|
WASHINGTON D.C. (April 21, 2008) - More than 200 volunteers took
the opportunity to support the troops here April 19 during the Jack
Daniel's-United Services Organizations' "Toast to the Troops" care
package stuffing party.
Jack Daniel's Distillery hosted the event in conjunction with
the USO, which left the event with more than 10,000 care packages
to send to troops through its USO Care Package Program. It's not
the first time the two organizations have paired up to toast the
troops in this manner.
"We've done six of (these parties) at bases throughout the
country," said Elizabeth Conway, Jack Daniel's public relations
manager. "We include in each care package a personalized post card
with a little message to the troops that we call a 'Toast to the
Troops.'"
The note is just one of many items boxed up for the troops. One
volunteer said he'd have very happy to get one of those care
packages when he served.
"On the island I was on, we'd have been too glad to have one of
those things, a little package like that," said Bill Stang, a World
War II Marine veteran.
Stang was referring to Guadalcanal, where he and his comrades
served after participating in the initial landing on the island. He
said they ran out of everything while they "existed" there.
He said he believes today's troops will appreciate each box they
get, though they might be just a bit disappointed.
"Each time they open one of those packages, they're going to
look for a little bottle of Jack Daniel's, but it's not going to be
there!" he said with a laugh.
Another volunteer agreed with the potential for disappointment,
but knows for a fact today's troops will appreciate the other
goodies.
"I know exactly what they need over there, and the stuff that I
saw that was in the bags, it was like perfect," said former Army
Sgt. Michael Cain.
The former soldier, who lost his right leg below the knee when
his vehicle hit an anti-tank mine in Tikrit, Iraq, on Aug. 7, 2003,
is medically retired.
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center-outpatient traveled to
Quantico to help pack boxes and said it was a great experience. "I
love it so much," Cain said, "just knowing that those guys are
getting good stuff over there."
The volunteers got good stuff, too. Jack Daniel's provided a
barbecue lunch and a concert as a thank you for their hard
work.
Country music star Craig Morgan, an Army veteran with 11 years
active-duty service and another six years reserve duty, helped pack
boxes before he hit the stage to perform.
He said he met several wounded warriors who were volunteering
and was touched by their stories.
"I have a great deal of respect for what the men and women in
the armed services are going through these days," the singer said.
"I'm humbled by their presence and the pride that they take and
their ability to carry on as if nothing's happened. I don't know
how you can talk to these guys and not be motivated to do
more."
It's not the first time Morgan has had the opportunity to
participate in a Jack Daniels' stuffing party. Of the six events
the distillery's hosted, Morgan's been right there to flash his
megawatt smile, joke with the crowd, and entertain fans with hits
like, "That's What I Love About Sunday."
"They asked us and we volunteered, and we like it so much they
can't get rid of us," Morgan said with a chuckle. "They would
probably like to have another artist, but I won't let anybody else
come and do it."
The USO is a supporter of America Support You, a Defense
Department program connecting citizens and companies with
servicemembers and their families serving at home and abroad.
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.
|
