Giving thanks

November is here and our first thoughts are of the veterans and current members of our military forces, who have given and are giving the best years of their lives to enable us to live in a peaceful environment. Not only will we be gathering about the nation on November 11 to pay tribute to these servicemen and women, but also around the world this year, people have been commemorating the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II. When Armistice Day was established to mark the end of World War I, this had been called the War to end all Wars. If only this could have been true! Instead, Americans have fought around the globe to establish freedom, as we are doing again in Iraq in the fight against terrorism. Just as President Franklin Roosevelt called on Americans to defend liberty after the attack on Pearl Harbor, President Bush is asking us to continue our commitment to spread freedom and fight terrorism after war came to our shores again with the surprise attack of 9/11.

August brought one of the worst natural disasters our country has suffered when Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast of the United States. Again members of the National Guard, Coast Guard, Reserve and other military members were there with the first groups to respond, rescuing and giving aid to a stricken population. We send our prayers to all those in New Orleans and the other communities affected by this tragedy. We hope by now they are beginning to establish a new life.

I had the pleasure of attending the ROA Executive Committee meeting in late August. While there, with the help of members Linda Parker and Anne Groskreutz, I was pleased to present a wedding gift from ROAL to Tracey Coleman, known to all of us as our headquarters secretary. She recently became a new bride and is now officially Tracey Ware.

Thanksgiving will soon be here--and this marks the beginning of the holiday season. Enjoy your families and friends as you prepare the traditional turkey. Let's hope many of you will be sharing that dinner with the families of a servicemember. Don't forget to mail packages and cards or send e-mails to our troops, as November will be the deadline for mailing for arrival in time for Christmas. We are deeply grateful to all our military personnel and send our thanks to them. May God Bless America and keep it strong.

RELATED ARTICLE: IDEAS FOR HELPING OUR TROOPS.

Thank you for your selecting me as the ROAL National 2nd Vice President. I sincerely appreciate your vote of confidence and your words of encouragement. I look forward to working with all of our members on the programs for this coming year.

ROAL has many programs available from National Headquarters, which you can use at your club or department meetings, Many of you already have programs that you will continue throughout the year. If you are looking for additional ideas, you might want to consider some of the following items.

You can help our troops directly in a number of ways, We have been sewing pants for soldiers with wounded limbs, These pants and other articles of clothing are specialized for soldiers who have injuries that require special fixator devices or have had amputated limbs, You can get more information at www.sewmuchcomfort.org. This work can be done in the comfort of your home, or, if you get together with a group, it can be a lot of fun and a method of sharing your special talents with other members who do not have sewing skills. Donations of material, supplies, or monetary donations to cover sending items are also greatly appreciated.

Another opportunity for helping our soldiers directly is the Quilts of Valor program. This is an opportunity to make quilts that will be distributed to wounded troops in hospitals, both overseas and here in the states. Quilt tops are made by groups or individuals and are then quilted or sent to volunteers who quilt them by machine or by hand. You can read some of the recipients' stories or get more information at www.quiltsforsoldiers.com.

For other ideas on how to support our troops as a group or as individuals, go to www.AmericaSupportsYou.mil. If I can help you with other information about any of these programs, please feel free to contact me at p.groskreutz@netzero.com or at 770-973-5584. and I will help however I can.

Again, thank you for the opportunity to serve as a member of the ROAL Board. I look forward to working with you during the year.

--Anne Groskreutz

ROAL National

2nd Vice President

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