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This is what people have to say about us:
We are appreciative of the nice comments people say about us. The job we do is rewarding enough. But we all know it helps to have testimonials. We are confident that once you learn more about Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, you will want to participate with us. We have only one mission in mind -- to improve the morale of our troops. We are not politically motivated. We are only interested in the well-being of these brave Americans who are putting their lives at risk for our nation -- and for us. Thank you.
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Thanks again for an incredible visit. My warriors are still talking about it. Please also thank all the Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon contributors. Their support and outpouring of love and affection was much appreciated. The men and women of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, the Marauders, salute all of you. What you do makes it easier for what we do. The time we shared together was magical and will last with us a life time. God Bless, Col. Mike Zick, 386 AEW/CC, Kuwait, via letter received 14 January 2012
We
here at CJTF Paladin would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for all
the boxes of goodies that we have received throughout 2010. All the
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines that make up our command have
thoroughly enjoyed and put to good use everything that has been sent
from your great organization. ... Of course this all wouldn't be
possible if it wasn't for the support from our families and friends like
all of you there at the Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon. I can't tell you what
your efforts do for our young service members and their emotional
well-being. Just to see the smiles when all those boxes arrive is
evidence of what effect your efforts have. All those boxes and letters
from home supporters like you reminds me why we're here. It's the great
country we live in and the way of life we defend as members of the
United States Armed Forces. ... Have a safe and Happy New Year. ...
(You guys rock! Getting some great feedback from our Paladins. They
can't say enough about the support you provide. Thanks again!)
CSM Robert Hockstaedler, CJTF Paladin, AFG 1-2-11
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Arlington, VA
Lt Col Kathleen E. Weatherspoon, USAF, Director
Nov 08 2010
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The Department of Defense and Armed Forces Entertainment thank you for supporting our men and women in uniform overseas. The troops you entertained on your tour in Kuwait and Afghanistan from 23 Oct - 4 Nov 2010, sincerely appreciated your performance. The accolades we continue to receive from the installations you visited are testimony to your commitment and dedication to ensure our troops' morale remains high by providing quality entertainment to our uniformed service members overseas. Without doubt, your performance has made a lasting impression on the troops and the installation.
We look forward to future opportunities for you to support and perform for our troops. I know that there are a lot of factors competing for your time and talent; thanks again for sharing your time and talent with those who deserve it most. "It was a fantastic tour! Thanks for all you do for the troops! Cheers, KEW"
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| "The support that Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon and their partners provide for our Warriors in combat is absolutely unbelievable. During my recent deployment, I repeatedly saw the direct impact that this selfless organization had on the morale of our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Civilians! Our team and the Nation benefited greatly from your more than gracious support. The support that you provide for our Wounded Warriors is also truly incredible. The value to Warriors, knowing that the America people strongly support, cannot be understated -- Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon, demonstrates that support to our Soldiers every day. I am deeply honored and humbled by your deep caring and terrific support. Thank you for all that you do!
LTG Bill Phillips, U.S. Army"
2 Sept 2010
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As we get ready to depart
Afghanistan here in a couple weeks I would like to take this time to
thank you. I thank you, Uni-lever, and everyone affiliated with
Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon. Thanks for the numerous care packages, all the
support for the Super Bowl Party, and all the equipment for our MWR
tent. Your organization, sponsors and volunteers included are truly a
professional and class act. Being here working in a NATO organization
the foreign soldiers are amazed at the support we get from home. All I
can tell them is it is part of being American. We take care of each
other. God Bless you and God Bless America. MSG Rubin Anderson, ISAF,
Kabul, AFG July 1, 2010
Excerpts from a Letter
of Appreciation from the Commanding General of the 438th AEW, Brigadier General Michael R.
Boera, dated 1 June 2010:
"On behalf of the 438th Air Expeditionary Wing in
Afghanistan, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the
people at Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon for their help in making the
first-ever 438th Air Expeditionary Wing school drive a success! Your
efforts allowed US service members to supply over 2,000 Afghan students
with provisions necessary for academic success...
