The first Labor Day in the United States was celebrated on Sept. 5, 1882 in New York City. According to Wikipedia, it became a federal holiday in 1894, when, following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland put reconciliation with the labor movement as a top political priority.
Today is a quite a bit different… I can't help but think or our fighting soldiers in the Middle East, that don't get the day off. Here's some words from a recent letter we got from our son in law who's currently serving:
“Never been to one of those Halloween corn mazes. Sort of always been on my “to-do” list. But now that everyone's crops out here have changed to corn, I don't think I'll ever be able to see another corn field without reaching for a book of matches. We spend a majority of our patrols cutting through fields to avoid IEDs on the roads. Here in Afghanistan though, they don't have sprinklers like in the states, so instead they flood their fields. You want cardio? Try walking through mud up to your knees with water on top up to your waist, with corn stalks far above your head. Think cranberry field, but with corn stalks. Every step threatens to remove your boots. Now picture all that with no moon out and the corn blocking the little light you get from the stars. It's crazy how much the human body can sweat even while waste deep in water….
….Thank you to all who have sent care packages. It's the little things that you miss that are great. We just passed our half-way point and I can't wait to get home. Thank you all for your support.”
Would you like to get a letter of support to our soldiers? I thought it would be fun to do a little letter drive. So, here's my thought. If you'd like to get a letter to a Marine in the 3rd Marine Battalion, 3rd Division Afghanistan, you can send them to us and we'll see that they get in the hands of our soldiers.
Send unsealed cards and letters to:
- Coupons4Utah
- PO Box 572074
- Murray Utah 84157
Cards and letters only please. If you'd like to send a care package you can send those to Give2Troops.org or you can sponsor a care package through USO.org. Send your letter by October 31 and well get it to them in time for the Holidays. Please no letters after October 31st. This is a one time only letter drive so, BRING ON The LETTERS!
Thanks everyone! Have a happy day off!
There's a quick link to this post on the right side bar for future reference.
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