Weekly Newsletter 3/31/2008

Greetings!!!

--Our "Tour of Iraq" will begin this Tuesday--WEATHER PERMITTING!!! We will meet at the Thornton Pavilion at 6 pm on April 1st to begin this year's tour. This year, we will walk to Iraq, tour the country (stopping to visit with local service members throughout Iraq), and walk home. We will keep track of our mileage week to week, and I will send out weekly updates on our progress. Hope to see all of you there!

--Relay For Life! I now have almost 20 people signed up to walk with the "HHAFFA Hoofers"! If you are interested in joining the team--please let me know ASAP, so that I may send information your way! In order to be a team member--all you have to do is sign up!!! You do not need to participate in any of the scheduled activities, but we would love for you to show up for the team picture!! (I would also like you to collect lots and lots of money!)

--Remember to send us addresses of your deployed service members as soon as you get them, so that we may add them to our list! We have Girl Scout cookies and other goodies to send their way!

Short newsletter, because it's been a looong weekend!
Remember to keep all our troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers!
God Bless Our Troops!
Nancy Peabody

Weekly Newesletter 3/23/08

Happy Easter! Spring is here and "springtime" activities are soon to begin! --

Yesterday, fourteen people showed up at the HHAFFA office to pack Girl Scout cookies for our deployed young men and women! I would like to thank Joyce Daugherty, Leonard Daugherty, Sharon Simonds, Nikki York, Mary Umphress, Tammy Lee, Tammy Harrell, Melody Gratzer, Kim Price, Christy Ingram, Brenda Cooper, Betsy Henley, and Amanda Kirby for their help! We sent out 41 boxes over the past couple of weeks to those service members stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan for whom we have addresses! As National Guard families receive their loved one's addresses--don't forget to pass them on to us! We still have Girl Scout cookies for our National Guard! Many thanks go to the Girl Scouts of Tulip Trace Council, and especially to Scott and Denise Sproles, for collecting cookie donations for our troops!

--Remember to ask your active duty service member to send a brigade patch home to you, so that you can get the patch and a picture to us! It has been suggested that a display be made and continually updated and be displayed at different locales, including the Lawrence County museum. This is an idea in the works, so if you have any suggestions, please pass them on!

--Don't forget Operation Homefront's Military Motherhood Award, sponsored by Lockheed Martin. They're looking for inspirational stories of military wives and women in uniform who are successfully parenting children through challenges of military life. For more information, go to http://www.cinchouse.com/military_motherhood_forml.asp

--Reminder to send any updated addresses for mothers, wives, and grandmothers of those serving in the active duty military so they may receive their Mother's Day corsage.

--After seeing Judie Ellison's "dog tags", some people have asked where these may be purchased. Betsy has located two websites where "dog tags" are available for sale. They are:
http://www.designsondemand.com/products/dogtags.htm
and
http://www.shanrene.com/page/001/PROD/photo-dog-tag
where photos can be uploaded on line.

--Let the walks begin!!!! Beginning Tuesday, April 1st, we will begin our weekly walks. This year, we will walk to Iraq, tour Iraq, stopping to visit with local service members throughout Iraq, and walk home. We will keep track of our mileage week to week, and I will send out weekly updates on our progress. We will meet at the Thornton Pavilion at 6 pm on April 1st, WEATHER PERMITTING, to begin this year's tour! Hope to see all of you there to practice for the . . .

--Relay For Life!!! I now have 18 confirmed team members for our HHAFFA Hoofers team! They include: Royce and Nancy Peabody, Joe and Betsy Henley, Wayne and Mary Umphress, Kim Johnson, Melody Gratzer, Amanda Kirby, Kim Price, Tammy Lee, Cindy Gable and friend, Christy Ingram, Jeanne New, Kimberly Sterrett and Trinity Sterrett, and Kiersten Wheelock. I will be sending the HHAFFA Hoofers a separate email with detailed information, but for those who are still considering joining our team--please do!! My goal is 50 team members who gather $100+ each! The only real requirement is that you show up at the Parkview track on Friday, June 20th in the evening for a team photo! Other than that, you may participate as little or as much as you desire! We will have a HHAFFA tent set up that evening, where we can all hang out (bring a lawn chair), and we will do some walking, more talking, and there are activities scheduled throughout the night (YES--all night!!) I plan on staying the night, but it depends on the weather!!

