12-1-07

Walpole Legion Ships Gifts to Iraq Service People

By Chuck Bingaman, Contributing Writer

            Walpole’s Bruce Martin Friday shipped the first batch of 56 boxes of holiday gifts collected in recent weeks to New Hampshire men and women on duty in Iraq from the Bridge Wilson American Legion Post 76.

            “It was a pleasure asking for help this time when everyone thought it was a great idea,” Martin noted on Friday.

            All told, more than 30 people made contributions of such diverse items as maple syrup and

Walpole's Bruce Martin delivers presents for shipping to Iraq on Friday to Lisa Trafton of the Walpole Post Office. Jan Martin photo.

maple cookies, towels, and Sudoku books to be sent to men and women serving in Iraq from around southwestern New Hampshire.  In addition to individual gifts, Real to Reel Video contributed a number of DVDs, and several people contributed cash totaling $1,400.

            “At the Walpole Senior Citizens luncheon last Monday,” Martin reported, “I just mentioned the project and people immediately gave me $40 to spend on gifts we thought they like.”  Cash gifts went toward cookies, shampoo, body wash, mosquito wipes, suntan lotion, peanut butter, peanuts, deodorant, and Ziploc bags—needed items that are in short supply in a war torn Middle Eastern country.

            “Finding the names and current addresses in Iraq of men and women serving from southwestern New Hampshire was the toughest part of the job,” according to Martin.  As there is no public and easily accessible source of such information, the local Walpole Legion was able to use a list from the Jaffrey Legion Auxiliary that has been sending similar gift shipments for several years to go along with the list of local names Martin had collected.

            In addition to the gift boxes being sent to Iraq, Martin and his colleagues are sending a box of gifts to the chaplain of Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany where wounded American service people that are able to return to active duty are sent for treatment.  See www.landstuhl.healthcare.hqusareur.army.mil.