Remember our soldiers during the holidays

During this holiday season it is more important than ever that we keep those people who are fighting and dying in our name in far away lands in our hearts and thoughts.

The Blue Star Moms are helping through Operation Postcard, which encourages people to send a note to help lift the morale of our fighting forces.

"We encourage family, friends and organizations to provide positive supporting messages to send to the troops," said Blue Star Mom Sally Wiley.

"We know from the feedback we've had that the troops very much appreciate the support and gratitude for their service. It's like one postcard can bring a smile for anyone serving across the globe because it reminds them of home."

Sally said the moms encourage people to create their own cards. The cards are collected Dec. 1, looked through and then sent.

"Don't put a stamp on them," she said. "We mail all the cards unsealed and we do read them," she said. "We let people decorate them and send a card. We ask that people not seal it and don't put a stamp on it."

The Blue Star Moms collect cards twice a year, for Christmas and Fourth of July.

Boxes to drop off cards are set up at The Record-Courier, Scarselli Elementary School and St. Gall Catholic Church.

The group will always take donations for stamps. For more information, e-mail bluestarmoms@charter.net.

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While you're in The R-C dropping off a postcard, check out Operation Uplink. We're among the groups selling wristbands and calendars to raise money to send phone cards to troops overseas.

If you want to skip the calendar and wristbands and just make a donation, that's OK, too.

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I heard from Ruhenstroth resident David Stewart, whose daughter Shannon Thompson, has just finished her career training as a bio environmental engineer in the U.S. Air Force.

Shannon, 22, has been in the service since September of last year, joining her husband Josh. The couple have a son, Jaden.

While Shannon is a California native, she lived in Carson Valley briefly while Josh was in Iraq.

David and wife Candice have lived in Ruhenstroth for two years. He's retired from Anheuser Busch and works as a massage therapist. Candice works at Old Towne Antiques.

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Today Justice of the Peace Jim EnEarl will host his annual birthday party for the U.S. Marine Corps.

This is the 231st birthday for the Marine Corps, which was founded Nov. 10, 1775. About three dozen Marines turn out for the celebration in the East Fork Justice Courtroom.

Otherwise, county offices and the schools will be closed today for Veterans Office.

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Looking back on this election season, I think the one piece of advice I would give future politicians is to search out every bad photograph of themselves and consign them to a deep dark place.

Because if you're going to run in a contentious race, someone will find your worst photo and put it on television where your mom can see it in an attack advertisement. Oh boy.

n Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier and a U.S. Navy veteran. Reach him at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121.