Anysoldier.com

EDITOR:

We’ve been following a Website called “Anysoldier.com” for a few months now and thought some of your readers might be interested in this site. Prior to finding this site we wanted to be able to do something for our service people but not knowing anyone personally were unable to do anything.

When you log into this site you can choose the any soldier section which contains all five branches of the service or go to a specific branch. Personally we’ve sent to Coast Guard, NaW, Air Force, Marines and Army. If you can’t afford to send gifts just read through the contacts information and see the pictures some have posted showing great big smiles while holding their gifts. Also, they love to receive letters and cards from anyone at home. Some of these warriors never receive any mail and the contact person is aware of who they are and when mail or packages come addressed to Any Soldier (or any Marine, etc.) that letter or that package is given to him/her. One of the entries said some of their soldiers have complained about no news coverage commenting, “Do they know we’re still here?”

I’d like to quote one contact person (a Ssgt): “We would like to thank everyone for the care packages and letters we have received. They have been extremely helpful. It is a great feeling to know that we are not forgotten even though we are so far away from home. It fills me with joy to know that there are people that we do not know personally but are here supporting us. Every package we get is like ‘hope’ in a box. I love to see my Marines smile and enjoy a small part of home, forgetting about where we are at … We have been through ups and downs while in this country. But we will never allow anyone or anything to defeat our will to fight.”

You can pack a lot of stuff in one of the large post office boxes that send for one price regardless of weight. There are three or four sizes of boxes costing different amounts to mail. The largest is 12x12x5 1/2.

You can find out the items they want from the contact pages. They really appreciate the letters and pictures drawn by children and school classes. The big thing is they appreciate being remembered.

One Captain asked for 3-foot-by-5-foot nylon flags with embroidered stars. The soldiers carry them on missions and get a certificate to go with the flag to give to whomever they want.

Thank you for reading this. I hope someone is encouraged to get involved in making the life/lives of our troops a little better. 2014 is still a long time away.

JUDITH AND REBECCA EIEN
Placerville