York Town News
Supporting the troops
By Melissa Wood
Volunteers gathered last week to help pack boxes to be send to the troops serving in Iraq at VFW Post 6977. The 40 boxes filled on June 13 bring the total to 5,000 care packages sent by the VFW since November of 2001.
Photo by Melissa Wood
YORK BEACH - Soldiers from Maine and New Hampshire who are arriving in Iraq July 1 will be greeted with these care packages put together by volunteers from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6977 in York.
Chairman Dick Filliettaz was joined in packing the boxes on Wednesday, June 13, by Dianne Perkins, Joanne Desjardins, Ben Morang, Phil Roy, Richard Hayes, Si Morency, Chuck Andrews, Al Moulton and Missy Freeman, whose husband Rodney served 14 months in Iraq from October 2003 to November 2004.
The 40 boxes contain such necessities as soap and toothpaste, but also phone cards, pencils and paper. And, each of the soldiers, who are now training at the Air Force Academy of Colorado in preparation for their deployment, will receive two cartons of Girl Scout cookies.
These 40 boxes brings the total number of care packages sent out by VFW Post 6977 to 5,000 boxes, worth over $2 million in value, since November 2001. In fact, Post 6977 has, for five years in a row, won the VFW's first place award for sending the most military assistance of any post in Maine.
But the post can't do it alone. Filliettaz said the York community has been very generous and York Middle School students brought in items to donate on a regular basis during the school year. However, the cost of mailing these packages to Iraq is high. Filliettaz estimates it will cost $800 to $900, so the VFW welcomes any donations to help.
Donations may be sent to VFW Post 6977, P.O. Box 201, York Beach, ME 03910.
