The OPERATION: THANK YOU NEWSLETTER
JUNE 2009
PO Box 59 Morrow, OH 45152 www.ohiooperationthankyou.org Carol Alexander, Manager 513/899-3134
carolalex1@embarqmail.com
CITY OF MASON JOINS OTY
About ten days ago I received an email from the Human Resource department of the City of Mason requesting a meeting to see how they might become a sponsor of OTY and help support our troops. I met with Kari Geiser and came away with a long list of things she was taking back to the City Council. She called
of days and invited me to ride in the Memorial in a couple Day Parade with some troops escorting me. The City Council handed our OTY flyers to the crowd. We were also invited to be part of the July 3rd Music Festival following a day of contests, games and food. She invited me to speak that evening and explain just what OTY is all about. Hewy Lewis and the News will be the headliner. This is a free event so come on out and be sure and drop by the OTY tent. They are planning to have drop boxes around town and spread the word about us. This will all be tied into a fund raiser that had already been arranged at Culver’s Butterburger on Tylersville Road on the 16th of July. All of this will open more doors into the Mason area for us. I am very excited!!!
WE ARE TO START PACKING ONE EVENING A MONTH
Our numbers have been increasing on our Wednesday packing days. For this we are grateful! However, we have many who work during the day and have expressed an interest in helping. So starting in June though the summer we will have one night a month evening packing. This will probably work out well in several ways – one being the warehouse is not air conditioned and it should be cooler. After a survey of the members who might help pack in the evening it has been determined that Tuesday evening will be best for the most people. Tuesday, June 9th will be our first packing night. The second Tuesday of each month we will have packing at the warehouse. The first night we do this our warehouse host as invited us to come for a cookout before we start to pack. We will start to cook about 5:30pm. If you plan on coming that night please contact me and let me know so we will know how to plan for dinner. DIRECTIONS TO WAREHOUSE: Entering Morrow on US 22/3 look for the Vale Funeral Home – across the street is Houston Street. Take Houston to Highlawn, turn LEFT, at the 4-way stop is Welch, turn RIGHT this will take you past Morrow Methodist Church and Salem School to dead end into Morrow-Rossburg Rd. turn RIGHT. In two-tenths of a mail on the RIGHT you will see a large green mailbox with 5997 on it. Just past that is a gravel road. Take the gravel road between the two houses to the large gray building in the back. This is the warehouse. This IS a warehouse, concrete floors so wear comfortable shoes and work clothes. Also, there is not a ladies restroom.
LOVELAND HIGH SCHOOL HOLD WALK-A-THON
On May 2 the senior class of Loveland High School held a Walk-A-Thon to benefit Operation: Thank You. They were supported by 2 very handsome soldiers from the 810th Quarter Master Corp. from the Kings Mill Armory, Sgt. Joseph Rohrig and SPC Jerrold Robinson. C. J. Doughman of the OTY Management Staff attended to represent OTY. The event started with the soldiers leading an exercise session to limber everyone up then they lead the first lap along with C. J. After the first lap where everyone walked together, it was a relay and one member of each team walked. There were games, a cookout, fun and fellowship by the crowd that turned out for the event. Every team was required to raise $50. The day was a big success with $1,103 being donated to OTY for support of our troops. We would like to express our appreciation to the staff, student council and the senior class as well as all who turned out that day for the support to OTY. About 2 months ago this same group donated $1,200 to OTY. Keep up the good work!!! Your efforts on our behalf are greatly appreciated. We would also like to thank Sgt. Rohrig and SPC Robinson for giving of their time to support both the Loveland High School project and Operation: Thank You. Both Sgt. Rohrig and SPC Robinson have just recently returned from a tour in Iraq.
LITTLE MIAMI HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT COUNCIL HOLD DRIVE
The Student Council form LMHS just completed a “Support the Troops” drive and collected many items for out troops. These items ranged from socks, snacks and personal care items to books and games. Jess Bennett, a senior, brought this idea to the Student Council again this year. Mr. Jeff Peters the Student Council Councilor approved the idea and the students went to work collecting all the items to be sent to the troops. Jess says her sister will take over as OTY representative at LMHS next year and she will be taking the idea with her as she heads off to college.
