Let’s support the Blue Star Moms
By now everyone in our community should know about the Soaring Eagle Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers from the nearly 70 banners hanging along Main Street in Susanville. Believe it or not, they’ve been hanging there since 2009 — each banner honoring a local resident serving in the military and their family.
After their tour of duty is completed, the banner that proudly flew on Main Street is given to the family. The Blue Star Moms are the mothers, stepmothers, grandmothers, foster mothers or female legal guardians who have children serving in the military, guard or reserves or children who are veterans.
There is no draft today, and the men and women answering the nation’s call by serving in the military are all volunteers who willingly put themselves in harm’s way to protect our nation, its freedoms and its people. Hooray for them.
Nationwide there are more than 200 chapters, and Blue Star Mothers are dedicated to the group’s mission that they will never forsake our troops, our veterans or the families of our fallen heroes. The group is nonpolitical, nonpartisan and nonsectarian. It does not support any political candidate or endorse any religious organization. The group represents all aspects of America, as does the military.
Over the years, the local Blue Star Moms have made many contributions to many veterans. They’ve participated in Honor Flights that take aging veterans to Washington, D.C. to view the various war memorials, particularly the one honoring their service. The Blue Star Moms have supported wounded warriors who need specially constructed housing or adaptive devices to help them cope with the disability they suffered serving our nation.
Many times over the years, the Blue Star Moms have sent care packages to the local members of the military, and they’re asking the community for its support during Customer Appreciation Days — a joint effort between the Lassen County Times and more than a dozen advertisers — to further that effort. Between May 9 and May 12 the community may donate to support care packages sent to local men and women serving in the military. The care packages are first sent to those who are deployed overseas and then to those serving stateside as quantities allow.
Items included in the care packages are things we take for granted here at home, from hygiene products to CDs and DVDs to phone cards and snack items such as beef jerky or hot chocolate packets. See the ad in today’s newspaper for more options.
The care package donations may be dropped off at any of these Customer Appreciation Days participating merchants: Treats Natural Pet Marketplace, Lassen Motor Parts/NAPA, Sears Hometown Store, The Elegant Iris and The Men’s Den, Zaengles Carpet One Floor & Home, Sierra Jewelry Company, Lassen Municipal Utility District, Les Schwab Tire Center, Uptown Uniforms, the Lassen County Times, Lassen Community College, Billington Ace Hardware, Diamond Mountain Casino & Hotel, Hair Hunters and Margie’s Book Nook.
Tax-deductible monetary donations can be made in person or by mail to the Lassen County Times, 100 Grand Avenue, Susanville, CA 96130. Checks should be made out to the Soaring Eagle Blue Star Moms. Editorials are written
