Knights
of
Columbus
4th Degree
Samuel Cardinal
Stritch Assembly
#205
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Samuel Cardinal Stritch
Assembly #205 Support Our Troops
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Honoring Our Nations
Finest
Fighting the War On Terror
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Cardinal Stritch Assembly #205
spearheaded by St. Florian Council #12911 and the
Chicago Fire Department sent 560 Christmas
gift packages to our troops in Afghanistan.
The massive effort was accomplished by the many
volunteers who gave up their weekend to sort and package
the items that went into each gift box. the gifts
included candy, shampoo, skin lotion, shaving gear,
puzzle books, pens, soap, and Fire Department tee
shirts. Best of all was the letters and cards that the
school children from across the State of Illinois gave
us to sent to our troops.
Our thanks go to all the folks that let us show our
appreciation to the men and women who make our country
safe. We would like to thank all the Knights of Columbus
who participated especially our State Council , Samuel
Cardinal Stritch Assembly #205, and St. Florian Council
#12911, the men and women of the Chicago Fire
Department, the City of Chicago, Jim Bulcer, the
Alderman of the 11th ward, And the Chicago Firefighters
Union and all the children that wrote such touching
letters and cards.
God Bless.
Jack McKay
Past Faithful Navigator
Samuel Cardinal Stritch Assembly # 205 |
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Thank You Letters from
Our Nations
Finest Fighting the War On Terror |
Dear Gentlemen of The Cardinal Stritch Assembly #205
Knights of Columbus, the City of Chicago Fire
Department, and the St. Florian Council #12911.
The soldiers of my platoon and myself were very excited
to receive the care packages that you sent us for this
holiday season. It is wonderful to know there are people
back home that are thinking of us out here in
Afghanistan, especially men of your caliber. If there is
anything that I can do to show you the appreciation we
have for the time and effort you took to send us these
wonderful care packages please don't hesitate to ask.
Sincerely,
Robert D.
DSC, HHBn, 1 Cavalry Division |
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Gentlemen,
We are truly overwhelmed here by the extent of your
generosity to us. We have spent the last several hours
unpacking boxes and sending items this direction and
that, all in support of guys who are in harm's way and
far from family. This is not an easy time to be
deployed, but support like yours makes all the
difference in the world. Thanks again and God Bless!
Eric L. |
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2010 Thank You Letters |
I am sending heart felt thanks from the 332 of EMDG
Pharmacy Joint Base Balad Iraq
Your package was very much appreciated and needed. What
we did noy use here in pharmacy we were able to share
with the patients.
God Bless,
TSGT Dlores Wilson |
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Dear Mr. McKay,
Thank you so much for the packages you sent at Christmas
time!. I received one that had been addressed to SPC
Gabriel Becker, via our units chaplain. Though we are in
the same company we are a different locations.
I was highly impressed by the wise selections you sent
and the cooperation that seemed to happen in your
efforts. Please do not put me on your list, but do
realize the gratitude I felt at the reception of your
gifts.
May god Bless you!
Keep praying for us please!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Choo |
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Certificate of Appreciation
From Chaplain Andrew A. Wade
CDR, CHC, USN
and the Marines and Sailors of Regimental Combat Team
Seven
Afghanistan
Click
>>HERE<< To view
NOTE: Requires Adobe
Reader to view. See information below. |
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Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen,
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for
your care package. Please pass on our thanks to the
Chicago Fire Fighters Union, The Cardinal Stritch
Assembly and yourselves as you all have made this past
holiday season more bearable for us here in Helmand,
Afghanistan. We all miss home and can’t wait to get home
to our loved ones. Your appreciation means a lot to us,
thank you again.
R/S, Halima Blanton
CWO Blanton
MWSS-372
Engr Co, Ut Plt |
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Gentleman,
Thank you for the care packages. They have brightened
our holiday season. We appreciate you thinking of us,
and all the hard work you put in to these wonderful
gifts. Merry Christmas and God Bless.SSG Tyson
D. Hunter
HHC 2-3IN
FOB Normandy |
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My name is SPC Conklin, Stanley. I
received one of your car packages and wanted to write to
you and thank you guys for the care packages. It nice to
know people I don't even know are thinking of us on this
Christmas season. thanks so much for everything.
SPC Conklin |
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Gentleman,
Thank you very much for the care packages that the St
Florian Council 12911. Two of them made it to Camp Dwyer
Afghanistan Alpha Surgical Company. We opened them last
night during our evening training. The most popular
items were the carabineers; closely followed by the
snickers bars
We are a Surgical Team and Shock Trauma Platoon
operating close to the Marine’s Battlefield. The items
you sent help keep our spirits up during this holiday
season.
Please pass on our thanks to your family and friends.
Sincerely,
LCDR Wendy Stone
USN, Shock Trauma Platoon Nurse |
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Thank you very much, St. Florian Council 12911 of the
Knights of Columbus, for the package. My soldiers
enjoyed the items very much, and it was a much-needed
morale boost for the younger ones who are away from
their families during Thanksgiving and Christmas for the
first time. Really, it was also a morale boost for those
of us for whom this is the second or third time. It's
always touching when complete strangers are willing to
go to the trouble of buying and packaging and sending
things to those who cannot enjoy the freedom and
lifestyle they're defending.
