Letters & Stories

 

Below are just a few of the wonderful emails & letters we have received.

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Alachua County Tax Collector's Office reached their goal of collecting 10,000 cell phones by the end of 2010!

With the help of the citizens of Alachua County, the Alachua County Tax Collector's office has collected 10,019 used cell phones. Cell phones, accessories, chargers, batteries, Blackberry PDA's and pagers may be dropped off at any of these locations during normal business hours. Cell phones are sent for recycling which enables Cell Phones for Soldiers to buy calling cards for military personnel.

Locations for drop off are the County Administration Building Downtown at 12 SE 1st Street, the NW office at 5801 NW 34th Street or the SW office at 3207 SW 35th Blvd. in the Wal-Mart Plaza.

The Tax Collector's office has staff that are members of the group which attend the monthly night meetings of the Military Support Group of Alachua County to give them the calling cards to be included in the care packages sent to the troops.

Please call the Tax Collector's office at 352 337-6228 or 352 264-6935 if you have any questions.

If you know of a military person in need of a care package, please contact the Military Support Group of Alachua County at www.msgfac.com . Check out the national Cell Phones for Soldiers website at www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com

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SFC Roland,USAR & Chris Sappington, Oxy Tower Safety Committee, Occidental Chemical Corp., Dallas, TX. Collected over 60 cell phones within the first 30 days of their campaign.

 

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We are Girl Scout troop 1943, from Port Orange, Florida earning our Silver Award, the highest award a Cadette Girl Scout can earn.  We're 6th and 7th grade girls from Creekside Middle School.  We thought it would be a great
idea to help our overseas military men and women stay connected to their friends and families while reducing their burden financially for phone calls. The father of one of the girls in our troop is an Air force ROTC instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and has served two warzone tours.  We put out flyers in our neighborhoods and set up collection sites at local businesses. We went to several Volusia county schools and stood out front for several weeks before school with posters offering candy bars to the kids that brought in their used cell phones. To date we have just over 400 cell phones.

 

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Thank You Letter From Deployed Troops

Dear Cell Phones for Soldiers:

 

I hope that this e-mail finds you and the incredible volunteer staff that work with you to support the Soldiers over here in theater are all doing well. We sincerely appreciate the effort that you invest in improving our quality of life by making it possible for us to keep in contact with our loved ones on the other side of the world. In particular - We would like to extend a very BIG thank you on behalf of 54th Theater Signal BN. We have many Soldiers serving in remote places that without the phone card service that you all provide, it would be very difficult for them to remain in contact with their families.

If it is not too burdensome, we would like to submit a request for 500 phone cards for our Soldiers. We have many new Soldiers who have just arrived in theater and our supply is beginning to get very low. We anticipate an influx of Soldiers within the next 60 day's, and having the phone cards on hand so that they can contact their families and let them know they have arrived safely would be extremely helpful to them. We do not take for granted your support and hard work - and we thank you in advance for all that you do to make life better over here for our Soldiers, and their families.

 

God Bless You, and Have A Wonderful Day!

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Hi there!

 

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Brittany and Robbie,

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Dear Brittany & Robbie Bergquist,

 

Hi, my name is Terry Corder, a Sergeant First Class in the US Army currently stationed in Camp Taji Iraq.  Yesterday I received a Christmas stocking and part of the contents was a calling card from you.  I first of all want to say thank you, the card will be put to good use calling my wife and three children back in Germany.  Secondly, I was reading your story on the back of the card, I read it once, then I read it a second time and started to cry because of how you two donated your piggy bank money and snack money from your friends at school, to start Cell Phones for Soldiers.  If I had your address I would send you two $21.00, to replace your money that you donated to start such a grateful program.  I can tell you that the soldiers here are grateful to receive gifts from the states no matter what it may be.  I know that you all probably get letters of thanks from service members deployed over here, just wanted to send mine.  Again thank you for what you have done.

