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| Last updated at 2:25 PM on 04/11/08 |
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Captain Wayne Willcott, a medic in the Canadian Armed Forces, stands next to a bunch of food that was sent to Afghanistan last year.
Photo submitted by Charles Collier
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Supporting the troops 
Local legion shows how much it cares
MATTHEW MOLLOY
Coaster
Branch 53 of the Royal Canadian Legion (St. Alban's) recently participated in a project where parcels and signed flags were sent to our Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
Elizabeth Willcott, treasurer of the legion, said the idea came from Caroleanne MacWhirter, the deployment support coordinator with the Gander Military Family Resource Centre.
Ms. Willcott said they decided to jump on the idea right away.
"We put the word out in our area about the project because there are so many families in the area that have family members in Afghanistan," Ms. Willcott said. "The response was overwhelming. We had so many people bring in different products that our troops can't get over there like Purity products, facial tissue, moisturizers, lip balm, packages of Kool-Aid and Crystal Light that they can put in their bottles of water and products like that."
It didn't take long until the legion had more than 10 boxes packed and ready for shipping. However, more care boxes were ready a short time later, along with a few specially signed Canadian flags.
"We already had 13 boxes ready to go a few weeks ago and now, oh my God, there must be another 15 or 20 boxes ready to do up," Ms. Willcott said. "We also had everybody sign their names on two Canadian flags. We had the flags displayed in the legion on bingo nights. Everybody was encouraged to sign their names on the flag to show their appreciation and support to our troops."
Ms. Willcott and husband Gus have two children serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. Corey has served two, seven-month stints in Afghanistan and Murray has done peacekeeping missions in places such as Africa.
Ms. Willcott said her family has always sent care packages to their children and she was moved to see other families join this particular project.
"Oh my God yes," she said, when asked if this project was extra special for her since she has two children serving. "We always did what we could for our boys and there are other families here that also have people over there. It was really good.
"We had an overwhelming response. So many people called me to see what sort of items they could buy to bring to the legion. They wanted to know what they could do to support our troops," she added. "We advertised on the local community channel and included everything that the people could buy. It was really nice and it was simply unreal how many people came forward to help."
Not only did families who already have people in Afghanistan donate items, but there are families who have people going over there in the spring. Ms. Willcott said she's been asked how her family gets through the difficult time of having children in war-stricken countries like Afghanistan.
"It's not easy. I guess God gives you the strength and all you can do is pray for a safe return," she said. "But we're really proud of them because they're over there fighting for our country. It's a nice feeling knowing that your own flesh and blood is over there in that war."
Ms. Willcott also encourages other legions across the Coast of Bays to start similar projects and said all they have to do is pick up the phone if they need help getting started.
"I'm sure legions in other parts of the Coast of Bays can start such a project. All they have to do is contact Caroleanne in Gander and I'm sure she'll help," she said. "Canada Post recently came out and said they're not going to charge anything to mail any parcels from our post office over to Afghanistan."
According to a press release on Canada Post's website, free parcel service for family and friends of deployed family and friends of deployed troops will be provided from Oct. 20, 2008, to Jan. 16, 2009. Last year Canada Post forwarded 11,000 parcels to our Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan and elsewhere overseas. Family and friends of deployed troops will also be able to continue sending lettermail free throughout 2009. At the end of this period, Canada Post and the Department of National Defence will jointly evaluate the program.
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04/11/08
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