--Don't forget our two volunteers who have offered to "be there" for anyone who has questions, concerns or just needs someone to talk to! Kimberly Johnson (583-4736) is a mother of 2 service members and wants to be a resource for anyone (especially mothers) who need someone to talk to NOW!! Amanda Kirby (amandahodges76@hotmail.com) encourages military spouses to email her anytime! She has a husband who is currently in Iraq and a darling 2-month old son!

Remember to keep Aron Daugherty and his unit, Amada Kirby's family, and all other troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers!

God Bless Our Troops!!
Nancy Peabody

The War in Iraq

Everyone, this poem was written by Robert Vansickle after their camp was hit by mortors last Wednesday morning. They expect them to hit in the evenings not in the mornings. They lost 3 of their very good friends to the attack. This is his way of handling it. I didn't change anything in it, it's written exactly as he wrote it. (Joyce)



The War In Iraq

the war in iraq

this war in iraq that i serve

can often hit the slightest nerve

waking up at night to the sound

of a round soldier bound

a round not of the U.S

but that of iraqi cats

looking to gain back their ground

by hitting us with another round

days come and days go

but really hurts when u lose a brother oh so slow

one with whom u were so close

then lose all within this post

now i pray to my mother

my sister and my brother

pray for me to help my strength

to bring me home

to the meals i love to eat!

written by: spc vansickle

Weekly Newsletter 3/16/08

Settle in! There is a lot to share with you this week! About the time I think it is time for things to settle down--we find more and more to do--and I wouldn't have it any other way!! I always feel the more we do--the easier I make it on our deployed troops! (Logically, that doesn't make sense, but at least they will know they are appreciated and loved by the folks back home!)

--Yesterday, HHAFFA participated in the Times-Mail flea market held at the 4-H Fairgrounds. I could not believe the number of people who walked through that building, and most of them stopped to talk at the HHAFFA table! Betsy reports that the flea market was a GREAT success!! HHAFFA sold 64 magnets and with the donations, we grossed $220.68. The best part of all was that was that we made 11 new contacts with military families! I would like to send out a heart felt thanks to Royce Peabody, Wayne and Mary Umphress, Cheryl Syrgley, Kimberly Sterrett, Lisa Salladee, Joyce Daugherty and Joe and Betsy Henley. Without them, we could not have had our HHAFFA table and reached those new families in the community!

--Mark your calendars for this next Saturday, March 22nd. We will be having a packing party to send Girl Scout cookies to our deployed men and women. Please meet at the HHAFFA office (620 H St--back entrance) at 9 am, and we will pack the cookies that have been donated by the Tulip Trace Council. Coffee and donuts will be provided!

--We received a brigade patch from Kyle Daugherty a few months back, and we thought it was neat, but we didn't quite know what to do with it. A few people have suggested we collect patches from every young man and woman who is on active duty, and we will make a collage on a bulletin board with all the patches sent our way! Wouldn't that be awesome! We could even display it in the Lawrence County Museum for all to see! So please have your service member send a brigade patch and we will begin our collection!

