Letter to the Editor

Sergeant thanks community for holiday gifts

Sunday, January 5, 2014

To the Editor:

I would like to say a big thanks to the French Funeral Home, the community members of my home town of Brazil, and the surrounding area. I remember many good times in the area and it was after my graduation from Northview that I joined the U.S. Army. My name is Jeffrey D. Girton. I am a sergeant in the 181st Washington Army National Guard on my fourth overseas holiday experience. Somehow my name had been brought up as being deployed over this holiday season and as such received 16 large boxes of stockings and items for the troops that are overseas. I am part of a small unit that has many first time deployed soldiers and this really helped to brighten their spirits to know that somebody back home cares.

I was also able to spread these boxes to two other units that had just gotten here and as such did not receive much from home. The remainder of the boxes I had sent forward to an outlying base. Our holidays were made much brighter by the kindness of those who donated time, goods and money to this project and I just want to make sure that it is known that it is appreciated by the troops.

"After receiving a stocking, I was elated to find that there were Mike and Ikes in it," LT. Manduca, 181st

"I am glad somebody was able to send me something, this helps a little with my first trip away from home for the holidays," PVT Marlaw, 456th MP

"It was a big surprise when we found that we could pass out stockings at the Christmas Party," SSG Motte, ASG-KU

Sgt. Jeffrey D. Girton, 181st Washington Army National Guard