CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR SOLDIERS

American Hero Hugs is participating in Christmas Cards for Soldiers. We are very excited about this project. We designed our own special Christmas card and have had 200 cards made. 100 cards have already been sent out to 10 volunteers. Each volunteer received 10 cards to get signed by friends, family, co-workers. They will then send them to the organizer by Nov. 1, 2010. People really do want to help and participate but sometimes they just don't know how. We Can't thank Jessica Lloyd and the Warrant Officers Wives Club for organizing this event and making it so easy for people to participate.

I am very happy with our card because it holds special meaning for me. When my grandmother was alive she used to make homemade cards for birthdays, holidays and sometimes just because. She called them Tightwad Cards. My grandmother loved her country, her state and the small town where she lived. She had so much gratitude for the men and woman that made our freedoms possible. When trying to come up with a card design I immediately thought of her cards. I kept every card she sent so I dug them out and found the Christmas cards. Through the magic of the scanner I was able to scan in her artwork and use it for our card. I'm sure she would be very proud to know that I used her card to produce our American Hero Hugs Thank-You For Your Service Christmas Card. Not only does this experience give us the chance to do something for our soldiers to show that we support them, but on a personal level it gave me a few moments to sit and reflect about of the most amazing and beautiful women that every walked this earth and for that I even more grateful. Click the link above to find out how you can participate.

It was a tough job but doesn't compare to a HERO's Sacrifice

Recently American Hero Hugs was asked to create gifts for the family of a fallen HERO.

Army Staff Sgt James R Ide V, cause of Death: wounds sustained when insurgents attacked his unit with small-arms fire is survived by his wife and two small children.

We are so honored to be asked to this. It wasn't an easy task. They wanted our American Hero Hugs pillowcase but asked for a different poem so I created the following poem for them.

As you close your eyes to sleep

I leave my love for you to keep.

I am with you night and day,

In your heart I will always stay

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We were also asked to create something special for his wife, and with inspirational guidance from my friend Jodi, who is a friend of Ide family and an Army wife herself, I was able to create this poem for her. I hope it brings a small comfort. The words and work for this project have come fairly easy. The emotion it has produced is much more difficult and uncomfortable, but leaves me feeling such gratitude for Staff Sgt James R Ide, his wife and their beautiful children and for all of the other HEROES big and small that sacrifice so much for our freedom.