 

TERRY S. CORDER

Senior Human Resources Sergeant

FIRES Sqdn, 2d SCR

Camp Taji, Iraq

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Dear Cell Phones for Soldiers:

 

I wanted to take a quick minute to thank you for all that you done for Soldiers forwardly deployed in harm’s way around the world.  We have a host of young Soldiers, many away from home and family for the first time, who have really benefited from your efforts to get them free phone cards.

 

I am currently deployed to eastern Afghanistan as a combat advisor to the Afghan National Army and I’ve seen firsthand what your efforts have done in raising the morale of Soldiers over here.  They are doing outstanding work to help the Afghan people, but we could not do what do here without the support of you and the rest of the American people.  I am proud to represent the kind of country that has so many generous, caring people.  I am humbled to call myself an American.  Thanks again and keep up the good work.

 

Major Steve Boesen

V/r,

S3, 1-203rd RCAC-E

ROUGHRIDER 3

"Carpe Diem"

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Brittany and Robbie,

My name is Kelly Sperry.  I am a navy wife and mother of twin girls.  My husband was deployed to Iraq last year during the birth of the twins and during the holidays.  We did have cell phone service, as he bought an Arabic cell phone with prepaid minutes.  But had it not been for that phone card, I don’t know what I would have done.  I was in the hospital for 6 weeks before the babies were born and my husband was able to call me every day to check in and make sure I was doing fine.

I wanted to give you a little history of how our family made it through a tough time because of the use of cell phones.  I also want to tell you THANK YOU for what you are doing.  I do know that there are military families that are not as fortunate as we were to be able to afford to call home very often, let alone, every day.  What you are doing is such a blessing to others and I know that God will truly bless you and your family for your love and support of our troops at home and abroad.

Thank you so much for supporting those who are defending our rights and freedoms.

Will you please email me some information on your program?  My Dad and I are going to try to rally his motorcycle club to participate and send some phones your way.

Thank you again and Have a wonderful New Year!

 

Kelly Sperry
Jacksonville, F

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Dear Robbie and Brittany,

II wanted to take a moment to write to you and say a special thank you from the bottom of my heart. You see, I am the mother of an American Soldier who has been to Iraq. He was there for one year and now is safely back in the States serving in the US Army and stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. He was a soldier that received a free card while serving overseas.

I did not know it was from you until I did some research and found out that you were sending the cards to the battalions overseas. Now, let me tell you my story...

My son signed his name on September 21, 2005 to go active duty in the US Army. I could not have been any prouder of him than I was that very day. As he left for basic training, I cried because I knew that my son was no longer a baby, but a man accepting his responsibility. He completed basic training and A.I.T. and then received his orders to go to Iraq to fight for our freedom. That was a difficult day for me, but I stood behind him because I am not able to stand and fight anymore.You see I am disabled with a bone disease which is very painful. As my doctor has stated that I have the pain of bone cancer, but not the cancer, thank God!

But back to my story. My son was able to come home one time prior to his leaving for Iraq. He was able to see each family member and tell them that he loved them, as he said he wanted to be sure each one knew what they meant to him because it could have been his last visit.

I received word that he was leaving out sometime around the first of August, and the day he left was a sad day in our home town as my friend's son was coming home to be buried in his family's cemetery. So as you can imagine, it was very difficult for me to let my third born son leave....

But within a couple of weeks of arriving, his battalion received a box of phone cards and each one was handed a card and told to call home. I was so overjoyed to hear his voice that I was crying nonstop on the phone that morning! He was fortunate to have enough money to continue to add minutes to the card that he once received free. And that meant that I could hear from him about once a month, which was wonderful.

Now as the mother of a soldier who has received a phone card free, I felt it was my responsibility to contact you and let you know how wonderful you are... Your parents have the right to be very proud of you both. I am proud that AT&T gave you both scholarships to the college of your choice, too. We are now using AT&T as our cellular service as my son in the Army has now added us to his plan.

