My parents are life members of the post and the LAVFW. They live in Clyde, TX but are maintaining membership at our post. They started a campaign 2 years ago to send packages to Camp Bucca, the largest internment camp in Iraq.

My sister, Major Julie Pitvorec, had toured the Camp and was informed that the troops there were not receiving any packages from home. If a package is not sent to a specific individual it gets returned.

So that started the packages. At first my parents, Bobbie and Vern Glenn, absorbed the cost themselves. Their Church, Clyde Baptist, jumped in to help with the cost of shipping. The ladies Auxiliary sent $200 and the Post donated $300. They have sent 500 packages over the past 2 years. 75% or better have been sent to Camp Bucca; the other packages have been sent by special request to other people that are stationed over there. Mom and Daddy get requests all the time to send packages. They honor all they can.

They get donations from local businesses and from individuals, what is not donated is purchased by them. They use Tootsie Rolls, Lollipops and Bubble Gum as packing. Thousands of boxes of drink mixes have made it there and dozens of cookies have been baked. They will come home from Church or an outing and something will be sitting on the front stoop to send.

I am very proud of my parents. I am sure they feel great satisfaction for the work they are doing but I cannot even imagine how many lives they have touched with box after box being sent every week.

Cristy Peterson

VFW Post 4647 is actively sending care packages to our troops over seas. If you would like to help or make a donation contact Cristy Peterson.