Clip for the Troops!

Good morning everyone and Happy Friday once again! And it’s June now, which is probably my favorite month of the year, so that makes this Friday an extra happy one for me! I’ve always been a summer person, because it signals the start of so many carefree days of fun and frolic – and food. There is nothing better than hot feet gently brushing across cool, damp blades of grass while reclining beneath a shady tree… someplace far away from the daily grind, biting into a fresh summer peach or chilled watermelon and combined with the scent of a hot charcoal grill caramelizing something delicious drenched in barbecue sauce.

For our troops out in the Middle East, summer is vastly different – unbearably hot and dry, wearing the same sweaty clothes for days and even weeks at a time – mostly bored, but always alert and probably anxious or scared. So while I enjoy my barbecues and days at the beach, or even when I’m caught in a rain storm and face a bad hair day, I am well aware my crappiest summer day is probably still better than some of their better ones. And it’s because they sacrifice so much, even little things like being able to call in sick to watch the game on the recliner in air conditioning, chillin’ with a cold beer, I look at ways to make their days just a little bit better.

As you read last week, I set up a charity for the troops and their families stationed overseas, and I said this Friday I would be announcing which post or base voted on. And the chosen post or base is:

US Army: Illesheim, Germany. Many deployed troops from here are serving in, or returning from, the Middle East, so there is a lot of coming and going. Judging by the activity on their Facebook page, there are quite a few young families, so please be sure to include any baby need coupons you come across. (That will be easy for me haha.) I also can tell there are quite a few Christian families there, so our combined efforts will hopefully become a bit of a hospitable ice breaker without the proselytizing. We’re just normal people doing good work who just happen to be Pagan.

Since I’m also an author now, you may recall I also participate in Operation EBook Drop. Active duty troops can get on this list and get some free reading material for their ereaders. Plenty of fiction and non-fiction to keep you occupied.

Also, I don’t know how many of you are attending PSG this year, but Circle Sanctuary will be collecting items for Operation Circle Care at the Warrior Center. Here is the official announcement:

[PSG 2011] Accepting donations for Operation Circle Care at PSG!

Greetings everybody!

As we’re all finishing our 51-week supply runs for another wonderful Pagan Spirit Gathering and the excitement builds as we look forward to traveling to Northern Illinois, we’re asking that you also remember the Pagans serving in the Military.

To help support our active duty Pagans, we’ll be collecting donations for Circle’s Operation Circle Care. This past Yule season roughly 60 care packages were sent to troops serving around the world including to a couple of carriers on deployment in the Western Pacific/Indian Ocean.

Everything including in the packages are items donated by the community. In addition to the Pagan items listed below, also very appreciated are everyday items (toiletries, snacks, candy, hand sanitizer, etc.).

Please review the list below and show your support by donating for our troops. Donations can be brought to the new Warrior Center at this year’s PSG.

ITEMS NEEDED:

Pagan Spiritual Medallions -
• Pentacles
• Ankhs
• Awen symbols
• Thor’s Hammers
• Sun symbols
• Moon symbols
• Goddess and/or God symbols
• Green Man/Woman symbols
• Wheel of the Year symbols

Other items -
• Pagan Music, Meditation: CDs & DVDs
• Gift cards from store that ship overseas, for example Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com
• Gift cards can be used for online holiday shopping (So deployed soldiers can send gifts home to their children from overseas)
• AT&T phone cards
• Crystals
• Small God and Goddess statues
• Pagan Books (No nudity in photos or illustrations)
• Incense
• Oils
• Herbs
• Small Wands
• Small travel chalices
• Altar cloths
• Flameless candles

Blessings!

David & Jeanet Ewing
Co-Coordinators – Operation Circle Care

Since I’m traveling solo this year, I’ll have some extra room in my car to bring down some books. So if you’re heading out that way, see if there’s something from this list you can spare. Our community’s warriors could really use your assistance. You may also learn about the rest of their military ministries at this location.

As many of you know, it was Selena Fox and the many other tireless workers at Circle Sanctuary, along with several other combined group efforts who got the pentacle on military grave markers. They’ve been very good to our troops over the years, so please see what you can donate.

Well, I’m off to finish up here at the day job and start my weekend. I’ll be back next Friday as always, so have a great week and take care!