But the main thing I want to say is thanks for giving this mother of four sons hope for our future. I had begun to think that none of our youth were amounting to much but you have opened my eyes to the positive in this world... Instead of hearing about another shooting or stabbing, I heard about you!

Keep up the good work and we will be donating something to your cause very soon. Due to our limited funds as a disabled couple, we must budget for the donation... So be patient because we will be supporting your cause! Even if it is nothing more than sending you some old cell phones!

I hope that knowing one soldier's family who appreciated your work and efforts is comforting to you both. Thanks again, from the bottom of my heart, for all you are doing to support our soldiers abroad! God bless you both!

Gratefully yours,

 

Jacqueline D. Gardner

PROUD MOTHER OF AN AMERICAN SOLDIER

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II was so glad to see that you each got a $100,000 check for college education. I could tell by watching you (on The View) that you do it without thought of reward, but I'm glad you got it anyway. When your parents were asked what they did differently when raising you and your father explained that they'd taught you to consider others' feelings, I was so glad. My parents raised me that way, and I'm a much happier person. I've heard it explained this way: There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who walk into a room and say "Here I am!" and those who walk into a room and say "There you are!".

 

II hope more young people get this message as I'm afraid we've failed the younger generation in giving them what we didn't have when we were young, while forgetting to make sure they considered others and didn't just become selfish. Thank you so much not only for your efforts for the soldiers, but the message it sends to everyone.

 

Gale J. Howard

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Dear Brittany and Robbie,
I received an email with a link to your appearance on The View. I watched in amazement. To a military family a phone call is priceless. To hear my husband's voice is comforting, reassuring, and simply makes me feel closer to him. Your program makes that possible for so many. I commend your efforts and success. You not only realized that something should be done... you put it into action. I think you both are incredible. Thank you for your service.

 

(And, I will be donating our old cell phones!)

 

Thank you,
Sarah S.

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Good day,
I am 1stSgt Devon Holson with Supply Co. 2D Supply Bn. Here in Al Taqaddum Iraq. We run convoys here in Anbar Province and spend most of our time on the road. I have just received 220 Phone cards for the Marines and Sailors in my company, and behalf of all of them I would like to say thank you. We appreciate your support and encouragement, and these will be extremely helpful as we come into the holiday season. Again thank you and SEMPER FI!

1st Sgt. Devon A. Holson

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Brittany and Robbie;
I signed up on your website to get cards for the troops in my unit stationed in Kuwait. They arrived today and I have already started passing them out. Thank you very much for your time and effort in this amazing project you have started. Two years ago I was deployed to Iraq and my mother started a similar project. She started collecting money for phone cards to send to my unit back then. She did a pretty good job setting up booths in front of the local Wal-Mart and K-Mart in Parkersburg West Virginia but she never reached the numbers you have.

Once I get all the cards handed out I hope to get some photos of the troops with the cards or using them to email to you. Thank you again for your unending support to the troops overseas.

 

Sincerely,

Brian McGee
MSgt Brian (Intimidator) McGee, USAF

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I can only say that your program touched my heart so much that I had to call your father and speak to him directly.

 

I hope you know there are many people out here that think that supporting the troops is the best thing we can do and the real problem comes from “how do we do it?”. You have solved that and I think this is the greatest program ever.

 

Please keep up the great work as you have many fans out here.

 

Eric W. Joy

FCC (SW), US Navy, Retired

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Dear Brittany and Robbie Bergquist,

I want to personally thank you for what you do for our servicemen and women serving in the Armed Forces. I am the Company Commander for Co B 163rd Logistics Task Force, a unit serving in Afghanistan. We are helping the Afghanistan people to rebuild and secure their country. We received your calling cards from our Family Readiness Group and distributed them to our soldiers within the last month and they are grateful for your support and this wonderful project you started back home. They are using the cards to stay in contact with loved ones and families. It makes us proud to serve our great country knowing there are wonderful citizens such as yourselves. We also feel that supporters like you are our heroes and give us the inspiration to do our best for our country. Thank you again for all you do.

