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Yes, Lieutenant, there is a Santa Claus

Nov- 3-2004 » Filed Under: Homefront

Here's an article I missed over the weekend.

[Link to Full Article]
DAVID WICKERT; The News Tribune

Between the candy, the clothes and the compact discs, thousands of U.S. soldiers in Iraq will enjoy a surprise visit from Santa Claus this season, thanks to a dedicated group of Puget Sound-area volunteers.

More than 150 people traveled to a Renton farm on Saturday to ready more than 500 boxes full of holiday cheer for about 3,000 men and women in uniform.

“We’re going to spoil those kids so bad they’re not going to want to come home,” said Nadine Gulit, a volunteer for Operation Support Our Troops.

The organization started in January 2003 with just a dozen people lofting signs of support on an interstate overpass near Fort Lewis. Since then, it has grown to some 8,000 people who attend rallies and send cards and gifts to service members overseas.

The self-proclaimed “Santa’s soldiers” sent gifts last Christmas and continued through Valentine’s Day, Easter and Independence Day. The effort keeps growing, and Operation Support Our Troops has spent $12,000 on postage this year, Gulit said.

On Saturday, volunteers packaged an eye-popping array of goodies. There were boxes of Rice Krispie bars and Double Stuf Oreos, plus stashes of peanuts, Cracker Jacks, potato chips, socks, slide whistles and Hacky Sacks...

Operation Support Our Troops will host another gift-wrapping party for U.S. troops at 11 a.m. Nov. 13 at Blaine and Diane Anderson’s Barn, 20245 S.E. 192nd St., Renton.

For more information on Operation Support Our Troops or to make a donation, visit: www.osot.org.


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