Teens support our troops

SPC Richard Alvaro - photo courtesy Gina Budine

On Monday, July 13th, Valley Homeschoolers, in conjunction with Homeschool Boys & Girls Club (HSBG), will host an “adopt a homeschooled soldier” event. Items are being collected to send to SPC Richard Alvaro, a homeschool graduate, & his unit that have been stationed in Iraq. Rick’s mom, Gina & his brother & sister will be there as well. The public is welcome to bring items to donate. In fairness, I should mention that I’m president of Valley Homeschoolers. That being said, this function is solely for the benefit of our young men & women serving in Iraq.

It will be held at Molasses Creek Park, 2100 Krammes Road, Spinnerstown. They’ll gather 1:00 pm & will continue until approximately 2:30 or 3:00 pm. You can read more about the event, as well as wish list items, on both Valley Homeschoolers’ & HSBG’s webpage.

Rick’s unit is part of movement control teams (MCT), whose mission is to oversee & expedite transportation & monitor the safety of the vehicles. Another major role they play is insuring that convoys return safely & quickly to their respective bases.

Some units, such as SPC Alvaro’s, have very little creature comforts. They’re not provided with refrigerators in their quarters, which are sometimes tents. Many of the newly deployed purchase them from those who’ve finished their tour of duty & are heading home. Additionally, temperatures during the summer months average around 100 degrees, & can spike to above 120, making cold water a literal treat.

Rick’s unit recently survived a massive sandstorm, the largest seen in Iraq in known memory. AOL News reported that hundreds of people were sent to hospitals for respiratory distress. In a brief email (they keep them busy over there), Rick told his mom that it was even worse than was reported.

There’re many serving abroad that don’t receive mail or care packages. SPC Alvaro reports that when a care package arrives, it’s like Christmas to the troops. What speaks to the character of these young women & men is that the contents are shared. In fact, Rick’s mom was on the phone with him & heard him hand over his precious phone card to another soldier. Gina said that she wasn’t surprised & that was typical for Ricky.

Whether our troops are deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan, & whatever your political views may be, supporting them is crucial. If you can’t come Monday, there’re many worthwhile organizations (links listed at right) you can visit. Please make a difference in the lives of the young people who’re insuring that you live free.