Weekly Newsletter 10/26/2008

Good Beautiful Fall Afternoon! Last week, we were on vacation, and I didn't get the weekly newsletter out! I apologize to all those who noticed, but we had a wonderful time! We visited Charleston, SC, Savannah, GA and The Biltmore in Asheville, NC! The weather was perfect and continues to be so!!! I hope you already have your calendars marked with the following activities, but let's double check activities, time and place:

--TONIGHT (Sunday, Oct 26), The Dulcimer Society of Bedford will be holding a concert at the Mt Pleasant Church (2394 Mt Pleasant Road, Bedford) at 6:30 pm. Refreshments will be provided after the concert! Donations to our annual "Christmas Boxes for Troops" packing party will be collected in lieu of admission!

--Our Tour of Iraq will conclude this Tuesday, October 28th! We meet at the Thornton Pavilion at 6 pm to walk and talk! It would be great for anyone who walked this past year to show up for the grand finale, so that I may get a picture!

--Our first MOMS (Mothers of Military Servicemembers) and Spouses' meeting of the "new year" will be on Tuesday, November 4th at 6:30 pm in the HHAFFA Office. Refreshments will be provided. We will be discussing our plans for the Christmas packing party and the Christmas Card Shower, as well as sharing news, pictures, and concerns.

--We have scheduled our first HHAFFA Monthly Dinner for November 7th at 6 pm at the Cloverleaf Restaurant in Bedford. We enjoy getting together over dinner and enjoy each others' company! Please let me know if you will be attending, so that I can have an idea of what to expect in numbers!

--We will get together on Tuesday, November 18th at 6 pm in the HHAFFA office to organize donations for the packing party and finalize plans. We will prepack items in Ziploc bags and decide if we need to purchase additional items. How about we order pizza to be delivered that evening?

--THE BIG DAY!!!!! The "Christmas Boxes for Troops" will be packed on November 22nd at 9 am at the K of C Hall (2202 M St, Bedford). We plan on packing approximately 100 boxes, and we will need help with setting up the Hall, transporting items to the Hall from the HHAFFA office, and cleaning up after the packing party. We will also need help packing the boxes! Please plan to attend and help out where you can!

--On Tuesday, November 25th, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to pack our "Christmas Cards for Troops". We hope to receive enough cards to pack a Flat Rate Priority Mail BOX for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as sending a card to every active duty service member serving throughout the world.

--On Tuesday, December 2nd, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to get everything ready for our Christmas Tree in the gazebo in Harp Commons. We need to make icicles for every active duty service member and stars for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

--On Friday, December 5th at 5:30 pm, we will meet in the gazebo in Harp Commons on the Bedford Square to decorate our Christmas tree. It won't take long, because we will be prepared, so let's go out to eat afterwards!!

--On Saturday, December 6th, we will be participating in the Bedford Christmas Parade. Let's plan for the entire populace of Bedford (or at least all who receive this newsletter) to walk or ride with us!! I can only imagine a sea of people who show their support of our troops with signs and solidarity! Also:

--The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University and your local library, invite you to contribute to the "Indiana, Our Heroes' Tree", a national program that recognizes the sacrifices of current service members, Veterans, and deceased service members. To participate, create a handmade ornament honoring a military member of your family or circle of friends. Bring your ornament to the Bedford Public Library during the month of October (you have a week!!!), where it will be placed on a tree with commemorative ornaments. For more information, go to http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/mfri/events/herotree/ Each ornament will also be included in the Virtual Heroes' Tree, an online collection of the ornaments from across the state.

--Military Voting According to Brent Steele, Indiana law allows servicemen and women to receive and return ballots via e-mail using a program operated by the Federal Voting Assistance Program of the US Department of Defense. For the complete 2008 Military and Overseas Voter's Guide, including absentee voting applications, people can visit http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/pdfs/movg_08.pdf For military personnel to vote absentee by fax or e-mail for the Nov 4 election, they must return the absentee ballot request for by fax or return the Federal Post Card Application by Nov 3. Also

--Please keep Pat St Onge (Kim Johnson's mother) in your thoughts and prayers!

God Bless Our Troops and their families back home!
See you all very soon!
Nancy Peabody

Weekly Newsletter 10/12/2008

Greetings and Salutations! Even though I am repeating myself--WHAT A BEAUTIFUL WEEKEND!!!! I've heard people say that they would like to get involved, but the activities do not fit in their schedule. Well, I would say that, in the coming few months, you will be able to find something to do in order to support our troops and the families back home, no matter your schedule!!! Pens ready???

--Tour of Iraq continues this Tuesday and every Tuesday through October. We meet at the Thornton Pavilion at 6 pm! (Interesting fact: Last week was the FIRST rain out all year!!!!)

--The Dulcimer Society of Bedford will be holding a concert at the Mt Pleasant Church (2394 Mt Pleasant Road, Bedford) on Sunday, October 26th at 6:30 pm. Donations to our annual "Christmas Boxes for Troops" packing party will be collected.

--Our first MOMS meeting (and Spouses' meeting) of the "new year" will be on Tuesday, November 4th at 6:30 pm in the HHAFFA office. Refreshments will be provided. We will be discussing our plans for the Christmas packing party and the Christmas Card Shower, as well as sharing news, pictures and concerns.

--We have tentatively scheduled our first HHAFFA Monthly Dinner for November 7th at 6 pm at the Cloverleaf Restaurant in Bedford. We'll let you know when that date and time is "official".

--We will get together on Tuesday, November 18th at 6 pm in the HHAFFA office to organize donations for the packing party and finalize plans. How about we order pizza to be delivered that evening?

