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WASHINGTON D.C. (July 1, 2008) - A California-based group will
fulfill the promise of a major milestone today, as a soldier at
Fort Lewis, Wash., receives a free Jeep Liberty.
Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude, accompanied by
Charlie Othold, the organization's volunteer director of
operations, personally presented a milestone care package to Army
Spc. Michael "Shaun" Gallagher in Iraq, but the package's main
cargo wouldn't fit into the box.
"Carolyn and I were honored to travel to Iraq earlier this year
to personally hand our 300,000th care package to Specialist
Gallagher at Camp Warhorse in Baqouba," Othold said.
That milestone package contained symbolic keys to the new
vehicle Gallagher would receive upon his return home.
"We are thrilled that he and his comrades have returned home
safely and that we can give him this appropriately named vehicle,
the Jeep Liberty, in time to celebrate America's Independence Day
on July Fourth," Othold said.
Today's presentation of the specially designed 2008 Jeep Liberty
provided by Chrysler wraps up Operation Gratitude's record-breaking
2008 "Patriotic Drive," which took place over Memorial Day
weekend.
While the Jeep presentation certainly is a high note for
Operation Gratitude, it wasn't the only one that came out of this
year's Patriotic Drive.
The first high occurred when a Marine's sister, surrounded by
more than 500 cheering volunteers, packed Operation Gratitude's
350,000th care package at the National Guard Armory in Van Nuys,
Calif., during Memorial Day weekend.
"This package represents the extraordinary generosity and
efforts of our supporters, American citizens from every state of
this great nation," Blashek said. "Their donations of time, 'wish
list' items, and funds for postage have enabled us to send more
than 2.8 million pounds of product and over 17 million individual
items to our brave [servicemembers] fighting on the front
lines."
Surrounded by 70 volunteers, Blashek paid special tribute to
fallen warriors and their families who have made the ultimate
sacrifice. She thanked the organization's more than 300 corporate
friends and sponsors and acknowledged the dedicated and cooperative
efforts of other all-volunteer organizations.
"We are most proud of the tens of thousands of Operation
Gratitude volunteers across the country," said Bill Van Trump,
Operation Gratitude's volunteer director of development. "Week
after week, month after month, year after year since ... March
2003, [they] have toiled tirelessly to ensure that every
servicemember deployed overseas knows they are always foremost on
our minds and will never be forgotten."
Operation Gratitude will send its 400,000th care package on Dec.
13 during the organization's annual holiday drive. Collection of
food, personal and comfort items, and letters and cards for this
effort begins in September.
Operation Gratitude is a supporter of America Supports You, a
Defense Department program connecting servicemembers and their
families serving at home and abroad. Chrysler is a corporate
supporter of the Defense Department program.
Editor's Note: Military families can also avail
themselves of the Defense Department's America Supports You
program, which highlights home-front groups across the nation that
are providing a variety of services and support to troops and their
families. A listing of these groups and information about their
efforts is available at www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil.
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