Blue Star Mothers Ask Hoosiers to Help Support the Troops
I recently met a military mom, Denise Young from Kokomo, who handed me her business card. On the back it read, "We military moms share a special bond that can't be explained. When it happens to one of us, it happens to us all." After one meeting with Denise and two other chapter presidents of Indiana Blue Star Mothers, I began to understand this bond and the reasons why they need Hoosiers' help to support our troops.
Blue Star Mothers is a non-profit national organization of mostly mothers whose sons and daughters are serving, or have served, in the military. They provide support to families and mothers, so that their sons and daughters serving in the military can focus on the task at hand. With five chapters in Indiana, they work hard to ensure that our troops and their families receive the support that they deserve by connecting them to other families and mothers going through similar circumstances. We all understand the toll it takes on families when loved ones are absent from their daily lives. It's a toll that I'm familiar with. I've got an Army wife, a Navy officer, an Air Guard Reservist and the girlfriend of a National Guardsman on staff in my office, and they all tell me that the support of their fellow Hoosiers is needed and appreciated.
We have more reasons than ever before to support our Hoosier military mothers and families. I recently attended the largest deployment our state has seen since WWII. 3,400 Indiana National Guardsmen and women were deployed. This brings the total of Hoosiers serving on active duty to 4,515, and no state, including large states like California, is represented more than Indiana.
Blue Star Mothers encourages everyone to care for the troops on active duty by sending letters of encouragement and care packages. They need our help with these letters and packages. Postage to send these items, especially overseas, can be costly, and donations are appreciated. Indiana Blue Star Mothers are also asking for toys for the troops to pass out to Iraqi children, who in return point out improvised explosive devices or IEDs.
Blue Star Mothers also actively support the needs of military families and veterans. Monthly meetings and one-on-one meetings provide a support network for military families. They also visit injured soldiers in hospitals and educate soldiers and their families about the signs of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Blue Star Mothers assist in veterans programs and connect veterans to needed services or items.
If you are interested in donating or volunteering, or if you have a loved one serving in the military and would like the support of this organization, please visit the Blue Star Mothers Web site at http://bluestarmothers.org/in.php for chapters in Indiana.
Sincerely,
Interested in learning more about the work of the Daniels/Skillman Administration? Click HERE to sign up for e-mail updates!
- Where can I find information about housing assistance?
- Can someone help me with my energy bills?
- Where can I find information about preventing foreclosure?
- What is a flex-fuel vehicle, and where can I buy E85?
- What is there to see and do in Indiana?
- How is the money from Major Moves being used?
- Where is my nearest license branch?
- What grants are available for my community?