CPT Timothy A. Wood
Kabul, Afghanistan
Company Commander

 

 

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Good Morning Brittany and Robbie,
I'm Master Sergeant Pete Luginbill, US Army (Retired). I just wanted to express how thankful I am with what you both have done. Your parents must be extremely proud of you. I know I am. It's nice to know that there are young adults in our society that will actually stand up and make a difference. You are our future, so please don't stop making a difference in anything you choose.

 

I wanted you all to know that my son is now in the Army, serving in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Brigade out of Fort Benning, Georgia. He's just a private with a wife and son back home at Fort Benning, and a daughter on the way. Because of what he does, he doesn't get many chances to call home, but when he does it means everything to him to hear his wife and son's voices. Your program will certainly help him enjoy those moments more as any time is priceless to all soldiers needing to hear the comforting voice of a loved one back home.

 

Last of all, for everyone supporting this cause, thank you. I will be using the website to make a request for my son and his unit, as they seldom have access to the internet. Additionally, I will be making a donation to support this program seeing I can't be there in your kitchen to help out.

 

With Best Wishes,

Pete Luginbill,
Civilian, GS-12
US Army HR Command
Combat Arms Training Analyst
Alexandria, VA

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Dear Brittany & Robbie,

As a mom of a US soldier, I would like to take the time and thank you for all the hard work you have put into this project. I know that your parents are very proud of your accomplishments… My son is currently stationed in Iraq himself, and I know what it is to bring awareness of how important it is to support our troops. I would like to share a website with you as well – I pray that you will check it out in the continued effort to support our troops. The website is www.prayforthetroops.org. Again Thank you for what you are doing, and may God bless you and your family.

 

Pat Becker
Wilmington, NC 

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Brittany & Robbie,
As a Viet Nam veteran who didn’t have the caring benefit of what you guys are doing for our current soldiers, I beg you to keep up your excellent work. 

 

When any soldier is away from friends, family & home for over a year, when “the bad guys” are trying to kill you on a daily basis, when you understand that the next minute may be the last one in your life, you can not yet fully appreciate how unbelievably meaningful, what you are doing, really is.  

 

You are very, very special & kind people. You are an example not just for other kids, but for all generations, including mine, and yes, including all adults as well. What you have done transcends all ages.

 

And to your parents, tell them they have raised two of the finest people in America!!! If only there were more like you… I hope Harvard or MIT notices, and give you guys’ full scholarships; you are obviously very smart and very motivated…

 

As but one American ~ Thank you!!!!

 

Kindest regards,

Mark

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Hi Brittany and Robbie,
I am the wife of a retired army soldier of 30 years service. I am sending several cell phones I have owned over the past years. I just want to commend you for the service you are doing for the deployed soldiers and their families. My husband was in the Gulf War and I spoke with him only a few times then and it was so delightful to hear his voice each time. I am thankful he can no longer be deployed! But, now that there are so many soldiers deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan for longer periods of time and more frequently, the calling cards are a most important link to some sort of normalcy in their life, even if it is for only the moments they are able to hear their loved ones voices. You are what being a true AMERICAN is all about, what our ancestors would be proud of, to see young people like you making a difference in others lives! I know from your good work as young ADULTS, you will go far in life and life will be wonderful for you, because you both are such wonderful and caring teens! Keep up the good work and you will always find happiness.

 

Sincerely,
Christine Whipple, Olympia, WA

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Thank you for what you started. I read an article in the paper about it. It was quite inspiring to read what you did and the goals you have set. Please know what you do is appreciated. People like you are what make servicemen and women proud of what they do and help us hold our head a little higher knowing individuals as giving and caring as you do exist.

 

Thank you again. You have made a difference in my life.