--Announcement from Lockheed Martin (through Sheri Harris at Crane):Welcome to Operation Homefront's Military Motherhood Award sponsored by Lockheed Martin. We're looking for inspirational stories of military wives and women in uniform who are successfully parenting children through challenges of military life. These can be your children, stepchildren, foster children or others in unique circumstances. The winner will receive $5,000 and a free trip to the awards ceremony in Washington, DC, where she will be honored by members of Congress and other dignitaries. Just nominate yourself or someone special on the entry form before March 31.The winner will be notified in April. The award ceremony is scheduled for May 7 in honor of Mother's Day! Good luck!http://www.cinchouse.com/military_motherhood_forml.asp

--We have two prayer requests that I would like to pass on:
from Amanda Kirby: her husband, Michael, deployed to Iraq, found out that his father has pancreatic cancer. Please keep Michael's father, Michael and his entire family in your prayers!
from Joyce Daugherty: Joyce's son, Aron, deployed to Iraq, had his camp attacked last week. There were several deaths and many injuries. Aron knew all the men who were killed. One of the men that lost his life was supposed to sit next to Aron on the plane ride back from Iraq and another was a Sgt that called him a lot while they were in Virginia visiting Aron. So, please keep Aron, his fellow soldiers and the families who lost loved ones in your prayers!

--Card shower request:From Jodi Johnston
--Please remember Jordan's 21st birthday on April 19th.
Jordan Zollman
230th MP Co 1st PLTFOB
Kalsu APO AE 09312

--Joyce Daugherty sent this message our way:I thought I would let you know I have spoken to Robert (Vansickle). He was very surprised when he got back to Iraq from his R&R. There, on his bed, were 32 packages!!! He said to tell everyone "thank you so much!!!". He really appreciates everything he has received!

--Amanda Kirby sent a wonderful example of patriotism that I wanted to share with you! It is a video of the "Cactus Cuties" singing the National Anthem at a Texas Tech basketball game! Go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKCVS57j284 to view the video!

--Mother's Day is fast approaching! HHAFFA will be sending out postcards to all mothers, wives and grandmothers of those serving in the active duty military that entitles them to a FREE corsage. Please make sure we have your current, correct mailing address, so that you will receive your postcard.

--Lastly, two people have volunteered to "be there" for anyone who has any questions, concerns or just needs someone to talk to! Kimberly Johnson (583-4736) wanted everyone to know that you are welcome to call her! She said she has been in the situation where she needed to talk to someone NOW, and didn't have a resource! She wants to be your resource! Amanda Kirby (amandahodges76@hotmail.com) encourages military spouses to email her anytime! She has a husband who is currently in Iraq and and a darling 8 week old son. She welcomes your emails!

--Don't forget to let me know that YOU want to join the HHAFFA Hoofers team for Relay for Life! I have 12 team members so far, and my goal is 50!!! So please let me know soon that you want to participate, so that I may get organized! Thanks!

Another loooooooooong newsletter! But isn't it wonderful to be presented with so many opportunities to serve our Armed Forces and their families!!

Hope to see you soon!
Please continue to keep all our troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers!
God Bless Our Troops!
Nancy Peabody

Weekly Newsletter 3/09/08

Greetings!!!

WOW! Another snowy weekend! I think that was the last blast of winter, but I remember one very snowy Easter! I am very excited with the response to the newspaper article about deployed National Guardsmen in Friday's paper, and we have already received quite a few new names! Our Quarterly Meeting last Thursday was attended by more people than I have ever seen at a HHAFFA meeting! We had to bring in extra chairs!! Our organization has the opportunity to expand exponentially!! (Sorry--the mathematician coming out in me!!) With our numbers, we have the opportunity to go out and contribute great things to our community and its military personnel and their families! I must admit that at times this past year, I became very discouraged with the lack of participation (and even feedback!) from our members! But I am very encouraged by, not only the attendance, but the enthusiasm of those who attended our Quarterly meeting! So, here we go with a few of the activities scheduled:

Add to your calendars:

--A very special MOMS (Mothers of Military Servicemembers) meeting will be held on Monday evening, March 10 at 7 pm at the HHAFFA office (620 H St, enter through the back entrance). There are two reasons this one will be special: first, refreshments will be served, and, second, it will be a joint moms and spouses meeting! There will be at least four spouses of deployed Nat'l Guardsmen in attendance with the hope of organizing their own support group! Please come to the meeting with questions or concerns, pictures and stories, and be ready for great companionship with other MOMS (and spouses)! We don't know all the answers, but it's great to gather with others who know exactly what you are going through!