"Our wing has a unique mission in Afghanistan; we are
charged with mentoring and advising the Afghan National Army Air Corps
(ANAAC) in order to guide the Afghans in developing a competent and
effective military air force. We are responsible for training over 3,000
ANAAC Airmen on all facets of Air Corps operations, from flying and
maintaining helicopters and fixed wing aircraft, to developing English
skills and providing medical care and transport.
"We have an awesome military mission, but we realize it
takes more than developing a military force to aid in the progress of a
nation. The future of a secure Afghanistan truly lies with educating
younger generations. Thankfully, there are organizations and people like
you who go above and beyond to help the US military and the Afghan
children... Your donations promote education and show the children of
Afghanistan a new and better way of life, one where terrorism does not
have to be the dominant theme, and people are encouraged to give back to
their community and make a better way of life for themselves and those
around them. We are thankful you took the time out of your day and
committed to the development of Afghanistan."
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From one of our Blue Star Mom's in response to an article in The Record on April 26, 2010:
He builds spirits and sends nourishment with each care package - and he sends them often. He is an Angel
Enjoyed your column today about Adopt-A-Soldier-Platoon.
The organization adopted my son’s platoon. We are from Ridgewood and my son is a 1 LT with the 5/2 Stryker Brigade 4-23. His unit has been in Afghanistan since July. Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon adopted my son right after he was blown up by a suicide bomber and was medivac'd to Kandahar, along with five of his men. He insisted on recovering in Kandahar in The Wounded Warriors Tent instead of returning to the States, and he was able to return to his Platoon. He was recently awarded the Purple Heart. His Platoon, beginning with 40 soldiers, has had a number of IED casualties. As a Stryker unit, they are in the fire fight and war perils, and their life during the deployment has been hard in remote locations. My son told us that when care boxes arrive from Adopt-A-Soldier-Platoon the men’s spirits audibly rise, they all know the labeling stickers. AaSP has sent all of the Platoon X-Box games, videos, girl scout cookies, coffee, and so much wonderful, packed full ‘stuff’ that everyone loves and appreciates. Most of all, the boxes send appreciation and thanks and a lot of ‘home’ to a group of young men who are soldiers in their teens (my son is 25). They have a brutal and dangerous job every day, and their unit has suffered enormous loss, but they know they are not forgotten and most of all they are given some USA care and love from a small group who make a HUGE difference to a Platoon. I can’t thank Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon and its volunteers enough for all they do. They did not know us or our son. They only heard of his efforts, knew he was a soldier and Platoon leader, from Bergen County, trying to make a difference in Afghanistan. AaSP makes a difference in all they do and send.
A Bergen County and military Mom,
Diane McNally 4-27-10
My son is 1LT James McNally
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Short video clip taken 2-19-10 from Lt. Col. JJ Dill, USMC:
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| Letter of Appreciation
from Brigadier General William N. Phillips
August 9, 2009
BG Phillips formerly commanded the Picatinny Arsenal in NJ and now is stationed in Iraq. AaSP has been supporting him and his team. CLICK HERE to read his letter. Thanks General for your kind words!
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"A sincere and heart felt thanks to you and everyone who participates and supports the "Adopt-a Soldier Platoon." What you have done for thousands of Americans serving in harms way on the other side of the planet is beyond measure. Your support, your prayers, and your generosity is truly priceless. I am confident in speaking for all those you have supported in saying that your efforts have made a significant difference in our lives. You inspired us to work harder, you gave us a smile and a feeling of warmth when we needed it most, and you made us to focus on our mission that much sharper in order to prevent Americans like you and those in your organization from coming under attack once again.
Thank you again. May God bless everyone in the Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon."
Semper Fidelis,
JJ Dill, LtCol, USMC, 9/12/08
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Letter to Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon
from The Adjutant General of NJ
MAJ GEN Glenn K. Rieth
The letter below was written August 18, 2008, to AaSP, the New Jersey Credit Union League and Unilever by MG Rieth after more than 3,000 flight pillows donated by the NJ Credit Union League were shipped to all the soldiers of the 50th IBCT training in Fort Bliss, TX.
