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5:05 p.m., April 7, 2003--“Operation Moral Support” is a new student-organized effort under way at UD to brighten the days of troops stationed overseas.
UD’s National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS), along with Military Moms, has organized the program to send letters, cards and drawings to troops stationed overseas with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Air National Guard, National Guard and Coast Guard. The group also encourages members of the general public to participate.
According to organizer Bevan Kirley, a senior biology major and vice president of public relations for NSCS, anyone who wants to write a letter is welcome to do so.
“Since there are a lot of troops overseas, the more letters sent, the better. The soldiers love receiving the gift of a letter and often respond to the person as well. If you are including a return address, it must be written on each envelope,” she said.
The NSCS is collecting all forms of written communication and sending the items out in two waves, one in the middle of April and the other at the beginning of May, Kirley said.
Kirley, who is from Sykesville, Md., said she decided to get involved in this project because a friend of her family recently was sent overseas.
“His mother works with my mother and father, and their entire office got together to make him a scrapbook of patriotic songs and poems, as well as letters and personal thoughts that he could read while away from home. I started thinking about all of the other people who have been sent overseas, and I wanted them to know that we are thinking about them, too,” she said.
Kirley said she has always had a passion for volunteer work. “This project is great because it is something anyone can do. No special talents or skills are needed. Five minutes is all it takes to let someone know you care.”
“Writing a letter, drawing a picture or making a card may seem like very small things to do. But for someone far from home, family and friends the simple act of kindness is a very big deal,” she said.
There are three ways to get messages sent out:
For more information about Operation Moral Support, call 837-8404 or e-mail [bkirley@udel.edu].
Article by Amy Pasternack, AS 2003
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