--Due to weather conditions, the Flea Market at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds scheduled for this past Saturday was rescheduled to Saturday, March 15th. We need help! Betsy will be busy with a Red Cross training session, and it is my husband's birthday, and we had already made plans! I can have everything set up, but I need volunteers to man the table throughout the day, and I need a volunteer to pack things up at 2 pm and take them home! HHAFFA will have a table where we will offer a few items available for sale, including magnets, t-shirts, sweatshirts, signs, and HHAFFA will be there to get the word out to the community about our organization! We may get a few more names of servicemembers, and we may be able to answer a few questions!

--It is official!! The "HHAFFA Hoofers" will be in participating in the 2008 Relay for Life (raising money for cancer research and cancer treatment)! The event is scheduled for June 20-21 at the Parkview track. I will be holding a kickoff meeting soon, but this is what I need from you now! I need TEAM MEMBERS and SPONSORS! If you would like to be a team member--begin gathering sponsors and $$$$! My goal is 50 team members who collect $100 each! As a team member, your responsibilities on "Relay Day" will be to show up at the track at a certain time for team photo and walk as few or as many laps as you care to! There will be activities all night (and I plan to stay!!!), but you may come and go as you please. All donations collected by you need to be given to me by June 8th, if possible! If you cannot be a team member--please be a sponsor! All donations are tax deductible!! Just let me know if you would like to be a team member or a sponsor!

--We will be packing Girl Scout cookies to send to our troops soon (date not determined yet!), so please be on the lookout for Girl Scouts who are accepting donations for our troops!

--If anyone still has an old cell phone they are no longer using and wish to donate it to "Cell Phones For Soldiers", they may still take them to Liberty Tax Service, or I have an address: Cell Phone Recycling Center
2555 Bishop Cir
WDexter, MI 48130-9828
Their website is: www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com

--Great news!!!! Jim Alexander is home!!!

--Please take time to take a look at our blog at www.hhaffa.blogspot.com because Joyce Daugherty has included information about mailing packages, passports, and has included other useful information, along with heartwarming pieces! Thanks, Joyce!!

--Also take time to visit our MySpace page (updated regularly by Kim Johnson). Find our page by using our email address: hoosiershelp@hotmail.com

WOW!! I'm exhausted just typing this newsletter! But isn't it wonderful to be presented with so many opportunities to serve our Armed Forces and their families!!!

Hope to see you soon!
Please continue to keep all our troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers!
God Bless Our Troops!
Nancy Peabody

Weekly Newsletter 3/02/08

What a difference a week makes! Last week was snowy and icy, and this week, it is spring like!!!Please add the following dates to your calendar and plan to attend!

--HHAFFA Quarterly meeting is scheduled for Thursday March 6 at 7 pm in the HHAFFA office (620 H St, Bedford). All interested parties please plan to attend--whether you are military, military family, or concerned citizen. HHAFFA is a wonderful organization, but it needs you in order to succeed! The success of HHAFFA will be determined by the ideas and plans implemented at our meetings and your participation. The HHAFFA officers NEED your input--we want to know your thoughts and ideas, and we want to know what else HHAFFA needs to do to further its mission--the support of active duty personnel and their families!! So, please plan to attend the meeting this Thursday with lots of ideas and a willingness to help!

--We listened to those who said they could not attend MOMS meetings, because the meetings were scheduled for 4 pm, so the next MOMS (Mothers of Military Servicemembers) meeting will be held on Monday evening, March 10 at 7 pm at the HHAFFA office (620 H St, Bedford). Please come to the meeting with questions or concerns, pictures and stories, and be ready for great companionship with other MOMS who have all "been there and done that"! We don't know all the answers, but it's great to gather with others who know exactly what you are going through!!!

