101st Airborne Adopt-A-Soldier Program (Official City of Las Vegas Web Site)

101st Airborne Adopt-A-Soldier Program

Adopt-A-Soldier Program
On September 7, 2005, the city of Las Vegas "adopted" Bravo Company 426, 1st Brigade Combat Team of the 101st Airborne ("Screaming Eagles") through an organization called America Supporting Americans. These soldiers deployed to Iraq on Friday, September 23, and will be gone for a minimum of 12 months. The city has developed a Pen Pal program. Details on this program can be found below.

Important Note Regarding Mail
The last day to send mail to battalion soldiers deployed to Iraq is August 1, 2006. Mail sent after August 1, 2006 and received after August 17, 2006 in Iraq will be stamped "Return to Sender" and mailed back to the U.S. This message pertains only to battalion mail.

An Update On The Soldiers
The soldiers are now set up at Camp Warrior in Kirkuk, Iraq, which is about 140 miles north of Baghdad. This will be their home for the next year.

They have been receiving letters and care packages from their Las Vegas Pen Pals, and look forward to “mail call” every day.

One of the soldiers CALLED his pen pal, just to thank her for sending letters to him. “Sgt Lett just kept thanking me for the letter and I kept saying, no thank you for being over there and fighting for MY freedom!”

Other pen pals have received e-mails and handwritten letters from their adopted soldier, thanking them for taking an interest in Bravo Company 426, during their deployment to Iraq.

The 1st Sergeant sent an e-mail expressing his gratitude to everyone participating in the “Letters From Home” program. He said the soldiers get a morale boost every day, just knowing that someone will be getting something from a citizen of Las Vegas. They have been sharing correspondence and items in their care packages with each other.

Speaking of care packages…each soldier received a box full of goodies for the holidays. Thanks to the generosity of local businesses and residents, the soldiers received boxes with custom t-shirts, CDs, playing cards, drink mixes and lots of snacks, just before the holidays.

Visit this Web page often for updates on our adopted soldiers.

You can also read a copy of Blackjack Monthly a newsletter put together by the soldiers.

Pen Pal Program Details
A pen pal program called "Letters From Home," has been set up in which Las Vegas residents will be matched with a soldier from Bravo Company 426 for the purpose of writing letters and e-mails, which will help bring them a little closer to home while they're deployed.

In addition, through the generosity of our community partners, we will be sending care packages to soldiers on their birthday and during the holidays. As a pen pal, your input on the preference of your individual soldier will be invaluable in personalizing these care packages.

Below you will find information on acceptable items to send, preferred items and general mailing information.

If you are interested in participating, or have questions about the program, please contact Audrie Dodge, at (702) 229-2420.

Your support of our "adopted" soldiers during their deployment will be invaluable! On most days, "mail call" is the highlight. Let's give them something to look forward to while they're so far from home.

Suggested Items and Ideas ** (When sending food items, it’s a good idea to send extra, so they can share)

Frequently requested items:

• Telephone calling cards. The exchange rate is very high, so cards with 500 or more minutes are best. (There is a program called "Help Our Troops Call Home"--AT&T, in sponsorship with AAFES, allow you to purchase prepaid telephone calling cards for deployed Soldiers. The advantage of this program is an increased number of minutes per dollar purchased versus other telephone calling cards. For additional information go to https://thor.aafes.com/scs/default.aspx )
• Easy Mac & Cheese
• Tuna in a pouch
• Beef Jerky
• Any pre-packaged snack or candy that is easy to carry
• Candy, brownies, cookies
• Magazines (NO explicit/pornographic material)-there are a lot of car enthusiasts and boxing fans in the group

Other suggestions:

• A mail “tour” of Las Vegas (Postcards, souvenirs, etc)
• Tapes with songs or special messages
• Seasonal items
• Videos (especially newly released DVD’s)
• Make funny morale boosting posters
• Music tapes/CDs
• Stationary or blank holiday cards (allows soldiers to send their own cards out)
• Stamps (they can mail letters for free, but not other things)
• Baby wipes, Blister pads, Foot powder, Eyewash/eye drops, Lip balm, Sunscreen)
• Disposable camera
• “Free Time” materials such as; Magazines, books, puzzles, playing cards, board games
• Mixed nuts

What not to send (these items may not make it to your Pen Pal, or are not allowed in the Country):

• Explicit/pornographic materials (i.e. photographs, videotapes, DVD’s, Magazines, etc…)
• Alcoholic beverages
• Pork and pork by-products
• Material contrary to the Islamic religion
• Explosives, firearms, ammunition, knives, flammable products
• Perishable items such as fruit, vegetables, flowers, plants
• Narcotic and/or prescription drugs

Mailing packages to your Pen Pal:

• Wrap packages securely
• Keep in mind that liquid-filled containers tend to break
• Powdered items may open during transit, causing concern over what the substance may be. Please pack these items in a sealed plastic “Ziploc” type bag.
• Label packages properly and list all contents

If you use United States Postal Service (USPS) Priority Mail, your packages will arrive, on average, in 16 days. Letters arrive in 10 days. You can get USPS Priority Mail supplies from the any local post office, or by logging on to www.USPS.com . You can have mailing supplies delivered to your home or office, free of charge.

TIPS:

Regular letters only require a regular $.39 stamp
Priority Mail “Flat Rate” Boxes (2 sizes: 12”x3.5”x14” or 11”x8.5”x5.5”) are only $8.10 to mail regardless of weight
Use Priority Mail Address Labels
Use Customs Forms Declaration 2976A
Do not put the Country (Iraq) on the label…this will cause it to go through a different process, which will delay delivery.

**If you would like more suggestions, or are interested in putting together a “themed gift package,” please contact Councilman Steve Wolfson’s office at (702) 229-2420 for further information.