2012 is under way with OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS VI

 Volunteers needed for calling companies for Grants, Donated items and hosting/volunteers for Packaging Day in October. Looking for a company to host and sponsor Letters to Soldiers Annual Golf Tournament for their employees.  We will also be sending Valentine's Day, July 4th Cards from Schools all over US.  We need volunteers to contact schools to make the cards/banners for the soldiers and pick them up for us around Utah.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY PACKAGES HAVE BEEN MAILED AND HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE thanks to KLymit and ICEtrekers, Mary KAy gift bags for two lady soldiers and 6 team leaders thanks to Carol Walden, letters for 150 soldiers from West Jordan school, Valentine's candies, cards, treats we bought, and more. 

Thank you Jessica at The North Face for the great waterproof Snow boots, pants and jackets for the women will ship as soon as we receive other gear from other companies before the female soldiers leave for Afghanistan. We let SFC G. know about these. ( pics coming)

Other companies still sending gear for the troops:

"Thank you for all your efforts in providing great gear to our Men and Women in uniform.  Budgets for donations are tight but I’ve copied in L... to see if there might be anything we can do here."

 Best regards,

 Derek Direct Sales Manager
Mountain Hardwear & Montrail

SPONSOR ONE SOLDIER FOR ONLY $10 TO GET A CARE PACKAGE THIS YEAR LIKE THIS PLEASE!

Networking with 1000 plus manufacturers of Outdoor Gear/Apparel for our soldiers to have the best warm, wicking dry, strongest built items:  Watch for new pictures and letters from our soldiers below each week:

(We are not sure what happened but all info on OR WM on this page was erased. We will get to company names and gear as soon as possible.) SFC G. loaded up with 3 packs of Winter apparel and gear for her, her commander and fellow female soldier worth over $700 each thanks to donations of wonderful companies.   She will take pictures in Afghanistan and email us testimonials of all the great products we gave to her.  Single mom soldier loved her LOKI lightweight hoody with built in mask and mitts, soft fleece lining that will keep her so warm. NEMO, Grank Truck, ICEBREAKERS,2XU, KLYMIT base liners, ICETrekkers, SMITH OPTICS, and others listed below: 

 From our SFC G.: "The 2XU Compression socks saved my feet last Sunday during the ruck march! Thank you!"

 From one of our gear supporters for Dogs from New Zealand:

"I see that the soldier has Icebreaker GT gear in his care pack. I know he will love those. They are a great NZ company and their gear is fantastic. 

We will always be happy to take care of the soldier dogs - even after they retire! 

So glad that we are able to participate. Out in NZ we just don't have the same exposure to the realities of war and soldiers away from home. " AJ 

NiteIze great Gear Ties, Korkers traction devices, Typhoon polarized sunglasses, Hot Hands and Grabber Boot and sleeping bag warmers, 2XU compression Socks, ICEBREAKERS 200 count base liner wiching tops which we gave 4 each for 150 soldier since they gave us 412 of them, HH baseliner top, Sporthill women's jogging warm pants, PELTZ solar/USB/Rechargeable batterie headlamps, and more.  And our pick for BEST INNOVATION IN OUTDOOR GEAR WE FOUND AT THE OR GEIGERRIG Pressure self cleaning Hydration Pack:

GEIGERRIG A UTAH FAMILY OWNED COMPANY THOUGHT OF EVERYTHING IN THE BEST AWARD WINNING HYDRATION PACK WITH SELF CLEANING PRESSURE SYSTEM, INSULATED TUBING, CARBON FILTER AND STRONGEST BLATTER THAT CAN BE TURNED INSIDE OUT TO BE SANITIZED IN DISHWASHER. I LOVE MINE SO MUCH!!! WE HOPE TO GET ONE SPONSORED FOR EACH SOLDIER FOR $75 DONATION

BEST IN SHOW...AGAIN! - 2012 Winter Outdoor Retailer 

SMITH OPTIC TACTICAL SERIES BALLISTIC SPEC SUNGLASSES WITH THIS AMAZING BROCHURE OF MILITARY TESTED EYEWEAR FOR SFC G. AND 2LTE O.

LOKI lightweight hoody with built in mask and mitts, soft fleece lining that will keep her so warm. Thank you Jess for helping us help this single mom soldier stay warm and dry.  We all want one of these and can't wait to order one.

TSL WOMENS LIGHTWEIGHT HOURGLASS SHAPED SNOWSHOES Our Soldiers' kids will enjoy going out in the mountains with these great snowshoes. Thank you

AND YUKON CHARLIES' MENS SNOWSHOES/POLES we are finding out from soldiers if they can use this in AFghanistan or just want to enjoy them with their family back home.

