Gifts For Our Troops This Christmas

This Christmas I decided to let my friends and family know that while I love them dearly for their thoughtfulness, I don't need anything.

Really. I have plenty of cheese platters, nut bowls, wind chimes, socks, fruit baskets and wine. Well, I could use more wine.

Aside from that, I am feeling pretty lucky to be at home this Christmas. We have each other to share our Christmas and that's enough for me.

So I am asking my family to send more to our troops this Christmas since they are away from home and missing their families, instead of getting us more stuff. As I said, We are lucky to have these brave men and women standing up for our country and democracy, in our names. Wish them Merry Christmas instead of buying an obligatory gift for Aunt Josephine, and do it in her name. She ought to like that.

Here is a list of ideas from Stars and Stripes

...some ways to support servicemembers:

America Supports You New Defense Dept. program showcases America's support for its servicemembers.
Defend America Department of Defense site with news and support links
Operation Dear Abby — Noted advice columnist's site for sending "any servicemember" messages.
Fallen Heroes Last Wish Foundation — Provides funds to help support and educate the children of American servicemembers lost during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Fisher House — "Comfort homes" on the grounds of major military and VA medical centers, where family members can be close to a loved one during the hospitalization for an unexpected illness, disease, or injury.
Homes for our Troops — Building specially-adapted homes for severely disabled soldiers and their families.
USA Freedom Corps — Make a difference by volunteering. Web site gives you many options.
USO Care packages — Sponsor a care package that includes requested items such as pre-paid worldwide phone cards, sunscreen, travel-size toiletries, and personal messages.
Armed Services Blood Program — Supplies blood and blood products for the 1.3 million servicemembers and their families around the globe. Here's information on how you can help.
Wounded warrior hospital fund — To provide quality-of-life items for wounded servicemembers at Landstuhl.
Voices from Home — Allows serving military members and their families and friends to send and receive immediate voice e-mail messages.
Military Moms — Message boards, chat rooms, ways to donate items, information on the military, and much more; a project organized by mothers of servicemembers.
Operation Air Conditioner — A military mother's effort to send needed air conditioners (and in the winter, heaters) and other items to troops in the Middle East.
VFW's Operation Uplink — Purchases phone cards and distributes them to servicemembers.
Operation Military Pride — Volunteer organization, founded by military spouses, sends cards, letters and care packages to troops. Also distributes names and addresses of participating servicemembers for people wishing to send messages or gifts directly.
Operation PackageSend a gift to the 1st Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment "Manchus" of the U.S. Army's 2nd Infantry Division.
Operation Cards for TroopsHand-written cards sent to servicemembers.
Books for SoldiersShips books, DVDs and supplies to deployed soldiers and soldiers in VA hospitals, via a large volunteer network.
Adopt a SoldierSupport the wounded, injured, and ill troops at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Adopt a Platoon — Several programs, including Operation Holiday Eagle (to send boxes of candy canes to forces deployed to Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, the Balkans and Korea).
Camp.Doha.org — Information on the Middle East for troops and their families and friends.
Blue Star Mothers of America — Group founded by servicemembers' moms during WWII. Site has links to several support programs.
Soldiers Angels — "Adopt" a servicemember or send along a gift. A wide-ranging foundation started by a soldier's mom.
Operation Give — Coordinates the collection and distribution of toys and other items for Iraqi children
Operation Shoe Box — Their goal: "A package for every soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine" deployed overseas.
Operation Call Home — Goal: A satellite phone for every platoon in Iraq
Apppreciate our troops.org — If you buy a mug, a servicemember will get one, too. Also, post photos.
SI Yellow Ribbon — From southern Illinois, sending packages, cards and letters to the troops
Operation Enduring Response — a Texas Red Cross chapter's program enabling kids to write letters which are then delivered to the troops.
Defend America messages — At this Defense Dept. Web site, a way to send a "thank you" note to the troops.
AnySoldier.com — Want to send your support to any soldier in harm's way, but have no idea of what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it?
Freedom packages — Items for troops in overseas combat zones.
Kitchen Table Gang — Encourages sending care packages, phone cards and items like magazine or newspaper subscriptions to hospitalized veterans and troops.
Operation Hero Miles — An effort by several airlines allowing the public to donate frequent flyer miles to troops coming home for emergencies or R&R.
Operation Military Care — The U.S. War Dogs Association's project devoted to supporting the hundreds of American war dogs and their handlers in Iraq.
Gifts From the Homefront — AAFES' project turns donations into gift certificates the troops can use to shop at the 24 exchanges operating in the Persian Gulf area or elsewhere around the world.
Gift of Groceries — DECA's program provides gift certificates that can be used at commissaries. Family members can also use them at bases back home.
Operation SAND Box — Started by two 13-year-olds, "adopt a soldier" program gets supplies and messages to the troops.
Operation Soldier Support — Puts you in contact with participating servicemembers, so you can send messages and gifts.
Operation Gold Bridge — Seeking school supplies for Iraqi schools. (Story has contact information.)
EmailOurMilitary.com — Send messages to the troops.
Marine Moms — Support page for friends and relatives of Marines.
Militarymail.org — Send "fan mail" to servicemembers.
Treats for troops — Servicemembers sign up for goodies from home.
Give2TheTroops.org — Letters and care packages prepared and shipped by volunteers.
Carolina Troop Supporters — A student-led organization devoted to supporting the U.S. armed forces
Treat Any Soldier — Care packages for soldiers serving in harm's way.
Operation Letters from Home — "Adopt" a deployed or wounded servicemember.
Request for medical supplies addressed to the stateside medical community.
Operation Show Time — "Sky Soldiers" of the 173rd Airborne send DVDs to the troops.
Support our Hawaii troops — A way to help families of servicemembers from Hawaii.
Operation Undergarment — A clothing drive to "help cover our troops"
Angels 'n Camouflage — Making sure veterans and deployed troops "will never have to spend another day alone and forgotten."
Families in Support of our Troops — Helping servicemembers and their families, and veterans, too
Supplies for Soldiers — Send care packages to servicemembers from Louisiana
Help support our troops! — Resource for those wanting to help the troops
4thetroops.net — Thanking the troops for "keeping the spirit and promise of America"
Operation Iraqi Children — Following soldiers' lead, helping Iraqi kids
Operation Gratitude — Send care packages to service members overseas
Homefront Hugs USA — Supporting troops, veterans and families
Operation Support — Includes informational links for servicemembers and families

And don't forget Worcester Wreath Company founded by Morrill Worcester, the company that quietly started the tradition of laying wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery 15 years ago is now a national phenomenon--and has a website and video. Be sure to watch their YOUTUBE video - it is a beautiful remembrance.