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"On behalf of all the men and women in the New Jersey National Guard allow me to say thank you. Thank you for your time, dedication and patriotism, in making all soldiers and airmen recognize the citizens and corporations of New Jersey support them. I have seen the pillows you are forwarding to the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and know first hand that same will be much appreciated.
"Words cannot fully express the emotions soldiers feel when receiving a gift from home supplied by individuals not known to them. I can report that all soldiers are grateful and humbled by your overwhelming display of generosity.
"Again, thank you for your continued support. Please know that you are truly making a difference. To all members of your organization I salute them and wish you the very best in all your future endeavors. Godspeed."
Glenn K. Rieth, Major General, NJARNG, The Adjutant General, 18 August 2008
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Click Here to read April 21, 2008 letter from CDR John Desormier of the IBU-22 Naval unit stationed in Kuwait.
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9-19-07 -- The Honorable Steven R. Rothman spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives to honor and recognize the Adopt-a-Soldier Platoon. Click on the picture above to see the speech. For copy of Congressional Record, CLICK HERE.
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"I want to take this time to THANK YOU and AaSP for all of there support you gave the 449th Aviation Support Battalion during our deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The care packages and especially the SureFire flashlights your organization sent to my troops who worked on Aircraft at night were greatly appriecated. It is organizations like this one that makes a soldier's deployment a little easier knowing that many Americans really do care and support the troops. Take care and thanks again," CW3 Clifford Bauman 9-20-07
"Your generosity is truly overwhelming. Thanks so much for caring for our heroes!" COL. Lenore Enzel, U.S. Army, July 2007
"We have received numerous boxes from your organization. Many clothes and personal hygiene items have already flown out with American patients back to Germany and the States. Many soldiers come through our EMT with all different types of injuries. The only thing that is consistent is what they tell us. They tell our staff that they do their job in the field because they know that we are here for them if they get injured. It allows them to keep their mind on the task and not worry about 'What if's'.
I just want you all to know that we do our job here because of the support of organizations and people such as your self. Thank you all for everything you do."
Devon Lehman, CPT, AN, 28th Combat Support Hospital, June 5, 2007
"I just want you to know that you have done so much for so many! It is incredible what you and the people you work with have done for the soldiers. Your hard work will allow so many children to see their mother or father reading them a book, or just talking to them with out distortions like you have on a web cam. What a Christmas gift. I had the opportunity to assist in setting up the video recorders in the MWR facilities on Anaconda and I saw how quickly we used up the free DVDs that came with the systems. So many soldiers move in and out of Anaconda it is difficult to say how many will be impacted by your work! It is people and organizations like you that help keep the American spirit alive in the soldiers so far from home.
From a soldier who has returned home, thank you for what you did for me and what you continue to do. Have a Merry Christmas, Chris CPT Frank "Chris" Bauman, 35th ASG, Missouri Natl Guard
"Our fellow Americans have put their lives on the line for us in Iraq - we must never lose sight of that, not even for an instant. There can be no question that the 158,000 men and women serving there need and deserve every form of support and assistance we can provide. It has been my honor to work closely with Alan Krutchkoff and the Unilever Adopt-A-Soldier Platoon to provide care packages and recreational equipment for the troops at Camp Anaconda. Efforts like these really do help those brave soldiers feel connected to home hearth and family." Honorable Steve Rothman, Member of Congress, NJ-9th District
(AaSP Note: Congressman Rothman and his staff have been incredibly supportive and helpful, from enabling our initial relationship with DHL, a very generous company, to contacting the Pentagon in our behalf, to providing certificates of appreciation for our soldiers. It was also Congressman Rothman who contacted the great folks at Bridgestone/Firestone that enabled us to receive the first of several donations from that generous company. So we are very grateful for his support and publicly thank him for all his and his staff's efforts.)
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