On Wednesday, a sorority sister emailed me asking for a donation of children’s books. Her husband works at Sewell Hummer Saab in Plano, and they’re collecting children’s books for the USO’s United Through Reading program. The program enables deploying soldiers, waiting at the airport to ship out, to read a book on camera to their child. The “storytime” DVD is then mailed to their child with the fresh new hardback book, held and read by their father.
With the events of yesterday at Ft. Hood, the idea sounds even more ingenious and imperative.
The USO, of course, is the United Service Organizations, known for providing care and comfort for active military. Founded in 1941 by President Franklin Roosevelt and perhaps best known for Bob Hope’s shows for the troops, the USO provides a wide range of services and programs. Today’s popular performers, including Toby Keith, Kid Rock, and Robin Williams, are still entertaining our troops and the USO has several other wonderful programs, which you can read about here.
After yesterday, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear of more outlets springing up for book collection, but the various Dallas Sewell dealerships, all located near Love Field, say they’ll be happy to receive your books as well and get them into the right hands. You can also drop them into the plastic bin on my front porch, 9709 Hillview.
I also invite you to check out “Faces of the Military,” a new feature on the Neighborsgo website. Editor Oscar Martinez has assembled stories of active and veteran personnel serving all over the world, and he invites you to add stories of your own neighbors, family, and friends as well.
And, of course, in Lake Highlands we have the Mother of All Military Support Organizations – LH Military Moms, founded and led by Rhonda Russell. Rhonda, currently serving as president of the LH Exchange Club, is responsible for the Heroes posters you see in LH shop windows and restaurants, featuring active duty military from our own LH neighborhood. Brilliant. If you’d like to support LH Military Moms, you can make a donation to the Exchange Club here or give a check to one of those crazy LHHS Bell Boys, who are honored to be sponsored by the LHEC and collect donations on behalf of Military Moms.
