American Legion Riders Commended by Operation First Response!

Thank you, Iowa
by Peggy Baker
Mother of a Soldier
Operation First Response

Operation First Response (OFR) would like to express their deep gratitude to the American Legion Riders of Iowa Posts 731 and 121 for their generous efforts to support OFR and by doing so, support our nation in these past months. OFR visits the wounded at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC each week and also sends filled backpacks with needed items overseas to be given to our wounded at Landstuhl in Germany and 11 combat support hospitals in Iraq. Many of the wives and friends of these two American Legion Posts have made blankets and quilts to be included in our backpacks and distributed to our wounded at Walter Reed. They will never fully know how they have touched the lives our young Heroes. OFR has been blessed to see the joy that is in the eyes of these young men and women when they realize that America cares.

Recently through these two Posts a memorable experience occurred. Diane Thompson, a middle school teacher from Newman Catholic School in Mason City, Iowa spoke at Post 121. During her talk she mentioned she was taking her class on their annual trip to Gettysburg/Washington, DC. A large donation of hygiene products had come in for OFR but needed to be transported from Iowa to the DC area. She graciously offered to transport these items in the bus which would be bringing her and her class to our nation's capital.

The following is what Mrs. Thompson writes about the experience...

What do the following people have in common? A repairman/biker; a group of 8th grade students and chaperones from Newman Catholic in Mason City, Iowa; a retired nurse's aide that will turn 90 on her next birthday; a dentist from Des Moines, Iowa, a pre-school teacher whose children are all grown and who has many grandchildren; an English teacher with a Masters in Education who enjoys quilting; a hotel receptionist; a retired food service worker; a group of women from the First Congregational Church of Forest City, Iowa, bus drivers for Hawkeye Stages, a farmer, and a middle school teacher. The answer... Operation First Response.
 
These people all come from different walks of life, different age groups, different religions, different interests, and different communities, but they all contributed to helping Peggy Baker and her group called Operation First Response. How? Some made quilts - total of 24 to be exact. Some wrote cards to the soldiers, cards of encouragement and thanks. Some gave money for phone cards - 30-120 minute phone cards so soldiers can call home. Some donated 200 pounds of toothpaste and tooth brushes and others carried and delivered all these items to Washington, D.C. Some donated their change to help give the soldiers change to buy sodas - $73.26 to be exact. Why? Because one person asked another person to help and the effort started growing and more people became involved. All because someone asked to help the soldiers. What did these people receive for their efforts? Joy. The joy of knowing that they were able to help someone else. This was an awesome experience for all and they are very glad they could help.

It is hard to top how Diane Thompson wrote the details to this experience. We will be forever grateful for all that Mrs. Thompson and her class did to show our Heroes that America has not forgotten their sacrifices. OFR believes we are merely a vehicle for a proud American and that Iowa should be very proud of the people who represent her. So once again, Thank You, Iowa for you have been a blessing to many wounded Heroes and their families!

Please visit www.operationfirstresponse.org to see how you can help a Wounded Hero!