| JANUARY |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
| January 3,2006 Mary Ann and everyone at Packages of Gratitude and La Mirada Volunteer Center I am writing as one very grateful Marine overseas in thanks for your hard work and support of troops all around the world. Your packages, notes, and letters have given myself as well as the Marines in my unit so much: Useful items like lotion, chap stick, goodies to help satisfy our sweet tooth, and most importantly brought a smile and a good morale to all of us this holiday season! I am so fortunate to be on your address list, and so many others too! Thank you so much for your support (especially this time of the year), it really means the world to us. On behalf of the Marines with 5/14 HQ Co. Thank you Lcpl Lucker |
| January 3, 2006 Dear Mary Ann Thank you for the things you sent. It is encouraging to know people still care. I hope your holidays were nice. Have a Happy New Year Sincerely SGT Josh Simms |
| January 14,. 2006 I AM A SOLDIER CURRENTLY IN IRAQ. I'M NOT WRITING TO YOU TO ASK FOR A PACKAGE BUT INSTEAD TO THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. ITS PEOPLE LIKE YOU THAT STILL SUPPORT US THAT MAKE IT ALL WORTH WHILE. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH A PACKAGE IN THE MAIL CAN RAISE OUR SPIRITS. ITS JUST ONE LITTLE THING THAT MAKES IT A LITTLE EASIER OVER HERE. THANK YOU, CHRISTOPHER CHAPPELL NOTE: A PACKAGE WAS SENT TO HIM ON JANUARY 18, 2005 |
| January 27, 2006 Mary Ann, I wanted to take the time to write to you and let you know how great it was to get your package. We are an assault helicopter company here in Iraq. To let you know, your package not only came at a great time, but it had all the things guys need in my unit. With the weather being bad here, after launching on a mission, it is frequent that crews get stuck at a strange FOB for several days at a time without being able to return to home. Crews have started packing an overnight bag with all the shaving kit items you sent are perfect for that. Along with the food items. Everyone greatly appreciates everything you do. I hope you realize how much your gratitude and hard work are appreciated by all of us. Sincerely, CW2 Jason Lazowki U.S. Army |
| January 30, 2006 Ms. Mary Ann, I wanted to take an opportunity to send my sincerest thank you for the package I recently received from you and your organization. My name is Mike Baujan and I am a pilot with the Bravo Company Lancers, 5th BN/101st AVN RGT. We all appreciate what you and all of your helpers, including the big guy with the cool name (Michael), are doing. I saw on your website that someone had already sent you a company photo, so I'll just send my thanks. Take care and keep up the good work! Sincerely, CW2 Mike Baujan |
| FEBRUARY 2006 |
| FEBRUARY 8, 2006 Dear Mary Ann, Thank you so much for the care packages. It came at just the right time. Here's a little bit about myself. I'm happily married and have 2 awesome boys, 4 and 7 who are a hand full. I am stationed out of Foot Hood, Texas, but we live in Illinois. My wife has family in Anaheim and I received your package just a day after theirs. It just seems odd. Everyone I know lives in Illinois, but my first two packages both came from Anaheim. Thank you for what you are doing. This is a great way for you to serve your country. We all appreciate your support! Sincerely, Tim Cardinal |
| Dear Mrs. Cordova February 12, 2006 Hello Ma'am. I just wanted to take the time to write and say, "Thank You." Thanks to you, all of your friends and family, for taking the time out to put the packages together and taking the time to send them. You have brightened a lot of people's day by sending the packages. It is always the highlight of people's day to receive mail and a package is even a bigger deal. The funny thing is when they get a package they're all excited, but then when they see the names sending them the look on their faces is puzzled. When they open them and realize that their families aren't the only people thinking and praying for their return they really feel a sense of pride. My name is John Nikolao, I am a SIP (Standardization Instructor Pilot, and the senior Warrant Officer in the unit. I wanted to personally thank you for helping myself and the Command Group, maintain a high state of morale in our unit. One of he biggest challenges we have as leaders is to find ways to keep our soldiers striving each day to do their jobs. Sometimes all it takes is a word from home, and other times it's what they see on the news. Thanks to people such as yourself, our soldiers get support from the fellow countryman. Thank you very much for your kindness and support. Respectfully, John T. Nikola , B Co 101st |
| February 2006 Hi Mary Ann, Thanks so much for the packages. They were greatly appreciated by all of us here. Most of us are DOD civilians and we all volunteered to come here. We hope we are making a difference in the Global War on Terror and appreciate your support back home The sacrifices that we have endured have been numerous, but it was for a good cause. Sincerely, Jason Ranone |
| Saturday February 11th Mary Ann Please thank your team for all their hard work to support the Marines and Soldiers in the field. We have our Marines spread though out an area about the size of the state of Maryland. There are no PX (AAFS) stores for them to buy items (razors, shaving cream, soap, food, etc) where they live, so I send your packages out whenever a helicopter or C-130 is available. Thank you again, Col. T.R. Kelly, Jr. Afghanistan |
| February 17th, 2006 Mary Ann I want to take this opportunity to thank you and your organization for all the support you've provided over the last few months, the support has been greatly appreciated by me and all 70 plus Marines we have forward deployed supporting the Global War on Terrorism. We will be departing in the next week on our journey back home to our loved ones but we will not forget the wonderful support you provided. Thank You from the Marines of MACS -1 Detachment Charlie ! MSgt Mike Dalton |
| March 2006 Dear Mary Ann, I finally found a couple of spare minutes to send you a short note of gratitude. You touched my heart deeply after receiving my package. All of the contents are wonderful, but knowing you and your friends care meant so much. I just wanted to say Thank You from the bottom of my heart. Most sincerely, Pete Dobbs, U.S. ARMY |
| Sat. February 25, 2006 Mary Ann, I want to thank you from the bottom of my hear for what you are doing. Your husband is correct and things haven't changed. Troops love to get mail and packages, myself included. We have a system that works well for us regarding the packages that we receive. Of course the recipient gets first dibs, then the items that the recipient has plenty of go to a room where you can go and browse for items you need or wants. Then we take what's left over on our patrols and give it to needy families and children. The whole process benefits everyone. Please know that the items you send are appreciated by many. We are coming home soon, but I will give your information to the unit that replaces us so that they may benefit from your support Thank you for all that you do. Zach Saver |
| March 2006 Dear Mary Ann Cordova I just wanted to send my sincere thanks for the box that you sent out here to Afghanistan. I don't know if the person who originally got the box sent you a thank you card, but if they didn't then I am saying thanks for them too. I found this box in the female latrine, that is how we share out here. Take what you need and share with everyone else. Oh, I have gotten a little ahead of myself.... I should have started this letter like this: Hello, my name is SPC Angelina Price. I am stationed in Afghanistan. I have been here for two months, and supposed to be here a year. I have been in the military for 5 years and I am married with no kids (one date), but I am 22 years old so I figure I have a little time. This is my second time out here & I am planning on getting out and going to college full time with the money I have earned. Thanks for your support Thanks, Angie |
| April 2006 Dear Ma'am, I am a 35 year old Soldier in Afghanistan. I got one of you boxes you sent here. I want to say thank you very much! We have nothing here and your gift was heaven sent. Thanks we have no PX here, so what we get from back home is all we have. There are about 1200 Soldiers and Marines here. Thanks, SPC Thomas Mills, U.S. ARMY |
| ARCHIVE LETTERS |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
LETTERS 2006 PAGE 2