Thank you again, and Merry Christmas.
2LT James Neff
JNN Platoon Leader, 63rd NSC, 201st BfSB
COB Adder, Iraq
SVOIP 798-1005
NVOIP 857-1698 |
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Good Morning Sir,
My name is Steve. I am the Combat Logistics Battalion –
1 Chaplain deployed in Afghanistan. I’m also the Officer
in Charge of care packages we receive. We recently
received several care packages from you and the Knights
of Columbus there in Chicago. I want to express our
sincere gratitude to all the people involved in sending
us those care packages. We have made sure every Warrior
on the base here has an opportunity to receive some love
from the states. We also have been able to send some
care packages to forward operating posts to give those
Marines the same love. We really can’t thank you enough
for reaching out to us here. It makes a tremendous
difference when we receive love from the states. You
have made the day for many Warriors here in Afghanistan.
Thank you again and may God bless you this Christmas
season!
God bless,
Chaplain Steve Brown
Combat Logistics Battalion One
LT, USN, CHC |
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I wanted to say thanks to all the Knights of Columbus
that spent their time and money sending us their
Christmas packages. Our soldiers appreciate all that you
have done for us. We have received the boxes and I am
going to send them out to KOP and Restrepo sites.
The pictures gives you an idea of what life is like at
Restrepo. Both places have to be reached by helicopter
so food and packages have to be flown out. They finally
have hot food out there when a cook was sent out there.
The guys like it and seem to be doing very well. We are
about half way through our tour. Again thanks for all
the boxes of goodies.
Those soldiers will enjoy them very much.
Take care,
CH Wes Gornall
2-12 IN
FOB Blessing |
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Sir,
On behalf of all the people who received one of
your wonderful care packages, let me say thank
you. I work in the hospital here at Joint Base
Balad, Iraq. There were enough packages that I
was able to give one to at least every section
of the hospital. All of the personnel were
surprised by the generosity of everyone that
helped make this possible. Some couldn’t wait to
open them up and see what was inside. It was
like an early Christmas present. Again, thank
you and all those that worked on putting them
together.
Sincerely,
Matthew Zahradka
Thank you very much
for the care packages!
332 EMDG/Lab
Joint Base Balad, Iraq |
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I see your care package was addressed to the Lab,
but we all share. The package is now in the O.R.. All of
us would like to thank you, Knights of Columbus and the
Chicago Fire Fighters Union for the care package and
letters.
It is much appreciated!
Sincerely,
SGT
1886th MED DET – Neurosurgery
332 AEW EMDG/OR
APO, AE 09315-9997 |
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We have received the care packages sent from you and
the St. Florian Council 12911.
On behalf of 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1-128th INF,
and Bravo Troop 1-105 CAV, we all would like to thank
everyone for the gifts. It is a blessing to know how
much support is out there for us soldiers. For many,
this is a morale booster, especially during the holidays
spent away from family and friends.
If you could pass this down to everyone that has helped
out, I would greatly
appreciate it.
Thank you again,
God Bless & Happy Holidays
SPC
Christopher Steuerwald
1st Plt., C Co 1-128th Inf. |
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Dear Gentlemen of The Knights of
Columbus;
On behalf of the men and women and the families of the
201st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, I would like to
thank you for your thoughts and prayers during this
holiday season. We hope that you and your families will
have a great holiday season this year as well. I would
also like to ask you to keep those families whose loved
ones did not return in your prayers as well.
Sincerely,
SGT Derek R. Sotelo |
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Thank
you for the packages my troops loved the items they
received. The cards from your local school was a great
touch. Please pass on my thanks to all that were
involved and let them know it makes a difference! We
wish you all a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! Love
the shirt!
Sincerely,
Capt. Tony Barrie
Air Force Theater Hospital |
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On behalf
of 1st platoon, Charlie Company 1-128 WF and Bravo Troop
105 Cav. We would like to thank you for the care
packages. We appreciate everything you do for us back at
home. You all make being overseas a little more
easier especially getting close to the holidays, it
brings us that much closer to home. Again, thank you
for everything. I hope everything at home is going well
for everyone.
Have a happy and safe holiday.
SPC Christopher
Steuerwald
1st Plt., C Co 1-128th Inf. |
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Happy Thanksgiving
Gents,
I wanted to say happy holidays and thank you for the box
that our team has received. That was very nice of you.
Thank you for the prayers, we all appreciate it as well
as our families back at home. I wanted to ask you, if
you knew the address to the school where the 6th graders
sent us some of there postcards; so we could write them
back. I do not see an email or anything for the Chicago
Firefighters Union, so I will send them a thank you as
well. Attached is our team, again thank you for the box
of goodies and happy holidays to you and your families.
Manuel E. DelVillar
E SSG USA MFT Humint Sergeant |
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An email
from Mary Becker that she received from
her son Gabriel:
Hey Mom,
We received the packages and may here
were moved by the charity that was
bestowed on us. We are sending back a
thank you package, (not to mention
letters to the many children that wrote
us). The package contains a Certificate
of Appreciation, a picture of myself and
the people I work with, and a flag, not
just any flag, but the flag flown over
our Post when we began our tour here in
Camp Adder. Please pass on our many
thanks and prayers for the folks "back
home".
SPC Gabriel Becker
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