 

Respectfully yours,

Joshua Wise, Sergeant
United States Army Military Police

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Dear Brittany & Robbie,
I want to thank you very much for all you are doing for our troops overseas. My husband is a SSGT for the USMC and is 14 years in the Corps. The hardest thing in the world is not being able to contact a family member when they are fighting in the war. My husband’s unit was one of the 1st to go over to Iraq in 2002 and he has been back 2 times since then. When he first went over the only way to communicate was by mail, and that wasn't too good yet either. I had to wait almost 3 months until I knew that my husband was fine and alive!! I can't even begin to tell you how many letters I wrote and how many he received. It wasn't the same number. The first time I heard from him, I was at work and he was on night watch. I don't recall the time difference, but I do remember him telling me how nice it was to hear my voice. My husband is due to go back in April of next year, just around our daughters 1st birthday. I just want to thank you for all you are doing and keep up the great work.

 

I am mailing a box of cell phones to the Dexter, MI office from my office in Stamford, CT. I hope you can use them!

 

God bless you both.

 

Kind Regards,
Kimberly

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Hello Brittany,
Thank you for the extra cards as I do indeed know who to send them to. Most will go to a Chaplain in Iraq to distribute to Marines. Some will be sent to a young man in our church who was just deployed to Iraq. We will save and keep some behind to send to his chaplain once he gets us the address. And lastly, we are making some available to members in our church to pick up and send to those that they might know of (nephews, nieces, cousins children, grandchildren etc).

 

All in all, it was a well received project. I cannot thank you enough for helping to make this so successful. May those who receive these cards know that they are much appreciated!

 

Thanks again,

Your sister in Christ, Linda Willemain

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Good morning!

I just saw the clip on Fox News this morning regarding the 'Cell Phones for Soldiers' program you've set up. I wanted to say THANK YOU! My husband and I are currently serving in the Ohio Air National Guard (Air Force). We both take turns going overseas. I personally have been to many, many places where I had no access to land lines from the military to call home. It's very lonely to say the least! We miss our children & families terribly. It makes it so much easier to be over there & stay focused on the mission when we can call home & know that all is well at home! I have been on the end where we did not have access to phones, so I know how beneficial it would have been to our bases over there. What you are doing for our troops is WONDERFUL!

 

I am trying to see if we can set up a box here to help the cause, but have to wait on official word since we have a lot of red tape since it's a government facility. If not, I plan to go out to some local stores & see if maybe I can set up a box there & be the POC for the phones to get them to you as we do not have a local drop off point in our city.

 

Your story has truly touched my heart and I can't thank you enough for supporting us! I am going to pray that the Lord blesses you tenfold for your contributions to American Soldiers! The dictionary defines a hero as: a man (or woman!) of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities. You are true HEROES! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your support!

 

B.A.Kilgore
Beth A. Kilgore, TSgt, Ohio ANG

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Dear Brittany & Robbie Bergquist,

I would like to let you know that your phone cards are having a positive impact with the 250 US Coastguardsmen located in the Kingdom of Bahrain. Bahrain is an island in the Arabian Gulf that is home to several thousand US Servicemen and women. It is a critical base for ship patrols throughout the Gulf and provides a welcome R&R location for our Soldiers and Sailors who are doing the dirty work throughout the region.

While living in Bahrain is hardly difficult, it is still not "home." Even from a non-combat zone like Bahrain, it can take hundreds of dollars to call home on a regular basis. Your calling cards make it directly into the hands of my Coastguardsmen and have definitely made a difference.

Thank you for your dedication, efforts, and service. You make us proud and remind us of why we do the job that we do.

Very Respectfully,

Curtiss C. Potter, LCDR

Deputy Commander

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Hi Brittany & Robbie,

I just read about your wonderful endeavor to help out our troops. I have a few cell phones laying around that I didn't know what to do with. I now see a great way to get rid of them. It's young folks like you that give me hope for the future of our world.

 

Thank you so much for your efforts and for getting this idea started. I know our guys and gals serving over seas are very much appreciative of your efforts to help them stay in touch with their families they have been placed so far away from. With the growing contempt of this war, and our troops in general, it makes my heart happy to know that there are still people that support them and appreciate their sacrifice for our freedom.

