Tehachapi News
Local military mom gains support for troops serving in Iraq
Local military mom gains support for troops serving in Iraq
By: Carin Enovijas
Description: Sending greetings and goodies, ‘Because We Care’
Topics: because we care, Military, care packages, campbell
Posted by editor Wed Nov 30, -0001 00:00:00 PST
Viewed 895 times
0 responses 1 comment Karen Campbell, a 17-year resident of Tehachapi, is spearheading a local campaign to send care packages and messages of support to her son’s Army platoon serving in Iraq, near Baghdad.
“Because we care,” is Campbell’s motto and mission. She is hoping to gain public support to send “greetings and goodies” to the troops in Iraq.
“I went to a rally in Bakersfield and nobody came out to support the troops,” Campbell said. “I got upset with the lack of shown support and I decided to do something.”
Campbell contacted a local TV station to express her appreciation for their support, although she had been disappointed with the public’s poor showing.
“I’ve eaten my words since then,” said Campbell.
Since she was subsequently featured on a TV news segment, Campbell said strangers have been literally, “Grabbing my arm in WalMart, expressing support and saying they want to do anything they can to help.”
Campbell calls the response “mind-blowing,” and has been asked to make public appearances to continue her efforts to gain support for the troops.
Campbell’s 22-year old son, Spc. Padraic Campbell, an Army Airborne Combat Medic, graduated from Tehachapi High School in 2002.
The young soldier married his childhood friend two days before being deployed last October. His new bride also happens to be the daughter of his mother’s best friend since junior high school, “Our kids grew up together as friends. They’re all about the same age,” Campbell said, explaining that her son met his new bride and mother-in-law for lunch, and “decided to get married on the spot.”
“This is the first time I’ve heard him excited since he got married,” Campbell said about her son’s response to his mother’s grassroots, “Because We Care” campaign.
According to Campbell, her son said that when he and his fellow soldiers are eating that little treat or reading those short greetings of support, “They escape for a few minutes and get a little piece of home.”
Campbell’s husband is a retired soldier who, “came back to LAX with Fonda waiting for him.” She said that her family, “doesn’t want that mistake to be repeated,” adding that supporting the troops doesn’t have to be political.
“It’s imperative that we take care of our troops. The young men and women over there don’t care about politics,” she said. Campbell also said she kisses her husband’s and son’s dog tags each night as she prays for the safe return of the troops she described as “everybody’s children over there.”
Because We Care!
WHO: Because We Care! Sending greetings and goodies to our troops in Iraq.
WHAT: Supporters are encouraged to send greetings of support written on index cards, or items such as beef jerky, Oreos, gum, hard candy, band aids, sunscreen, small packages of wet wipes or tissue, neosporin, writing supplies and other small personal care items that can be sent inside U.S. Postal Service Flat Rate boxes. Each box costs $8.10. Donations of prepaid postage stickers are also welcome to help with shipping costs.
WHERE: “Drop Zones” include: Canine Creek Dog Wash & Boutique at 979 Valley Blvd., KERO ABC23 TV in Bakersfield and the Whitewater Cafe’ in Kernville. Karen Campbell will be checking the drop zones regularly and sending packages as they are filled.
For more information visit www.myspace.com/becausewecareproject
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Tue Apr 3, 2007 06:14:46 PDT
I'm going shopping today!!!!!