ICEBREAKERS 200 TO 320 COUNT NEW ZEALAND MERINO WOOL WICKING BASELINER CLOTHES IS THE BEST QUALITY.  Thank you Tsveti and Alex for donating 412 of the best baseliner tops/briefs/some shorts for our soldiers. You guys were our heroes at the OR 

GRAND TRUNK LIGHTWEIGHT CAMO HAMMOCK IS PERFECT AND SFC G. PROMISES TO TAKE PICTURE OF IT BETWEEN TWO MRAPS.

EVOLVE CLIMBING SHOES DESIGNED TO GRIP MOUNTAINSSee those chains on bottom of his boot, they keep our troops from slipping on ice and snow mountain tops.  COOL!!! Can't wait to see pictures of our soldiers with them on.   

"Hello Denise,

We are sending some donations today

Attached are the photos of the ICEtrekkers on some soldiers in Afghanistan.

 Thanks,

Marjin"

 KAKO International Inc.

   PHONE: 503.222.4801

   FAX: 503.222.4813

   www.icetrekkers.com

Yes Afghanistan is mountains and snow. Here ICE TREKKERS that is sending us their great traction devices that goes on bottom of boots that grip the snow and mountains so they don't slip sent us this picture of US military with their gear in Afghanistan.  We sent the ICETrekkers in their Valentine's Day Packages yesterday with brochures to pass out to entire unit. 

YAKTRAK STRONG TRACTION FOR BOOT DEVICES ARE MUCH BETTER THAN ONES SFC G. HAD IN THE PAST

KORKERS TRACTION ADAPTABLE GEAR WILL MAKE WALKING ON SNOWY MOUNTAINS SAFER

Thank you 2XU Johnny for donating 20 pairs of these great compression socks that will help blood flow for our soldiers on t heir long missions. From our soldiers:

"socks saved my feet last Sunday during the ruck march! Thank  you"  SFC G.

High Sierra packs, fanny packs and more in their thick catalog will be loved by our soldiers.

Hot Hands and Grabber have great Sleeping Bag, boot, sock and toe warmers that the soldiers will so appreciate in the cold of Afghanistan.

Wow this great brown cordoroy jacket for men is just one of the stylish clothes they have for everyone that are durable, and fashionable.   They will see what former season samples they have that we can give to our Sub 4 Santa military families.

Our favorite soldier's kids loved the cool peace water bottles by GSI that has tons of outdoor cookware.

KEEN gave us these great wool hiking socks for those desert boots of soldiers that are so durable.  They also have their amazing catalog of great hiking boots.

NEMO inflatable pillow, and pads donated our single mom soldier's pillow.

 Klymit, Utah based company of  lightweight inflatable pillow and pads are so perfect those hard cots. They are sending us some pads for our soldiers."Hi Denise,   We can only commit 5 baselayers to you at this time.  I’m sorry, but it looks like we sold out of our vest closeouts.  I’ll ship these out tomorrow.  Thanks for your time and interest in our products." 

NITEIZE has the perfect Gear Ties of every size for those ARMY packs, and to help hang things as well as all kinds of purposes.

PETZL products like this Solar/USB chargeable headlamp are so great for soldiers with no 220 electrical outlets in other countries, and this wonderful company loves to support the military. 

We are still getting calls and emails from companies like 3M with Volunteer Matching program, Achiva Energy Drinks, Royal Robins and other great products.  And a wonderful company with down, waterproof and fast drying active dogwear D-Fa donated 2 coats for our rescued dogs that we will try to get donated for dogs our military rescue and work with overseas.  MALAKYE IS A  job and business website for the outdoor, bike, and action sports industries.  Companies in these industries post their jobs on our websites, and job seekers can create a profile for free and apply for jobs through our site.

"Hi Denise:

Here's the registration page.   Would love you have you join us!

http://sendingtherightmessage.yolasite.com/way-to.php

Please feel free to send this link to any of your soldiers, or affiliates to your organizations.  It will always be free to any of them.  And everyone that comes receives a free CD.   

The promo code is "heart."   

At the bottom of the link it says:

"Please secure your seat by writing to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .  Include the date of the event, the number in your group and the promo code."

Hope to see you!  And I hope life is perfect."  

John

SUB FOR SANTA FOR 13 SOLDIERS' FAMILIES 2011

More of the 13 Sub 4 Santa Families we shopped for this year and loved sharing times with:

Thank you all who helped make Christmas special for 13 soldiers' families this year.  Construction Company employees, WalMart, Harmons, Century Link and others. Thank you Century Link employees, Josie organized,  in St. George for sponsoring one military family with 6 children that has really sacrificed so much while dad was deployed two years in a row.  They are so grateful. 