 

There's an old term from back in the 60's called 'Karma', which basically meant what goes around-comes around, in the definition of the times. What you have done will enhance your life in later years as you've established in yourselves an energy that will be repaid ten-fold. Thank you for your thoughts and willingness to help our troops.

 

I know you've probably received a ton of email so there's no need to feel obligated to reply to this. Just keep up your efforts.

 

Ed (Hawk) Hawkins

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Dear Brittany and Robbie,
Thank you for sharing such a great gift to those that are giving of themselves and protecting our freedoms.

I have a 21 year old son, Joshua, who is in the US Navy.  Josh is currently stationed in Saratoga Springs, New York and is in the process of completing his last phase of Nuclear Engineering training and will be heading out to sea sometime after August, 2007.  We are extremely PROUD of our son... and yet we selfishly hate to see him leave as he plans to be stationed on a Nuclear Submarine.  And, do to the safety and security of all of those on board the sub, our abilities to communicate will be through limited emails.

Josh started his boot camp training in January of 2006.  During this 8 weeks, our communications with him was limited to letters about every other week.  However, during his 7th week of boot camp, I received a phone call from him while at work.  And, after 7 long weeks of not hearing his voice, words cannot explain my emotions when I answered my phone and heard him say two simple words.. "hi dad".  And, knowing that he will be leaving soon for the open waters, it may be upwards of 6 months without hearing those words again.

That phone call from Josh while in boot camp touched my heart forever.  And, your "Cell Phone for Soldiers" provides other families and friends with loved ones serving abroad the opportunity to also be able to hear those similar words from their brave soldier serving our great country.   Through "Cell Phones for Soldiers",  you are touching the hearts of many people through a phone call.

Thank you and may God bless you for great works!

Bob Brewbaker  (proud father of USN Brewbaker, Joshua C.)

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Dear Brittany and Robbie,
My name is Spc. Jennifer LaRoche, originally from New York City. I am currrently deployed with the 1st Cavalry Division in Baghdad, Iraq. I'm just writing to thank you on behalf of all the troops that you are helping out here. It's a great thing that you two are doing and I'm not sure if you realize what a tremendous difference you're making in these soldiers lives. It's a really good thing to see kids take such an active role in helping those of us that are deployed. Rather than (like some adults) who choose to point fingers at us (their own) , like we're the bad guys. You both deserve much recognition .. thank you so very much. I continue to pray for you both for having such good hearts. God bless and take care. J. L.

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Hi: I just wanted to write you and say thank you. You have helped me out so much in a time of need. I really appreciate it. The communication that I keep with my loved ones is the only thing that keeps me sane around here. With my dad in very poor health, and my fiance in the hospital, it's really great to keep in contact with them. You have helped me out alot. I'm not very good at letter writing, but I wanted to say these few words with a deep thanks. Thank you very much, and may God bless. Take care, and enjoy the holidays. M.T.

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Dear Brittany & Robbie,

Thank you for your gift, it was very kind of you two. I do love to call home as often as possible, but sometimes that is only 1 – 2 times a week. I truly appreciate what you are doing, helping soldiers keep in contact with their loved ones. The more support they receive from home the higher their morale is. The higher their spirits, the easier they accomplish any mission given. Your program is helping soldiers out here in Iraq and I am truly grateful for what you are doing. It is good to know that even with all of this controversy over Iraq that there are some patriotic Americans who still care about soldiers doing their job. Thank you.

