Giving Back to our Troops

I wanted to follow up on my blog about Osama Bin Laden.  So often it seems that my generation doesn't really think about war or the true cost.  We are a generation that does not live in the days of a draft.  If we did, I am certain more people my age, including me, would know the true cost of war.  I cannot speak to the rightness or wrongness of war.  War is a part of the human condition.  But I think more people my age need to give thought to those of us who are brave and stalwart enough to give their lives in service to our country.

My good friend, Sergio Del Veccio is one of these people.  I knew Sergio in junior high and high school, though we have grown apart over the years.  Sergio came into the country with his parents illegally, but they forged a life here and are some of the hardest working people I ever knew. Sergio wanted to become  veterinarian, but he couldn't afford the expense for such a schooling as a vet requires. After high school, Sergio could not remain at home, so he planned to join the military to get medical training.  Then, 9/11 happened.  I know this weighed heavily on his decision.  Ultimately, Sergio joined.  He's served in Afganistan and Iraq for the extent of the war as a medic.  In his own words he has seen things "no one should see."  This, above all, speaks to the horror of war.

After last night, I got to thinking of Sergio.  I wonder where he is, what he is doing.  The last I heard, he gained US citizenship and was based out of the East Coast.  He has a wife and a beautiful baby and I am sure he thinks of them every day.

I wasn't sure how I could give back to Sergio, or to other members of the military.  As a citizen, there's only so much I could do.  Then I hears about http://okbox.org/page-2.html and Andrew Gary on the radio.  Andrew sends care packages to our soldiers overseas.  Contrary to popular belief, our military doesn't give our soldiers everything they need.  Listening to him, and reading about him, I plan to donate to his cause to send care packages overseas.  I will hope that my friends or those who read this will read through his website and donate themselves.