On Sen. John McCain’s current “No Surrender” swing through the state today and tomorrow -- including a stop in Rochester I will be covering later today -- his campaign is collecting care packages to ship to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan (see the press release below).
Staff Sgt. Yance T. Gray, 26, and Sgt. Omar Mora, 28, of the 82nd Airborne are two combat soldiers who will not be receiving those care packages. You may not know the two but I posted the New York Times OpEd piece they and five of their comrades wrote, “The war as we saw it” -- a powerful perspective from the ground level in Iraq. While Gen. David Petraeus gave his predictable tentatively optimistic testimony about progress to Congress earlier this week, the two died in a vehicle accident. Both left infant daughters. All of the soldiers questioned the inane assumptions and lack of policy reality in Iraq -- and about how the debate in Washington had become increasingly “surreal.”
I said on Aug. 20 and repeat it now: this brave sumbission (courtesy of a link through Salon) should be required reading for everyone who wants to understand what’s happening on the ground -- as opposed to the fantasies of George W. Bush -- and especially for those who talk about supporting the troops or the war they are fighting and dying in without knowing the cauldron of hell these brave soldiers face every day. Most of all, they offer a simple plea: what exactly are we dying and fighting for?
I've also added a thoughtful reflection by Fred Kaplan of Slate who hopes that their words will carry as much weight a sthose of Gen. Petraeus earlier this week -- or those of Bush tonight.
Here's the McCain campaign release about the care packages for the troops:
MCCAIN CAMPAIGN TO ASSIST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS IN COLLECTING CARE PACKAGES FOR TROOPS
For Immediate Release
Contact: Press Office
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
MANCHESTER -- U.S. Senator John McCain's campaign announced today it will help non-profit organizations to collect care packages for troops overseas at all New Hampshire stops on the upcoming "No Surrender" Tour. Members of the public wishing to participate should pack a shoebox or similarly sized box of items that will be useful to the men and women of the Armed Forces and bring it with them to their local "No Surrender" event. A list of recommended items is provided below.
At the conclusion of the "No Surrender" Tour, all collected packages will be sent by non-profit organizations to troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
SNACKS, FOODS AND TREATS
Small packages of nuts, seeds, pretzels, cookies, chips, Cracker Jacks, crackers, Corn Nuts, fruit snacks and fruit leather, Gardettos
Trail Mix, energy bars, protein bars, breakfast and granola bars, nut bars, instant oatmeal, Kraft Easy Mac, ramen, Cup a Noodles
Individually wrapped hard candy (Twizzlers, Tootsie Rolls, Tootsie Pops, Skittles, lollipops, Life Savers, Sweet Tarts, etc), chewing and bubble gum, mints, breath strips (no chocolate or homemade items)
Powdered, sweetened drink mixes (Gatorade, Crystal Light, Kool-Aid), ground or instant coffee, tea bags, hot chocolate, cider mix, sugar, sweetener, Coffee Mate, and condiment packets
Canned meats (no pork), stews, chili, ravioli, soups, fruit, beef jerky, non-refrigerated microwavable meals
PERSONAL, HYGIENE AND TOILETRIES
Hotel/travel sized gel deodorant, shampoo, lotion, toothpaste and mouthwash, toothbrushes, dental floss and Brush Ups
Disposable razors, eye drops, nose drops, unscented baby wipes, wet wipes, small hand sanitizer, Mach III Turbo Razor Blades
Small Kleenex packets, Q-Tips, anti-fungal creams, band aids, foot powder, sunscreen
DVDs, AAA and AA batteries, pens, pencils, blank greeting cards and stationary, stickers, disposable cameras, AT&T phone cards
Handwritten cards and letters of encouragement for our troops
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