 

We have12 more families of soldiers that deployed in 2010 and now are deploying again in Jan. of 2012 that due to economy could not find work and have had to sell whatever they could just to put food on the table and put gas in the car.  Can anyone donate Grocery Store Certificates and Gas Certificates? Here are some of the pictures and letters: 

"Denise,    

     I wanted to share with you both the following e-mail from our manager Brett Echols on the opportunity we had in Southern Utah to help  Make A Christmas come true  for a family of 8 in P... Utah.  We were able to assist Cindy and Jason, W. who have 6 children from 17 to 8, with providing Christmas.

 It was wonderful to have the experience since this is my first time in the Southern arena. I am so proud to be part of this team, as “We” all reached in deep within  our pockets/ hearts to help a family in need. The W.s’ were very appreciative and wanted to Thank everyone for their much needed help In parting on behalf of CenturyLink we thanked Jason and Cindy for the sacrifices they both have made in having Soldier Jason, serve for our freedom.

 This is the Spirit of Christmas…………"

 Josie G Martinez

Area Plant Service Supervisor

Cedar City/St. George Utah

Century Link

405th Civil Affairs Battalion Dining Out

Here is the link to the story: http://connect2utah.com/news-story?nxd_id=186347

Thanks,

Steve Hertzke | Executive Producer
KUTV | Channel 2

( Interview with Letters to Soldiers Dec. 7th, 2011 coming)

"Denise,

From all of us at Esprit, we appreciate the kind words-we were honored to support the troops and their families.  Please don’t forget to mention and thank Brown Floral, whose staff gladly volunteered their time to create the beautiful corsages in support of this project.

 Best regards,

Corey

 Esprit Salt Lake"

"We had such a great time working with you all on your flowers for the dinner last week.  Thank you so much for the opportunity! I hope it went well!

 I have attached our logo per your request. Thanks so much! We look forward to working with you all!

Happy Holidays!

 Warmly,

 Tracie Drage

THank you Shawn, owner of the great Taylor Audio that has donated Sound Engineering, Equipment, stage, video and lighting for our Concerts, Packaging Parties and other events like this one.  You are so professional and generous. 

Kelly Bader

Malakye.com

 Best Regards, Gabriel K. Rhoads"
 
 

Cutting edge technology in earth's lightest & smallest sleeping pads, pillows,  the world's only on the go adjustable insulation, and advanced ski jackets for men and women,  Check out the new Inertia X-lite pad.

1069 S Stewart Way #1  Ogden, UT 84404 (888) 559-6481

VALENTINE'S DAY PACKAGES HAVE BEEN MAILED AND HERE IS ONE EXAMPLE thanks to KLymit and ICEtrekkers, Mary KAy gift bags for two lady soldiers and 6 team leaders thanks to Carol Walden, letters for 150 soldiers from West Jordan school, Valentine's candies, cards, treats we bought, and more.   Thank you new companies sending donations including The North Face!!

SPONSOR ONE SOLDIER FOR ONLY $10 TO GET A CARE PACKAGE THIS YEAR LIKE THIS PLEASE! Or Just volunteer to help make them special this year. 

Schools don’t forget the 4^th Annual 4^th of July Cards/Banners Competition for a chance to have an Assembly with Soldiers at your School! Please contact us to get your cards mailed in by June 25^th.  Please forward this email to all

or here are examples of great things companies have come up with on their own:

"Letters to Soldiers,  My name is Ann and I work for Sportsman's Warehouse. We have some DVDs people have bought to donate to the Troops.  Most of the customers have also attached messages to the DVDs as well. I would love to drop these off.... Thanks so much!"  (We also received some with chocolate covered raisins from Provo, UT Sportman's Warehouse we included in care packages)

"We've got more comic books than you asked for, and they are ready for pick up.

  Two locations: Dr Voltz Comics 2043 East 3300 South.  

   Black Cat Comics 2261 Highland Drive. (across parking lot from Cinemark Theatres)  

     The geekshowpodcast.com listeners were more than happy to help.

 Wish the soldiers happy holidays from us all.

Oxoxox Kerry Jackson"X96 

Please click on the following links to see some recent news articles (for your convenience articles will open in a new tab/window.

In Iron County Today: Community rallies, provides support for military families

In The Spectrum: Christmas on its way to soldiers

Another artical in Iron County Today: Community to rally for soldiers, families

CEDAR CITY, Utah -- Christmas came early Thursday for hundreds of soldiers and their families in Southern Utah.

Members of the Utah National Guard's 222nd And 213th are home from Iraq six months ahead of schedule.

