Operation Gratitude

After being moved by the touching experiences of the heroes that spoke yesterday, I was grateful that I reached the goal I made on my fiftieth birthday to knit fifty scarves to be donated for care packages for deployed soldiers. My target date was September 11th and I donated them today at Operation Gratitude. They are located in the National Reserve headquarters in Van Nuys. It was inspiring to see all the donations rolling in and to talk to the receiving coordinator Nancy about all the many people and organizations that contribute to their cause. We were standing in the warehouse where the soldiers do their drills, but also where they are deployed from. Their sacrifice became more real as Nancy explained that one of their functions is to provide a large stuffed animal for every child who is sending a parent off to war. It is called a Battle Buddy and he is to be kept safe until their parent returns safely home. How can we ever give enough?