Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – Sharon Bryant

September 21, 2007

I Do

 Sharon Bryant

I spent today cleaning the storage shed where I always stored items given to me to send to our troops.

The only thing remaining were some boxes of gallon and two-gallon size zip locked bags.  That's because when I was shipping all the different items to Iraq, everything had to be put into zip locked bags.

While I was cleaning someone came up and asked what I was doing.  This shed is where I was selling sno kones and fresh squeezed lemonade from.  I told them I was just cleaning the place up.  They asked me what all the boxes of zip lock bags were for.  I told them.

I was then asked why I did this, ship to our troops.  I told them because I believe as an American, we should always support our troops. 

I then told this person if they really want to see what happens to many of our troops, why don't they go visit some of the military hospitals.  I told about the twenty-three year old soldier who had lost an arm and a leg in Baghdad.  How depressed he had become and how much his life has changed since he was hurt in Iraq. 

They thought a moment then said, and I quote, "You know during Viet Nam when my dad was in, he wasn't treated very well by the public.  People called him a baby killer.  Some people spit on him when they saw him in uniform here."

I told this person I knew very well what that era was like.

"It's not right," they said.  "Those troops can't help where they're sent."

I said I agreed, and that's why we need to support each and everyone of our troops.

After the person left, I sat down and thought about how much things have changed in the past six years.

How people are looking at others in a different way.  How scared many have become since 9-11.

I've thought about the many letters I've received from a grandmother, a mother, a father who told me their son or daughter was in a military hospital here and how depressed they were.  I've heard of injuries that would bring tears to your eyes.

I cannot say this enough.  We as a nation, as American's, have to think about our troops.  I'd like to take a poll and see how many here would like to trade places with a soldier in Iraq right now.

I'd like to see how many would spend a day in a military hospital going from bed to bed, seeing injuries that are horrible to see.  And yes, the soldier's spirits are down, but then whose wouldn't be?

If I lost a leg and an arm, I would be very depressed.  Wouldn't you?

My project Operation We Care no longer can afford to ship items as I once did.  The postage is higher now than it was even a year ago.  But, I still can afford to ship boxes with cards and letters to our troops.

I can fit a couple hundred cards and letters in one box.

And though I've said this numerous times before, our troops need us.  They need us as a nation.  They need to know we care that they're in a foreign land.  They need to know their country still believes in freedom.  I do.

Sharon Bryant

1946@bellsouth.net