Operation Christmas Lights

[Stainless]

Here we go (finally)

This new thread thread is an outgrowth of US FLAG-Operation Christmas Lights Auction .

which is sort of a continuation of Operation Enlightenment II .

(Still with me?)

Anyhow, we want to send some more goodies (flashlights, batteries, COFFEE, ...)
to these fine folks.

We are short on time, as whatever we do needs to leave the US within a week or two.

The flag auction is already up to $300 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/happy14.gif ALLIGHT!!!


For those of us who cannot even pretend to bid in that price range: this thread will serve as a place to discuss what should be sent, and to encourage eachother in creative giving.

PayPal donations can be sent to [email protected]
Everything that is sent will be done AT COST, and Kevin has leaned on some manufacturers to help out this year too.

I'll start the ball rolling by pledging to give 10% of the winning bid on the flag auction.

Who is next?

 

[greenlight]

Is there somewhere to donate new christmas lights?

 

[batterystation]

Hey Ken, this is great! Thanks. Anyone wishing to send something to the troops of the Hellfire Squadron like last Christmas can also send it directly to them at this address:

Commanding Officer
Operation Iraqi Freedom
332 AEW/46 ERS (PREDATOR)
APO AE 09315

I strongly encourage anyone to send them something for Christmas. I sincerely appreciate the donations here but am of course limited on brands of stuff (and partial to some) that I can send them. What comes from here is done at cost and I am shopping a few manufacturers for some donations this year as well.

If you send them something directly, use regular mail and you will need to fill out one white customs form at the post office telling what is in the box. Simple.

They need things like coffee, filters, jerky, etc. Flashlights and batteries are of course our (CPF) area of expertise. They are the best flashlight equipped unit of the military I would say! I think I might send some Gerber Multi-Tools this year too.

Thanks all.

 

[Roy]

Just sent them a:

3w 2xD cell Anglelux and a
3w 2xC cell Anglelux!

 

[Unicorn]

Just a quick question or two. Do they know that you are sending them things at that address? What I'm wondering is if they are ok wth you putting out an address on a public website, since there have been concerns about things like mail bombs and maybe even some laced with a bio-hazard. It's the reason that the older program of sending a package to "any soldier" was cancelled. I know that lots of adresses are published in things like church buletins (we get a few things from curches and schools), but those are a bit more limited.
Or I could just be paranoid, and in that case ust ignore my rantings. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Stainless]

[ QUOTE ]
Roy said:
Just sent them a:

3w 2xD cell Anglelux and a
3w 2xC cell Anglelux!

[/ QUOTE ]

Way to go ROY! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/santa.gif

BTW: ZENGHOST just "cost" me another $5 by topping the $300 bid with a $350 bid. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/clap.gif

 

[Wolfen]

I was outbid on the flag byZenGhost /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/happy14.gif

Kevin, I'm sending a check for Operation Christmas Lights.

 

[batterystation]

Unicorn,
The name of the commanding officer has been requested to be deleted from our web page and from anything we post here. Since Bryan (first commanding officer) is not currently there, we are unsure how many of them browse this forum. Everything we have posted here has been approved by their commanders over there. We are OK.

I will post thank you notes less the names as we get them though. We still get emails from them each month or so as shipments arrive. They are very appreciative of what all of us have done.

Please note anything sent here for the Hellfire Squadron or Operation Christmas Lights. Bethany is again in charge of keeping all of it in order. This is exciting!!!! Thanks Roy, Wolfen, Ken, and everyone for helping these fine troops.

 

[Nick B]

If you are planning to help out with Operation Christmas Lights now is a good time to do it. There is still time for Christmas delivery. Kevin has one box almost ready to go.

 

[batterystation]

Good news!!! Pelican is sending us some lights to be sent to the sand box!!! That is cool. Hats off to them.

 

[Stainless]

[ QUOTE ]
batterystation said:
Good news!!! Pelican is sending us some lights to be sent to the sand box!!! That is cool. Hats off to them.

[/ QUOTE ]

That is FABULOUS! Is there a PR person at Pelican that I can send an email to - or is that best left to the recipient troops?

 

[batterystation]

The first two boxes left Monday and Tuesday. Sorry I have not had time to post. Been packing orders late. In these two boxes were:

Gerber LX3 lights
Gerber LX1 lights
Gerber Trios
Gerber Infinity Ultras (of course!)
Gerber Recons
Gerber Multi-Tools
Pelican M6 LEDs
CR123A batteries
Alkaline AA batteries
Otter 1000 cases
Some assorted donated lights

Thanks to all that have helped make this possible.

I will be sending another box in about a week as there are some Pelican lights yet to ship being donated by Pelican.
Pelican was just sold too by the way for just over $200 Mil.

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Kevin,

A big thanks to you and your wife for taking care of the administrative side of this project.

It looks like there will be plenty of "goodies" under the tree for our adopted squadron.

Tom

 

[batterystation]

Here is a note I received earlier this week (sorry) from the Hellfire Base in Iraq.

Kevin, and all the wonderful folks who support (CPF!)!

I am MSgt ***name removed***. On behalf of the “Predator” folks, here at Balad Air Base, Iraq (a.k.a. “mortarville”), I wish to convey my thanks and appreciation for “your” continued support. The young men and women deployed to Iraq support of our national efforts to (help) establish a democracy in this country. However, to most of them it’s just another far-away-place that someone “way above our pay-grade” says’s we need to be. Every one of us has a story about what they’re missing; a child’s birth, a birthday, anniversary, something. In-spite of times we’ll never get back, we’re here, doing what needs to be done!

Please let your folks know we truly appreciate the generosity displayed by your (very useful) gifts. We know it takes time, effort, and a sincere desire to make it happen. Although many of us here will probably not write and let you know; I know from seeing the looks on their faces that we really, really appreciate you!

Very Respectfully,

Follow-up Email:
Kevin,

Thanks go both ways; we are honored to serve. I wonder if you have ever seen the Toby Keith video “American Soldier”; well Many of us have that feeling in our hearts and minds. A few days ago (as the world knows), there was a terrible earthquake that killed over one hundred thousand people. The sadness is felt for those folks by some of our members here and we’re looking to find ways to assist in the relief efforts from over here. Having said that; please let your friends and family know that what we have in America, is the absolute best of the human spirit, brotherhood, and sincerity. What we are doing here is helping a people (who are and have been under extreme adversity) help themselves. It’s truly amazing some of the accomplishments we’ve done. Truly, it’s an honor to answer the call.

May God Bless you and your families,

(We just sent another smaller round of stuff early this week which should reach them next week sometime. Thanks again to everyone for their generosity. I posted a new troop picture on the top of the CPF page.)

 

[SilverFox]

Hello Kevin,

It is great hearing from our "adopted family."

Once again, thanks for your efforts.

Tom

 

[Robban]

Don't mean to be disrespectful or anything here, but, do we really need this stickied still? Christmas is long gone heh.

 

[china]

hello!everybody!!I am China. I hope I wll be your friend.
my QQ;31645073 and my E-mail [email protected]
It*s really nice to meet you here!

 

[Roy]

Since the Christmas season is over (03-20-05), I'm going to un-stick and lock this thread and let it move gracefully into the archives.