| There are a lot of ways you can support our Armed | | | | National Guard website at and go to the Resources |
| Forces overseas this Christmas Season. Taking a few | | | | page and click on the national map. That will give you |
| minutes out of your holidays to thank our | | | | the local websites of the National Guard and any |
| servicemen in some small way really makes a | | | | support groups information. Another easy way is to |
| difference. Sending Christmas Cards, care packages, | | | | contact your local recruiting office for any of the |
| long distance prepaid phone cards, or donations to | | | | services. They can direct you to local and national |
| the USO and other support organizations can mean a | | | | groups that support our troops. |
| lot when you're sitting 3,000 miles from home in a | | | | If you belong to a club, civic group, or other |
| foreign country. | | | | organization a great way to celebrate the holidays is |
| Due to the nature of the locations and for the | | | | to participate in some way to show your support. |
| safety of our troops, it's best to go through a | | | | Sending CDs or DVDs with Christmas music, a care |
| legitimate and authorized organization. Many | | | | package with Christmas cookies and treats, have |
| communities have local National Guard and Reserve | | | | everyone buy a Christmas card and get friends and |
| Units that you can contact to offer your help and | | | | neighbors to sign it. Donate a toy to charity in the |
| contributions. You can also volunteer time, donate | | | | name of your favorite soldier and send them a post |
| money and items, or even just send a Christmas | | | | card about it. |
| Card. | | | | Whenever I travel I make it a point to stop and |
| I know some companies that have adopted military | | | | thank servicemen I see in airports. I've seen so many |
| units and have ongoing programs to support the men | | | | people offer their thanks and support, a small |
| and women in many ways. Offering help to families | | | | gesture, but I can tell by the looks on the recipients |
| who's primary bread winner is serving his country can | | | | that it helps. So this holiday season, whenever you |
| be another way you can help out. Helping out at your | | | | travel, make an extra effort to stop and |
| local VA Hospital or helping soldiers who have | | | | acknowledge any soldier and wish them well. |
| recently returned to civilian life is great too. | | | | After all, the holidays should be all about spreading |
| Small gestures can mean a lot to our troops. Just to | | | | good will and making someone's day just a little |
| know that someone appreciates their efforts and | | | | better. And who better than one of our own soldiers, |
| would like to thank them for their service can have a | | | | serving his duty for our country. Many of our troops |
| big impact. Letters, cards, and gifts from home can | | | | will be in harms way and far from home this holiday |
| cheer up any soldier's day. This is especially true | | | | season and anything we can do to show our |
| during the holidays. | | | | appreciation is a very good thing. |
| A good way to find local military units is to go to the | | | | |