MORROW ELEMENTARY WON’T BE OUT DONE BY HIGH SCHOOLS
Several months ago Capt. David Lane and his command was deployed to Iraq. The Lane’s are from this area, as a matter of fact attend my church so he and his men had been added to our mailing list. Capt. Lane and his wife, Judy have a son, Joe in the 4th grade at Morrow Elementary. Joe told his class about his dad being in Iraq and the class organized a fund raiser and earned $200. The class ask the rest of the school for help by donating personal care items and snacks to be sent to the troops in his dad’s command. They used the $200 to purchase beef jerky and the school donated several hundred dollars worth of personal care items. I was contacted for help in packing and shipping. I explained we do not except items to be sent to a specified person, but since Capt. Lane is already one of ours that would make things a little different and if OTY paid the shipping costs they would have more money to purchase jerky with. I was invited to attend a special assembly where some of the 4th graders read the cards and letters to the soldiers they had written. I was so pleased I did not have to follow that. I would not have been able to talk because I had a large lump in my throat after hearing what these kids had to say to the soldiers. I was very impressed with these young people and their understanding of what our troops are doing for us. I know they will be also when the letters arrive. My back seat if full of all the items they collected and they will be kept apart from our regular inventory until the June 9th packing. We will prepare it all for shipping then.
CALLS TO DUTY FOR LOCAL TROOPS
May 2nd was the big day for the Bravo Company from the Lebanon National Guard. There were 144 soldiers in this group that will be going to Ft. Atabury for additional training before leaving in about 6 weeks for Iraq. The Call to Duty Ceremony was held at the Unbancrest Baptist Church and the place was over flowing. It was a very nice ceremony with such people as Congresswoman Jean Schmidt, a representative from the Governor’s office and the Mayor of Lebanon, Amy Brewer in attendance. OTY has already made contact and has made arrangements for personal contacts to work with us during their deployment. Also, Charlie Company of the same Battalion from Xenia had their Call to Duty that day as well. There are another 130 with this Company. They will be leaving for Iraq in mid June. Mother’s Day, May 10th was the Call for Duty for the Marine 4th Communication Division from Cincinnati with 84 Marines in this deployment to Iraq. Many in this group are volunteer members of OTY and they will
be deeply missed but we will have close contact with them. Jackie and I attending the family briefing to explain to the families what OTY does and invite them to join us.
HOSPITALIZED HEROES
Here is the latest from Daniel Thornhill
Dear Everyone, Thanks so much for your prayers. Daniel had surgery on his elbow Monday. He had some bone growth where he had been burned. The surgeon removed some bone from his elbow. Daniel is saying he should have full use of his arm. That is good news. Praise the Lord! Please forward this information on to anyone you have sent this address. Guess he has been getting mail addressed to David Thornhill. We do appreciate everything you are doing. It is all helping him to get better. THANKS! Doug & Cheryl
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Wednesdays, June 3rd, 17th, 24th 11:30am to 3:30pm packing at the warehouse
On Tuesday, June 9th we will have our first night packing. When will be starting the grill at 5:30pm to fix hot dogs and hamburgers with a few fixins before we start packing about 6:30pm. This will be a good time to meet some of the other volunteers as well as the staff of OTY. Couple of things you should know == this really is a warehouse, concrete floors the whole bit so wear comforty shoes and something you don’t mind getting dirty. There is a men's room up stairs but there is not a girl’s room. DIRECTIONS TO THE WAREHOUSE: address 5995 Morrow-Rossburg Rd ( in the rear) Morrow, OH my cell phone 513/328-3134 please DO NOT EVER leave a message on this number o513/899-3134r try to reach me at this number as I usually do not have it with me unless I am at the warehouse. Thanks
DIRECTIONS:
Take US 22/3 into Morrow Across the street from Vale's Funeral Home is Houston St. Take Houston to Highlawn, turn LEFT, at Welch turn RIGHT this dead ends into Morrow-Rossburg Rd. Turn RIGHT. twotenth of a mile on the RIGHT you will see a large green mailbox with 5997 just past that you will see a gravel road. Follow the gravel road back between the two houses to the large gray building in back. This is the warehouse. *** PLEASE no small children as there is a pond in front of the warehouse and chemicals inside. Thank You! Any question please call 513/899-3134 (numbers are similar) or email me If you do plan to attend we would appreciate you letting me know so we can plan for dinner Friday, June 12 Aces & Eights Bike Night Party. 5:30 to 10:00pm
Thursday, June 24th, 26th, 27th Hamilton TWP Independence Celebration
We will be needing volunteers to take 4 to 5 hour shifts all three days. Please call or email me if you will be willing to help. We will be getting Christmas messages for the troops and telling our neighbors about OTY. Be sure and bring your families down. There will be rides, food, games, vendors and on Saturday night fireworks. This will be held at Tester man Park in Maineville.