--THE BIG DAY HAS FINALLY ARRIVED!!!!! The "Christmas Boxes for Troops" will be packed on November 22nd. We don't know where or what time (probably 9 am), but we will let you know as soon as we do!!

--On Tuesday, November 25th, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to pack our "Christmas Cards for Troops". We hope to receive enough to pack a Flat Rate Priority Mail BOX for every service member serving in Iraq and Afghanistan!

--On Tuesday, December 2nd, we will meet in the HHAFFA office at 6 pm to get everything ready for our Christmas Tree in the gazebo in Harp Commons. We need to make icicles for every active duty service member and stars for every service member serving in Iraq or Afghanistan.

--On Friday, December 5th at 5:30 pm, we will meet in the gazebo in Harp Commons on the Bedford Square to decorate our Christmas Tree. It won't take long, because we will be prepared (see previous item on the calendar!), so let's go out to eat afterwards!!! (Have you noticed I try to put EATING in every activity!!!!!)

--On Saturday, December 6th, we will be walking (or riding, if we get a trailer!) in the Bedford Christmas Parade. Plan to join us!

--On Sunday, December 7th, we go to church to count our blessings, and then we collapse!!!!! Oh, no, I forgot--then we get ready for Christmas in our own homes!!!!!!!!!

Don't forget
----Matt Bogus (Iraq) needs items for school aged children (ages 6-10). Donations can be dropped off thru October 25th at Backyards & Gardens.

--to keep all our troops in your thoughts and prayers.

God Bless Our Troops and their families back home!
Nancy Peabody

Donations for Iraqi Children

GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BE OF SERVICE:

CPT Matt Bogus is serving a voluntary tour in Iraq as a member of a ten-man National Police transition team working to rebuild the social infrastructure in Iraq.

His team will be making periodic visits to schools and poor neighborhoods to promote the positive future of Iraq. His team's plan is to provide items to school-aged children, ages 6-10. We would like to ask for help in donations of the following items to help their efforts: pencils, pens, crayons, colored pencils, coloring books, regulation-size soccer balls, and new or clean & gently used backpacks. Backpacks are the one item needed most.

Culturally offensive items cannot be shipped, so donated items should be as plain as possible--no words, logos, images.

Donations can be dropped off thru October 25 at Backyards & Gardens from Tuesday thru Friday from 10-6 and Saturday from 10-5.

Anyone interested can call 278-3190 with questions.

Matt is a 2000 BNL graduate, an IU graduate and is serving his second tour in Iraq.

Thanks in advance for keeping Matt, his teammates, and all the troops in your thoughts and prayers!

Thanks so much,
Joy & Daryl Bogusand

Nancy!

Weekly Newsletter 10/05/2008

Good Beautiful Fall Afternoon!!! I have a pot of vegetable soup on the stove, we're watching Colts' Football GO COLTS!!! (and Nascar during the commercials), and we are going to work outside and take a little walk later!

Clear your calendars for the month of November--it's a busy, busy time!!
Pens ready???

Here we go--

---The Dulcimer Society of Bedford will be holding a concert at the Mt Pleasant Church (2394 Mt Pleasant Rd) on Sunday, October 26th at 6:30 pm. There will be NO Admission Charge, but donations to our annual "Christmas Boxes for Troops" packing party are encouraged. Because this event benefits our organization and is one of our main projects, I would encourage everyone to attend and bring all their family and friends. I will have flyers for this event at our weekly "Tour". Please take as many as you wish and post them around town!

--The "Tour" will continue this Tuesday at 6 pm (Note new time!!!) at the Thornton Park Pavilion.

A few dates have been decided upon for our Christmas Projects:

--"Christmas Packing Party" will be on Saturday, November 22nd. Mark that date on your calendar, and I will pass on time and place at a later time. We will have a bunch of activities in order to get ready for the packing party!!! 1) We will need to collect items for the boxes. Please talk to family and friends and set up a box at your place of employment. We would like to have all donations by Saturday, November 15th--earlier, if possible! 2) We will need volunteers to go to businesses to put out boxes for contributions and collect them before November 18th. 3) On Tuesday, November 18th, we will meet at the HHAFFA office to prepack items in Ziploc bags and get everything ready for the packing party!

--"Christmas Cards for Troops" packing party will be held on Tuesday, November 25th at 6 pm at the HHAFFA office. In order to prepare, we will need to 1) collect cards from your clubs, organizations, youth groups, places of business, Sunday School classes, etc. Have people sign a card and write a short message of support. Get them to us by Tuesday, November 25th. 2) Come to the Christmas card packing party to pack boxes FULL of Christmas cards and to write cards to ALL our troops serving throughout the world!

--"Christmas Tree on the Square" will involve 1) getting together on Tuesday, December 2nd to make stars for our deployed troops and icicles for all our active duty personnel and getting all the other decorations ready. 2) meeting at 6 pm on Friday, December 5th at 6 pm to decorate the tree on the Bedford Square at Harp Commons. It won't take long--we will be well prepared. So, I also suggest we all go out to dinner afterwards!!!

--"Christmas Parade" will be held on Saturday, December 6th after dark! 1) We will get together earlier in the day to decorate the trailer or truck, and 2) I hope you all plan on walking together (to stay warm) to show our support for our troops! I also hope that the National Guard troops who will be home by then (Praise God!) will be willing to walk with us!!!!!

I'm starting to feel overwhelmed, but, as my mom always tells me--
"Many hands make light work!"

--Don't forget to send a note to Zach Canfield (and other deployed service members)!!

--I have received a few used DVDs that were requested by a soldier stationed overseas. If you have any you would like to donate--let me know so that I can get them to this soldier's mother ASAP!

God Bless Our Troops and their families back home!
Nancy Peabody