Helicopter Squadron 14, The Chargers!

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Comment by PAT on November 21, 2009 at 11:14am

I am off to the post office with three 10x24x18 boxes packed to the gills with shoe boxes. One of our clubs at school made cards; each box contains a hand made greeting - plus, there are baggies of extras. The boxes are packed 7-7-6 (20) - I cannot even lift the boxes. Hopefully, I will run into an able bodied young man to assist. I bought some Ben-Gay yesterday just in case I don't:(

Mary Jo - each shipping box contains the corresponding # of Beanie Babies and shoe boxes for Natalie to distribute. I put the little ones inside each box. Thanks for your generosity.

Now on to getting Brendan's gifts wrapped and mailed out on Monday. I will know next year to get started earlier ... or maybe, Brendan will be able to come home:) That would be the greatest Christmas present ever! I have been listening to Christmas music to get me singing and "in the mood" while wrapping ... I only lose it when I hear "I'll be Home for Christmas".

PS - If you go to 7th Fleet website and click on Imagery, they have incredible photos! I will check out the other later.

Comment by Beth proud mom of Garrett on November 21, 2009 at 9:59am

Hey, I forgot to mention... On Navy Newsstand, Eye on the Fleet, if you search for "helicopter squadron 14" (don't abbreviate to HS-14) there are a bunch of pics that come up dated November 17-ish w/ our helos flying in formation around a Japanese ship and then some w/ a submarine. I really liked the ones w/ the sub. Kind of unique.

Comment by Beth proud mom of Garrett on November 21, 2009 at 9:54am

Mary Jo.... You are amazing. I like your dentist. I wish I were in your area to give him my business. Can you e-mail me his/her address? I'd like to send a thank you card!



Garrett is coming home soon, less than a week! I will be baking cookies that I know he likes this weekend. I have gathered "stuff" to take to the airport to wave - Flags, posters, etc. Can you imagine the security staff keeping their eyes on us? We hope to go out for pizza after he gets his bags w/ all the friends and family who will be gathered to welcome him home. So far I think there will be 13 to meet him when he arrives! I almost started to cry this morning just thinking about that first hug. We are not sure about the wedding in May... He's hopeful. One chief he spoke to was optomistic, so we are too.



I have enough cards for each sailor to get one. We are including a photo in the card of the group that prepared the messages. (More are being done, but I have a sense of accomplishment because I met the initial quota!) The art projects will be done next. Whew!

Comment by MaryJo on November 20, 2009 at 12:22am

Hey Beth! When does Garrett get home?? You must be getting so excited how can you stand yourself? Is he also going to get to come home in the spring for his sisters wedding?

Comment by MaryJo on November 20, 2009 at 12:21am

and it continues to go on and on....I went to the dentist Wednesday for my regular checkup and cleaning, and as usual they ask what you are up to and make small talk. I told them about our project because it is such a big part of my life right now....and I walked out with 150 tubes of toothpaste for the boxes!! Praise God. I am so blown away by all this.

Comment by sewtiff on November 16, 2009 at 10:48pm

will do I will send them Fri afternoon by the fastest way possable

Comment by MaryJo on November 16, 2009 at 9:37pm

Well I would need to get them by this weekend as the boxes will be getting sealed up on Sunday and picked up either Monday or Tuesday by the post office. I appreciate the help! Could you maybe second day them? Please thank your students for paticipating. I love how people are coming together from all over to particpate in this project!

Comment by sewtiff on November 16, 2009 at 7:23pm

The cards from our 8th graders should be done I will pick them up this week and send them your way Mary Jo, it has been a busy week and weekend, They had a big vets day event as well this week and the writing of cards fit nicely with the plans the teacher had, Proud of you girlfriend.

Comment by MaryJo on November 14, 2009 at 12:38pm

I am absolutely astounded at the way this project has expanded! I need to apologize to my God for being such an unbeliever! Of course if He put this on my heart then He is going to make a way for it to happen. I have been stressing over the cost of 130 flat rate boxes.....but determined that it would happen. Well He is so faithful! Just spreading by word of mouth I have a business womens group who is raising funds for the postage, submitting donations of items, and some of them are wanting to "adopt a sailor" to keep sending things to after Christmas! I have people coming out of the woodwork and calling me about getting involved - and I haven't even advertised....this is just word of mouth! I am so blown away all I could do was cry yesterday! I think these sailors at HS-14 who never get mail are going to be richly blessed! This week I have people helping me fill out all the shipping lables and custom forms; then we pack on Friday night; and I will have the post office pick them up sometime Thanksgiving week! Thank you moms for you help and support in this project. Beth and Pat, your contributions from your schools and womens club are awesome. This is going to be so exciting! Barry had the idea of having Jon or someone (Natalie?) take a short video clip with a camera of some of the sailors getting their boxes and reading the letters that can be posted on Youtube or facebook and we can share it with the groups that helped out, especially the kids who wrote the cards, letters, ornaments and such. Wouldn't that be a thrill for them?

Comment by Beth proud mom of Garrett on November 14, 2009 at 7:26am

Mary Jo, our little elementary school is moving forward on the holiday project for HS-14. We are focusing on the greeting cards and letters all next week. The week after Thanksgiving, we are making the ornaments. The deal is, each kid makes about 3 to send, and they get to keep the fourth one they make! I think we'll be running close on time, but we are counting on Garrett hand-carrying the project to Japan. We won't have to worry about time lost with shipping. When I read Pat's story, it clicked in my mind! I should find some military music to play in the background as the kids work.

Pat, I hope one of the kids from your school wins the essay contest! What a hefty prize!

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