Friday, July 3rd is the Mason Music Festival see details in articles about City of Mason. We will have
a booth there getting Christmas messages for the troops and answering questions about OTY and you will be able to watch me make a fool of myself in front of several thousands of people. We will be looking for
volunteers to work shifts from noon to about 10:00 when the Rossi fireworks will began. If you can help please call me and get your name on the list early.
Thursday, July 16th fund raiser at Culver’s Butterburger on Tylersville Rd. This will be running
from 10:00am till 10:30pm. We will be running trays to customers and telling our story. There will be a flyer in the July issue of the newsletter with a voucher in it and you MUST take the voucher with you for OTY to receive 10% of the cost of your dinner. IF you forget it they will have them at the counter but we can not hand them out to their customers that don’t know about the fund raiser.
August 7-8=9 St Margret of York Festival -- going in with Kidd Coffee maybe. August 29th Heritage Days in Mason we will be set up by People’s First Saving Bank October 3rd Morrow Festival Jackie and Donna going in with People’s December 4th Santa Party Hamilton Twp. Firehouse We are working on a few other things for the summer and are open to your ideas….
YOU CAN TAKE ME INTO YOUR CLUBS
Over the summer is when the Program Chairman will be looking to book the guest speakers for next year. Let them know about OTY and suggest they have us come in to tell our story. When I am invited as guest speaker I do not charge a fee. This will move OTY up on their list of possibilities for the fall. Also, thought I remind those with the Kroger Reward card that are not using them to please take a couple of minutes to RELOAD your card and use it. It take a lot of time to raise the money we need to operate OTY and the use of the Reward card is a big help and greatly appreciated. The checks have dropped off for the past couple of months even thou there are new cards out there, We have some very faithful supporters who send checks on a regular schedule and I would like to take this chance to tell you how much we appreciate your faithfulness. In this economy I know things are tight but your donations are very important to us being able to supply our troops with the things and comforts. It is already over 100 degrees in Iraq and Afghanistan. One thing the troops really do appreciate is a cold, frozen popsicle when they come in from a long hot, dry mission. If you would like to purchase a box to send just drop them off at People’s First Saving Bank, either branch, Kidd Coffee 20 mile in Landen or in the drop boxes in City Hall in Mason. We will see that they are delivered right away.
UPDATES ON OUR TROOPS
CONGRATULATIONS to SSgt. Mark and Nancy Garey. They were married May 16, 2009 in a
lovely Marine wedding complete with the sword arch and swat on the rear that follows Marine
tradition. Our best wishes to them both. SSgt. Garey will be leaving in early June to prepare for his
deployment to Iraq.
WELCOME HOME
Local Marine LCPL Matthew Wheeldon returned home from his tour in Iraq in mid May. The family had a big welcome home party which several OTY have the honor to attend. Returning in June will be PFC Bret Wilmont from his year’s tour. Also retuning will be Richard Parry, Sgt. Chris Nelson. As well as the Blue Ash Air National Guard our contacts in that groups were MSgt. Mike Arrendale, MSgt. Heath McCoppin and Sgt. Teresa Schmidt. We have heard that Sgt. Jake Peck has been home on Leave and Chad Fields and his wife, both stationed in Iraq are expected in for a couple of weeks Leave as well. Sgt. Tim Callahan is home on Leave about the first of July.
Operation: Thank You One Person Joining With Many To Serve Our Troops While They Serve Us.
"Never believe that a few caring people cannot change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have." - Margaret Mead