| Across the United States anyone can find
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| | callyou, mail you, or email you with
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| millions uponmillions of US Flags and
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| | updates or information.
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| yellow ribbons. If you are a memberof the
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| | Participate in their fundraisers and
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| extended family of a service member, or
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| | events.
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| even a friendor neighbor, you quickly
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| | Don't Forget The Ones Left Behind
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| realize supporting the military andits
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| | Often we remember the soldier, but forget
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| families takes much more than a ribbon or
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| | the spouse andkids. Remember that the
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| a flag.
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| | soldier will be more at peace by
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| Military members give their lives and
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| | notworrying if everything at home is
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| their hearts to fightfor our country.
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| | squared away. Offer asmuch help as you
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| Every day many find themselves
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| | can for the family that has been
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| indeployment situations. Though the
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| | leftbehind. Be an open ear. Visit them
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| Department of Defense hascreated many
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| | if possible.
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| programs and services to support troops
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| | Communicate
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| intimes of war and peace, an active role
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| | Buy your soldier a phone card to call
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| by the family andfriends is imperative
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| | home. Buy one fortheir kids or spouse
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| for morale.
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| | also. This shows that you are openingthe
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| It has been found that many immediate
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| | lines for communication. Create a simple
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| families such as thespouse, and children
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| | basket and fillit with phone cards,
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| have some understanding of what
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| | stationery, and kids' supplies
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| thesoldier is facing. However, as the
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| | (markers, glitter pens, colored paper)
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| chain grows longer theextended family
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| | for keeping in touchwith the deployed
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| usually knows less and less. Below you
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| | member. Write the soldier letters,
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| willfind tried and true ways to not only
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| | sendcards, care packages, or email. Don't
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| show your support forthe service member,
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| | get upset ordistraught if you don't hear
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| but to provide a strong system for
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| | back from the soldier.
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| themilitary family as well.
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| | Remember, they are often busier than you
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| Tell Them You Are Proud
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| | can ever imagine.
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| Tell the soldier and their family that
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| | Each letter is anxiously awaited and
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| you are proud of whatthey are doing. Even
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| | welcomed on mail dayeven if you hardly
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| if you do not agree with the situationor
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| | ever hear a word back.
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| our leadership decisions, support the
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| | Send Care Packages
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| sheer selflessnessact of your soldier.
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| | Don't wait for you soldier to send a list
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| Show Your Pride
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| | of things he/she
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| Pride can be shown in numbers of ways
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| | "needs". Send a care package once a month
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| from flying a flag,tying a yellow ribbon
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| | or as often as youare able. Pack the
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| around a tree or pole, placing aservice
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| | package with fun things (see our
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| flag in your window, putting a magnet on
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| | carepackage article for suggestions at
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| your car,buying a bracelet or trinket
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| | Send an AAFES (Army & Air Force
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| with their name or unit,placing a
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| | Exchange Service) gift certificate to a
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| flickering candle in your window
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| | service member ortheir family: Don't
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| symbolizing
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| | forget thatthe soldier is not the only
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| "keeping the light on", and many more.
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| | person that needs/deserves acare package,
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| Find the way you wantto show your support
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| | mama and the kids do too! So send
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| and fly it high!
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| | anysignificant people that were "left at
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| Do Your Research
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| | home" a specialsomething!
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| Know where your soldier is going. What
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| | Remember Important Dates & Attend
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| kind of weather isthere? What kind of
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| | Important Events
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| religion? What rules? What is
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| | Often times, your soldier leaves behind a
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| theirmission (if possible to know)? Be
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| | family at home.
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| interested and find outmore about where
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| | Life continues where they were left.
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| your soldier will be and what he/she
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| | Children graduate,dance recitals, soccer
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| willhave available to them while they are
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| | games, etc. Remember these specialevents
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| away.
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| | and try to attend if possible. Always try
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| Help With Chores & Tasks
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| | to rememberspecial dates such as
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| The family left behind is left with many
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| | birthdays, anniversaries and more.
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| additional dutiesdue to the absence of
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| | Holidays are the toughest times when a
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| the service member. If possible, helpwith
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| | family member isdeployed. Remember that
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| duties like mowing the lawn, small home
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| | most military families don't livenear
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| repairs,babysitting etc. If you are too
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| | their relatives and may not be able to
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| far away to help with thesethings
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| | travel thisholiday season. So, invite a
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| consider sending a gift of "lawn
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| | military family over for aholiday meal,
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| maintenance for oneyear" from a business
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| | buy them a small gift (or make a craft)
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| local to the family, or finding alocal
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| | oroffer to baby-sit while the parent does
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| sitter service and purchasing a gift
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| | shopping. If at allpossible, celebrate
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| certificate.
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| | through the miles.
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| Get Involved - Participate
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| | Tara Crooks is the site owner and talk
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| Be involved in your soldiers' life and
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| | show host of Tara's journey with
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| with their family.
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| | themilitary began in 1998 when she and
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| Don't be afraid to call them just to say
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| | her husband CPT Crooks
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| "hello" and checkin to see if things are
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| | PCS'd to their first duty station, Ft
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| going okay. Every soldier has somesort of
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| | Hood. Since, she hasearned a profitable
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| family readiness group or support system
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| | living by building a great Army
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| (dependingon the branch) that offers
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| | wifeinternet talk radio resource. She is
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| information pertaining tofamilies. Get
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| | a PROUD Work at Home
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| involved in this group. Allow them to
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| | Mama & Army Wife.
|