The 475 soldiers of the 222nd -- or Triple Deuce -- and 213th left in June and were supposed to be in Baghdad for an entire year. But in late October President Obama ordered all troops out of Iraq by year's end.

They'd been gone just 6 months, but it already felt too long.

"Every day lasted 10 to 12 hours. Every day is different...it seems like every day you were fighting a different battle," said Capt. Marc Henrie, 222nd Field Artillery.

Captain Marc Henrie's two children don't need much more for Christmas because the main present walked off a plane Thursday.

"I think we've got our Christmas right here," said Hollie Henrie, wife of soldier.

The early homecoming was a surprise for sure, but Captain Henrie, on his second deployment, said Baghdad is doing better.
"We...fell like we were a lot safer this time around than our first time. Things have really developed a lot in Iraq," said Capt. Marc Henrie, 222nd Field Artillery.

This is the third deployment to Iraq since 2001 for the soldiers of the Triple Deuce. They supported "Operation New Dawn" by performing security operations in and around Baghdad.

The early arrival came just in time for 2nd Lt. Josh Winder. For the first time Thursday he met his brand new baby girl.

"I can't explain it, it's just too good," said 2nd Lt. Josh Winder, 213th Forward Support Unit.

Amelia Michelle Winder was born just seven weeks ago. Her middle name, Michelle, has special meaning to Lt. Winder.

"I lost a brother in '07 over in Iraq and my sister-in-law's name is Michelle," said Winder.

"He gets wrapped up in his girls. His girls love him a lot," said Jeneca Winder, Wife and new mom.

For mom and older sister, the holiday season will now be complete.

"Relief and excitement...and a sense of wholeness that our family is all together," said Jeneca Winder.

(Copyright 2011 - Four Points Media)

December 8, 2011 222/213 half of soldiers are home!!! Other half coming home by end of December. We have 30 beautiful Christmas banners from Kennedy JHS for them.  Anyone going down to Cedar?

OPERATION ENSURING CHRISTMAS V EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS

SUB 4 SANTA:   We have 11 more families of soldiers that deployed in 2010 and now are deploying again in Jan. of 2012 that due to economy could not find work and have had to sell whatever they could just to put food on the table and put gas in the car.  Can anyone donate Grocery Store Certificates, toys, computer games and sytems, and Gas Certificates?  WE have sizes for families as follow for you to sponsor:

• Family A:  8 yr old girl shoe size 3, Top and dress size 10 childrens, pant size 12 ; 15 yr old girl shoe size 6 womens, top size XS Jr. Miss, pant size 9 Jr. miss; 18 yr old boy shoe size 9.5 mens, top medium, pants 34 waist.  And grocery and gas certificate for Christmas

•   

• Family B:  8 yr old girl shoe size 3, clothes size 8-10; 10 yr old boy shoe size 8, clothes size 12-14.  Grocery and gas certificates for Christmas.

•   

• Family C:  Girl 12 shoe size 13, clothes size 10; boy shoe size 5, clothes size 6-7; boy shoe size 12, clothes size 5T.  Grocery and gas certificates for Christmas.

•   

• Family D:  Girls age 17 and Girl age 14, they are skinny girls.  Grocery and gas certificates for Christmas

•   

• Family E:  5 children sizes coming.  Grocery and gas certificates for Christmas

•   

• Family F: 2 children sizes coming.  Grocery and gas certificates for Christmas

•   

• Family G:  3 children sizes coming.  Grocery and gas certificates for Christmas

•  

• Family H: Single Father Soldier with 3 yr old very active little boy.  Grocery and gas certificates for Christmas

• * We have lots of other families that " are just struggling with money.  Some have said they are selling things so they can buy groceries or put gas in their cars.  Many are newly weds and out of work.  We would love gift cards for groceries/gas also for them.  Please contact us with what you would like to donate at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

• We have shopped for the 10 families for clothes/slippers/and other gifts but need help getting grocery and gas cardsWe delivered the gifts for the families to the soldiers and wives at the unit, and some we are delivering to their homes. Our volunteer in Utah County had so much fun meeting them. 

•  

•  

• Ecobaby carriers with covers and carry bagSTERIPEN company donated 10 Steripens and this single deploying mom will have safe drinking water while away from her children in Afghanistan.Special deploying female soldier package with Carol Walden's special toiletries gift bag and special handmade stocking for a woman made by our volunteer sewers.

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  

•  Utah Governor's Board on Volunteers:

•  

  "I am a producer with KSL’s Studio 5, a morning lifestyle show that airs daily on channel  5.   Shar Lewis,

  Executive Director of the Utah Commission on Volunteers, is appearing on our show next week to discuss holiday volunteer opportunities.

