Nationwide Tour to Collect Care Packages for Troops Serving Overseas this Holiday Season

Sacramento, CA – Move America Forward, the nation’s largest pro-troop grassroots organization, is conducting a nationwide tour to support sending care packages to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“With Americans focused on the economic problems facing our country, we have to ensure that our troops in harm’s way are not forgotten during the Christmas and Hanukkah holiday season,” said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.

Traveling on the tour will be Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee, - whose son Marc Alan Lee was the first Navy S.E.A.L. killed in Iraq. Lee said, “I remember his feelings of pride for serving our country, but also the loneliness troops endure during the holiday season. Instead of celebrating Christmas and Hanukkah with their families, many military men and women will be spending the holidays this year protecting our freedom in far off lands.”

To show the nation’s gratitude and support, Move America Forward’s Debbie Lee and singer/songwriter Diana Nagy (who will perform her hit song “Where Freedom Flies” at each stop) will be on the road encouraging people to send care packages from December 13 – December 19.

Last year, MAF toured the country during the holiday season to collect holiday cards for the troops with the goal of sending 100,000 holiday cards. They collected more than double that amount and hope Americans will show the same support this year by purchasing care packages in which sponsors can write individual notes to show their support. Packages include gourmet Artisan Coffee and Cornerstone Coffee, Oreo Cookies and Jelly Belly jelly beans made famous by President Ronald Reagan.

For those who are not on the tour route, care packages can be purchased online and individual notes can still be included. Orders can be placed by going to the website: www.MoveAmericaForward.com and clicking on the “Coffee and Cookies for our Troops” icon.

ITINERARY

Sacramento, CA on 12/13
Las Vegas, NV on 12/14
Phoenix, AZ on 12/14
El Paso, TX on 12/15
San Antonio, TX on 12/16
Austin, TX on 12/16
Houston, TX on 12/17
Baton Rouge, LA on 12/18
Mobile, AL on 12/18
Tallahassee, FL on 12/19
Jacksonville, FL on 12/19

Above is a picture of Gold Star Mom Debbie Lee giving a television interview during last year’s tour. Debbie, a remarkable, patriotic woman who lost her son, Marc Alan Lee, in the defense of our country will be back on the bus this year.

MAF Chairman, Melanie Morgan concludes:

“During this emotional and busy time of year, we can’t forget about our troops who are still fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even though the economic news has focused Americans on the home front, we cannot forget that hundreds of thousands of the finest Americans are in combat zones while we’re around the tree with friends and loved ones.”

Coffee and Cookies for the Troops

From Move America Forward:

You probably remember our huge project in June to hold a telethon bringing together many many of the top names in the conservative and pro-troop movements and send the single-largest shipment of care packages to our troops in history. Well, we succeeded beyond our wildest dreams, but the MAF care package program marches on. We’ll keep shipping them to Iraq and Afghanistan until the troops come home. As we begin to approach Thanksgiving and the Christmas/holiday season, we’ll be putting together new seasonal packages to give our troops an appropriate taste of home.

We’ve already updated our standard coffee/cookie package to take full advantage of our exciting “Candy Diplomacy” program. That program sends jelly beans, through the generous support of the Jelly Belly candy company, in specially-marked packaging with a message of goodwill to the Iraqi people. The message is printed in both English and Arabic, and the Jelly Belly beans inside are specially selected to appeal to Middle Eastern tastes. Nancy Reagan has expressed her personal pride in our “Candy Diplomacy” program, and she will soon hold a formal event to confer her endorsement.

 

“A gift from the American people in hope
that your country will one day
enjoy the freedom and opportunities
that we have in the United States.”

 

The cookies we are now sending are brand-name Oreo cookies, which we are buying with help from Nabisco and Raley’s supermarkets, and we send connoisseur-class coffee from Artisan Roasters, a company which has displayed a long-term commitment to our troops.

Because the packages we sold in conjunction with the telethon have all been shipped, because our troops are still fighting and winning America’s all-important War on Terror, and because it’s so easy to get caught up in the new of the upcoming election and the ongoing financial crisis, it is important that we continue to send care packages and encourage others to do the same so our troops know they are not forgotten. We would greatly appreciate your help in reminding your readers that our care package program is a year-round ongoing effort and this is the perfect time to send a small token of our thanks to those serving our country. Please find below graphics and links that can be used to direct people to our product page. The process is very simple after that: simply select a package and enter your information, including a personalized message that will be included with your items, and we will ship to the troops. Thanks so much for your help with this effort and your support for America’s military.

Historic Support of U.S. Troops From the Front Lines - Progress Report

…from Joe, of Move America Forward:

For background, see: Historic Support of U.S. Troops! (From the Front Lines)

Video clips hosted by Ustream

More big name celebrities have signed on to support Move America Forward’s pro-troop push to send the largest single shipment of care packages to U.S. troops in history - and will be joining the June 26th Internet web-a-thon broadcast of “From the Front Lines.” Read more