The Trade

Inspired by Kristi P-L, USAF, Iraq 2009-2010 

She packed up her comfy jeans 

and laying-around T-shirts

She shrugged into a heavy canvas uniform, 

now her second skin

Boxed up her peep-toe high heels and sandals

and stacked them away 

Now all she’s got are dusty high-top boots 

with heavy tread

No delicate black eyeliner around lovely hazel eyes 

Just smudges of purple, her badges of fatigue 

No long showers here

Just unshaved legs so she looks like 

the rest of the troops

Forget salon haircuts with mousse or gel 

In marches a permanent helmet-head hairdo

She strains to remember how lovely 

that last manicure felt

Handling weapons with broken, scraggy fingernails, unpolished and blunt

Velvety cosmetic powder abandoned at home 

She wears the Iraqi desert upon her face 

Late night chat-fests with friends 

of her choosing, 

No more 

Now, it’s early morning wake-up and drill

No delicate sparkling pendants around her neck

Just a dull metal chain with tags 

that identify her blood type

While mother’s comforting shoulder 

and soothing touch wait at home

She learns combat strategies and 

how to react to roadside bombs

Instead of cradling a tiny baby 

She crawls into a burdened flak jacket 

that hides her girlish figure

She rolls out with a loaded M4 and a 9mm Beretta.

What can we do for our troops? 2015

Are you wondering, “What can I do for the troops?”

Problem solved…

Soldiers’ Angels – Sign up and “adopt” a service member and send socks, baby powder, lip balm, flip flops, sleep pants, shaving cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste, books, and more.

Operation Paperback – This organization “collects gently used books nationwide and sends them to American troops overseas as well as veterans and military families here at home.”

Ebooks for Troops – Provides e-books to military personnel deployed overseas. You can also donate a used Kindle.

Books for Soldiers – You can donate books, DVDs, and games.

Send a cuppa joe to a Joe (or Jane)

Green Beans Coffee is so easy – it takes only a couple minutes – you can spend just $2 ($2!) and send a great cup of coffee to a service member overseas. Connect with Green Beans Coffee on Facebook.

Just send a note – zero dollars

The USO has a page that allows you to send a note, and it won’t cost you a cent.

Or you can Act Now to help with a monetary contribution.

Wounded Warriors

What a worthy cause. Helping our Wounded Warriors live a better life.

Copied from their site – “To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members. To help injured service members aid and assist each other. To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.”

Make a one-time donation to Wounded Warriors.

Remember what our warriors have done for you. What will you do for our troops this holiday season?

Stock and Roberts, Iraq, 2009-2010

 

Honoring our military, past and present

This holiday season

Every year I post a series of blogs around the holidays to honor our armed forces – both past and present.

Instead of a series of blogs, I decided to provide resources early on – before Thanksgiving – so y’all can find and choose a military-related way to support our troops this holiday season.

I’m always near an Air Force Base

While I lived in Albuquerque, NM, I often visited the Starbuck’s a couple blocks away from the AFB. If I found myself in line ahead of a service member, I would offer to buy his/her cup of coffee. Such a teensy sacrifice for me – but a small price to pay for all their sacrifices.

I find myself in Minot, ND, home to Minot Air Force Base. And again, I’m often in line ahead of a service member. I have bought a cuppa, a bag a chips and a soda, a sandwich, a breakfast treat…for whatever service member is near me when I’m checking out.

Try it – it feels good.

Support military family businesses

I support family businesses of military wives, husbands, and active military.

Last year, I had my computer scrubbed by Geoffrey VanDyck, now in Colorado Springs. If you need great, reasonably-priced computer service, contact Geoffrey.

Nelly Hernandez Photography – In Minot, ND – fabulous family and kid photos!

The English Rose – Beautiful custom-made pens and pencils. Idea – a great give-a-way for writers!

Not near a military base?

No problem! There are loads of organizations that send books and scads of other needed items to our troops.

Soldiers’ Angels – Sign up and “adopt” a service member and send socks, baby powder, lip balm, flip flops, sleep pants, shaving cream, toothbrushes and toothpaste, books, and more.

Operation Paperback – This organization “collects gently used books nationwide and sends them to American troops overseas as well as veterans and military families here at home.”

Ebooks for Troops – Provides e-books to military personnel deployed overseas. You can also donate a used Kindle.

Books for Soldiers – You can donate books, DVDs, and games.

Send a cuppa joe to a Joe (or Jane)

Green Beans Coffee is so easy – it takes only a couple minutes – you can spend just $2 ($2!) and send a great cup of coffee to a service member overseas. Connect with Green Beans Coffee on Facebook.

Just send a note – zero dollars

The USO has a page that allows you to send a note, and it won’t cost you a cent.

Or you can Act Now to help with a monetary contribution.

Holiday mail for heroes

Try the Red Cross – Holiday Mail for Heroes.

You can mail cards or letters to –

Holiday Mail for Heroes

P.O. Box 5456

Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Wounded Warriors

What a worthy cause. Helping our Wounded Warriors live a better life.

Copied from their site – “To raise awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members. To help injured service members aid and assist each other. To provide unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members.”

Make a one-time donation to Wounded Warriors.

Remember what our warriors have done for you. What will you do for our troops this holiday season?

***

For Memorial Day, “The Trade,” by Karen S. Elliott

The Trade

By Karen S. Elliott

Inspired by Kristi P-L, USAF, Iraq 2009-2010

***

She packed up her comfy jeans and laying-around T-shirts

She shrugs into a heavy canvas uniform, now her second skin

Boxed up her peep-toe high heels and sandals and stacked them away

Now all she’s got are dusty high-top boots with heavy tread

No delicate black eyeliner around lovely hazel eyes

Just smudges of purple, her badges of fatigue

No long showers here, nope

Just unshaved legs so she looks like the rest of the troops

Forget salon haircuts with mousse or gel

In marches a permanent helmet-head hairdo

She strains to remember how lovely that last manicure felt

Handling weapons with broken, scraggy fingernails, unpolished and blunt

Velvety cosmetic powder abandoned at home

She wears the Iraqi desert upon her face

Late night chat-fest nights with friends of her choosing, no more

Now, it’s early morning wake-up and drill

No delicate sparkling pendants around her neck

Just a dull metal chain with tags that identify her blood type

While mother’s comforting shoulder and soothing touch wait at home

She learns combat strategies and how to react to roadside bombs

Instead of cradling a tiny baby

She shrugs into a burdened flak jacket that hides her girlish figure

She rolls out with a loaded M4 and a 9mm Beretta.