Sent with love
Countywide project for troops brings `overwhelming' response
By Toni Garrard Clay

Courtesy Photo Members of the ETMC Athens Auxiliary begin the task of packing around 100 boxes for shipment to U.S. soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The boxes were loaded with items donated by residents all across Henderson County. Included were handmade Christmas cards from elementary students, one of which read: "We are praying that you get home safe."

Ruth Lang has the kind of face where a smile loves to live. Add to that the warm voice and the pink uniform jacket, and it's pretty difficult to imagine her getting riled up about much. But she begs to differ.

"If you want to get this little, old `pink lady' riled up," she said, "say something against our soldiers."

Lang is the mother of Navy Commander Mike Lang, who is assigned to the Army Corps of Engineers in Iraq. She is also the president of the ETMC Athens Auxiliary and, as such, has spearheaded a countywide project called "Treats for the Troops."

Several weeks ago, auxiliary members set up a display near the hospital's information desk complete with photos of soldiers and a plea for support in filling as many boxes as possible with goodies to send to Iraq and Afghanistan for the holidays.

"The response has been overwhelming," Lang reported.

In addition to collections at the hospital, a number of banks joined in the effort. Churches across the county collected money and items for shipment. A dentist in Malakoff donated toothbrushes and dental floss. Hundreds of handmade Christmas cards were sent by secondand third-graders in Trinidad, Eustace, Chandler, Brownsboro and LaPoynor, as well as youngsters at the Methodist Children's Center in Athens and the Methodist Angel Sunday School class in Carroll Springs.

"Thanks for fighting for our country," read one card in crooked block letters. "We are praying that you get home safe," said another. Yet another stated simply: "Fight! Fight! Win!"

Last Friday, dozens of auxiliary volunteers gathered in the ETMC Athens cafeteria, spread flat-rate postal boxes across several tables and packed them as densely as possible in preparation for delivery. Thirty-eight of the boxes were addressed to specific soldiers, both men and women. Many, many more - there were around 100 in all - were sent to general addresses where, hopefully, they will land in the hands of someone in need of a touch of home - even if that home isn't their own.

"We hope that you can feel the love and admiration that is being sent to you," wrote Lang in a letter included in each box, "and know that each and every one of you are in our thoughts and prayers."

On the outside of each box is a sticker which reads eloquently: "Sent to you in loving memory, PFC Christopher Michael McCloud, Henderson County, Texas Hero."

Doris Harris, whose late husband served under Patton, and Margie McDaniel, whose husband fought in Korea, said the fact that many of the auxiliary volunteers can recall World War II, Korea and Vietnam makes them more sensitive, more eager to provide comfort for soldiers overseas now.

As they bent over boxes - placing in chocolates, books, games, toiletries, what have you - they reminisced about rationing during World War II ("We could only have one Coke a week") and seeing bombing test runs overhead.

Everyone involved in the project describes the experience as an honor. ETMC Athens Administrator Pat Wallace included a letter in each package. "It is our prayer," he wrote, "that God protects you and gives your loved ones His peace."

That's what the effort is all about, really: a chance to give from the heart.

"There was a lady who saw our display and came to the front desk and said, `I don't have much, but please take this and buy something for the soldiers,'" recalled Lang with emotion. "She handed us three one-dollar bills. It was all she could give."

It was enough.