to encounter a serving military type.

You might want to add referring them to various vet groups (VFW, DAV, etc), they are some powerful allies.

Side Note: When I got back the VFW, in particular, had no room for 'Nam vets. All that has changed, a returning vet could do worse than visiting them.

Posted by: ponsdorf | Sep 21, 2006 5:33:29 PM

Posted by: 1st Cav

"I, for one, do not believe you can support the troops but not the war, not their mission"

Totally agree. Couldn't be with a better pack of fighters.

Posted by: 1st Cav | Sep 22, 2006 12:06:17 AM