  She plans to highlight the Letters to Soldiers campaign on our show.  I see that you have pictures of soldiers and letters on your website.  Would it be possible to have you send me several (8-10) pictures in jpg form to use during the live discussion?

   Let me know,

   Thanks,"
  
  

  Jane Thomas

  Studio 5 Producer

 405th Dining Out and Sub 4 Santa for families of soon to be deploying soldiers  of the 405th, and other deployed units of soldliers/airmen/seamen and Marines for the rest of the year and next year.  THank you Esprit, Brown Floral and Taylor Audio for your generous donations to make this dinner/dance so elegant and fun for 150 couples.  more pictures coming

Thank yous  for those participating:

CEDAR CITY, UT PACKAGING/CONCERT/FAMILY DAY OCT. 8, 2011 

Thank you Sally and hubby, Todd Hoggard and Lin's Jan, Rich and Kaitlin and all 3 LIN's stores for raising the $6,000 for the postage for the 222/213th's care packages, and picking up 1,000 school binders for their kids, and all the 500 each of all Letters to Soldiers collected for the care packages and driving it down in this great Patriotic Truck.  How beautiful to see this:

As Grandpa of a soldier gave the opening prayer and a sister and her friends sung the National Anthem, all of us shared this special moment with awe of all those 150 flags around the park.

"Classification: UNCLASSIFIED

Denise

The packages were truly amazing! I can honestly say I have not been concerned with receiving anything from anyone , not wanting to be a burden or impose.. I cannot thank you enough for the time and energy that it took for all of us to have something this special from home that reflects your thoughts and support.

The packages could not have come at a better time during this deployment. We all needed a reminder a pick-me-up of what is waiting for us all at home. The selflessness and the dedication required for sending these care packages is a true reflection of the character of you and those at home taking the time to think of us. Thank you again, this thought /moment will not be forgotten thanks to all of you."

Sincerely

LTC. Brad F.

Roger and the Muddy Boots Band were perfect and Roger heard THank Yous on his FB from Iraq soldiers thanking him.

All volunteered in town that morning to make this the most patriotic scene.

Mae of Weddings Decor and her husband set up two heaters at 6am and this beautiful 20 x 30 tent that housed our packaging items

Everyone packaged the NEWAYS sunscreen, NAture's Sunshine Silver Shields, Tahitian Noni Lotion and Aftershave and Young Living Red Juice into 500 Gallon sized Zip Lock Baggies ready to put in bottom of boxes all set up for the families and volunteers to make the care packages. Everyone got into the effort.

Sally from AFStores Corp office and her dear husband froze with we feet since 6am and worked so hard to make sure all was done.

One of soldiers' girlfriends and her friends sang the anthem after driving down from Parowan.

Donna from the Happy Factory brought 400 hand made cards for the kids of the soldiers, and the FRGs were giving 1000 Tahitian Noni School Binders, 500 Build A Bear coloring Books, and 100 toys from The Corner STation of Fairview brought by Katie who manned the food tables all day of food from Cravings, Rusty's Ranchhouse, Costa Vida, Dominoes, The Pastry Pub, Chili's, Little Ceasars, Pizza Hut, Freestyle Pizza, 5 Buck Pizza, Cotton Candy from FunTimeInflatables, and LIN's kids games.

from The Specturm Newspaper: http://www.thespectrum.com/article/20111009/NEWS01/110090324/Christmas-its-way-Southern-Utah-soldiers

Thank you Donna for jumping in and

managing filling the beautiful handmade stockings with 500 Payson Fruit Growers Dried Cherries with special label: , Phillips 500 bags of Handcrafted Chocolates, 500 Cell Phones for Soldiers 100 minute calling cards, 500 large homemade Santaquin ladies' Rice Krispie Treats, Brownies and other great treats,  Colonial Flags,  and hand warmers donated by Wilma in St. George along with her beautiful hand made stockings.

Annual Letters to Soldiers Golf Tournament

At the break of dusk, Talon's Cove Golf Course in Saratoga Springs became the most beautiful site. Not just because they overlook Utah Lake and Mount Timpanogos, but because 144 Construction Workers headed out on 72 Golf Carts to raise over $10,000 for deployed Utah Soldiers' and their families.

Read the Article under Recent Articles by the Daily Herald

Prizes were awarded to the teams of golfers but the military families will be the real winners this year thanks to these generous people. Thank you wonderful construction company employees for a very successful tournament. Thank you Angie for putting this together. 

What a great morning. Let's do it again next year!

Watch for the Bowling Tournament and Silent Auction in NOvermber and December.