Press Release - 08/20/2012
Alpharetta Rotary Club Supports The Men and Women in Uniform
Alpharetta, Ga. -- August 27, 2012 – After September 11, 2001, The Alpharetta Rotary Club made a commitment to support our men and women in uniform by recognizing the sacrifice that they make for our nation. The club began sending care packages in 2003 and they haven’t stopped since. They have supported the Army, Marine and Air Force units. The units that are sent care packages have been referred to the Rotary Club by one of its members, neighbors of our club members, and from returning veterans.
The Alpharetta Rotary Club supported elements of the Georgia 48th Brigade during their deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan and are currently adopting two combat units from the 4th Infantry Division serving in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Sometimes the point person in the combat theater has a local Georgia connection. One of the Platoon leaders for the current adopted units went to Sequoya High in Cherokee County and is a North Georgia College graduate as well. Many units rotate out of theatre in March and April each year. Subsequently the care packages are usually sent starting in June and then every three or four months. The last set of boxes went out in July 2012.
The Alpharetta Rotary Club supported elements of the Georgia 48th Brigade during their deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan and are currently adopting two combat units from the 4th Infantry Division serving in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Sometimes the point person in the combat theater has a local Georgia connection. One of the Platoon leaders for the current adopted units went to Sequoya High in Cherokee County and is a North Georgia College graduate as well. Many units rotate out of theatre in March and April each year. Subsequently the care packages are usually sent starting in June and then every three or four months. The last set of boxes went out in July 2012.
Above: U.S. Soldiers from C Company, 2-27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division who were in Afghanistan from March 2011- March 2012 but are now home at their Hawaii base.
In the last four or five years most of the care packages have gone to combat units that are based in remote areas and include toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and sunblock, soap and lip balm. Food is a popular item and the club includes canned fruit, all kinds of nuts, candy, cookies, pre-made tuna lunches, beef jerky, raisins, drink mix and slim jims. To complete the package a football, playing cards and a poker set are added. Veterans have said that there are periods of intense pressure and boredom and that the food and games help their morale.
The soldiers sometimes send thank you notes back to the Alpharetta Rotary Club as well as a US flag that was flown over a combat base. The correspondence received from the units is always from the heart. Through its fundraising efforts the Alpharetta Rotary Club has committed a good portion of its budget to support our soldiers. “We appreciate William Perkins taking charge of this very important project for our club and we plan to continue supporting our troops in the future, “said Bill Weeks, President of the Alpharetta Rotary Club.
Above: U.S. Soldiers from C Company, 2-27th Infantry, 25th Infantry Division who were in Afghanistan from March 2011- March 2012 but are now home at their Hawaii base.
In the last four or five years most of the care packages have gone to combat units that are based in remote areas and include toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, and sunblock, soap and lip balm. Food is a popular item and the club includes canned fruit, all kinds of nuts, candy, cookies, pre-made tuna lunches, beef jerky, raisins, drink mix and slim jims. To complete the package a football, playing cards and a poker set are added. Veterans have said that there are periods of intense pressure and boredom and that the food and games help their morale.
The soldiers sometimes send thank you notes back to the Alpharetta Rotary Club as well as a US flag that was flown over a combat base. The correspondence received from the units is always from the heart. Through its fundraising efforts the Alpharetta Rotary Club has committed a good portion of its budget to support our soldiers. “We appreciate William Perkins taking charge of this very important project for our club and we plan to continue supporting our troops in the future, “said Bill Weeks, President of the Alpharetta Rotary Club.