--Saturday, March 8 from 8 am to 2 pm, a Flea Market will be held at the Lawrence County Fairgrounds. HHAFFA will have a table where we will offer a few items available for sale, including magnets, t-shirts, sweatshirts, signs, and HHAFFA will be there to get the word out to the community about our organization. We may get a few more names of servicemembers, and we may be able to answer a few questions! We still need volunteers to man the table! Please let me know if you will be available to help!

--I will be attending an organizational meeting this week for the 2008 Relay for Life (raising funds for cancer research). I will pass the word on to you as soon as I get some details, but this much I do know! The event is scheduled for June 20 at the Parkview track, and HHAFFA is planning on having a team. So get your walking shoes out of the closet and get ready to walk! --


Joyce Daugherty received some information that I want to pass on to all of you: Robert Vansickle (our adopted son) has received some boxes and letters from the folks back home in Indiana! He sent "thanks" to her for sharing his name and address and is very appreciative of the mail! He is from Jacksonville, FL and has just returned to Iraq after a two week leave. I hope when he gets back to Iraq--he can't even see his bed because of all the letters and boxes!!! And from your response--it's definitely a possibility!

--Please take a look at our blog at www.hhaffa.blogspot.com because Joyce Daugherty (who is doing a fabulous job with it!) has included information about mailing packages, PASSPORTS, and some very moving pieces! It's worth your time to take a look!

--Lastly, as over 3000 Indiana National Guard troops are deployed, remember to keep them and their families in your thoughts and prayers, too! If you know of any National Guard family, please tell them about our organization and have them email me or call me (812-275-0366), so that we may be able to help in some way, and so they can be added to our email list!

Hope to see you soon!
Please continue to keep all our troops and their families in your thoughts and prayers!
God Bless Our Troops!
Nancy Peabody

Passports

It is recommended that if your loved one is deployed overseas, particularly in Iraq or Afghanistan, that you get a passport in case something happens to them and they are hospitalized in a country where you can go (Some injured service members are flown to Germany to recuperate.)

Passports are expensive. It depends on your means and your outlook whether you want to get one right away as soon as they are deployed. Some people may feel that getting a passport means that since they are prepared, nothing will happen. Others may feel that getting a passport is too pessimistic. Passports are now required if you travel to Mexico or Canada by air so if you might go on vacation to either place, that's another reason for getting a passport. You cannot get a passport in less than one week and they are more expensive to get if you ask for expedited service. Expedited service is $60 more plus the overnight fee which totals about $75 plus the regular fee of $115 and takes about 3 weeks
(see http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/processing/processing_1740.html for current times).

An alternative is to make an appointment with the passport office in Chicago and drive to Chicago. Appointments can usually be gotten in about a week.

Passport information for Bedford: You can get a passport at the Bedford Post Office, Mon thru Fri 9 am to 3 pm; Sat 9 am to 12 pm. The cost is $75 for the fee; $25 for processing; and $15 for photos. You can also get passport photos at Walgreens and other area photo places. Passport photos have to be 2x2 inch color photos, taken with last 6 months, against a plain white background; image size from bottom of chin to top of head should not be less than 1 inch and not more than 1 3/8 inches - in other words the whole front of your head must be visible, including hair; in normal street attire; without a head covering or dark glasses. Digital photos will be accepted for use at the discretion of Passport Services (may cause a delay).

You must have an original birth certificate (not one from the hospital) that is certified (sealed by official custodian of records) NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth. Please note that some short (abstract) versions of birth certificates may not be acceptable for passport purposes.It will be returned to you. If you don't have a birth certificate, or you were born outside the US, there are other original documents you can use.

Check with the PO to see what you need or online http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html.

You must list all the names you use, maiden names and nicknames. You need to know your parents name, date of birth, and place of birth.

You want a US Passport Book; You do NOT want a Passport Card.

Application for a US Passport can be obtained from the Bedford PO or online http://travel.state.gov/passport/forms/ds11/ds11_842.html