Sincerely, 1st LT Craig Klascius

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Brittany & Robbie,

On behalf of all the airmen, soldiers, and marines stationed here at Balad Air Base, Iraq, THANK YOU for your cell phone program. We got the phone cards and sure appreciate them! 1st Lt. Randy Carlson

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Sir: My name is AC1 D.B., currently deployed onboard the USS Essex (Iron Gator) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. While reading Reader's Digest, I came across the story of what Brittany and Robbie are doing. I have 20 guys in my shop that are in the same situation as me. We are deployed on a navy ship in the middle of the ocean, working 24/7, and thinking about our loved ones back home. Phone calls are a rarity as port visits are few and far between as we complete our mission. When we do get the chance to call home, the fees and charges easily empty our pockets in minutes. It is my deepest desire to be able to show these sailors that people back home do care about what we are doing in the Middle East. Therefore, I would like to put in a request to your fine program. Can you send me some calling cards to offer to my guys as a token of appreciation and to lessen the financial burden for 1 or 2 phone calls. Your time and work are greatly appreciated. Very respectfully, AC1 D. B.

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Dear Cell Phones for Soldiers,
Thank You for sending my husband 2 calling cards. He received them just this past week. It was a pleasant surprise for him, and we are both very thankful. He called home the very next day! Thank you again, Christine Hill :)

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Hello, my name is April. I am 18 yrs old and I live in Southern California. The 29th of Feburary was one of the hardest days I think I have ever had to go through. My fiance of 1 yr was sent to Iraq. Derek Gardner is almost 20 yrs old. He has extreme knee problems, but that did not matter; he went anyway. All in all, in the 3 months that he has been there we must have must spent close to, if not more than $1500. We had to purchase gear, razors, shaving cream, the whole 9 yards; which brings me to the subject of phone calls. The second day Derek was on his way there, he called me from Ireland, International Collect. Since I was worried about him, I felt like I needed to hear his voice because it could be the last time for a long while. Well as it goes the phone call turned out to be $45 for the whole 3.5 minutes that we talked. I was blown away, $50 for a phone call? That's crazy! After a few different calls of that cost we needed a another solution. Phone cards right? Wrong. Very few phone cards actually work from a Iraq unfortunately and the ones that do, well they don't really last as long as you would expect. We (his mother and I) must have spent $150 on different phone cards trying to find the one that would work. We would purchase one for 150 minutes or whatever and he would get maybe two uses out of it! Derek and I have been weathering the storm. As the saying goes, absence makes the heart grow stronger, I love Derek with all my heart and pray every day and every night that he will come home safe and sound. We keep faith in his return and hope that other families are doing ok as well. Thank you for your time, April

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Brittany,
I am the wife of a soldier who will soon be mobilizing in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Let me say how very proud it makes me to know there are people like you in this world. I am part of our Family Readiness Group. We help the soldier's families while they are away. Through different events we watch and are a part of the process of being without our soldiers. I know personally the difficulty of having to say goodbye to my husband. We are currently trying to come up with different procedures to allow more frequent contact between families and soldiers. Also to get information more frequently about our soldiers from the commanders overseas. This program is a wonderful undertaking. The hope that you are giving soldiers and their loved ones. Being able to talk with each other during deployment is a difficult task and it is very hard to endure. I want you to know that what you are doing is wonderful and a great service to our military. By giving soldiers the opportunity to call home without being limited by the huge costs...that's a huge morale booster. It also gives the families left behind a little more peace in their lives. Most of our soldiers spouses are fearful everyday that someone will come knock at their doors and tell them their soldier isn't okay, but in being able to speak with them the family knows that they are okay. Believe me this makes the day much better. Spouses are taking on a lot of extra responsibilities while the soldiers are gone and knowing that the soldier is doing well makes it easy to do these things. It's always the not knowing that makes life difficult. I salute you and thank you from the bottom of my heart. You and your brother are the type of people who make me proud to be an American, proud to be a mother, and proud to be a soldier's wife. I hope you are truly blessed in life for this wonderful deed. We are truly blessed to have you. Sincerely, A Soldier's Wife, Lafayette, Louisiana

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To Whom It May Concern:
I just want to thank you for what you're doing. My husband is a soldier currently serving our country in Iraq. He leaves behind our 3 yr old son, our 1 yr old daughter, and myself...currently expecting our third child this July. My husband has an AT&T calling card and calls home often. I am constantly reloading his card, which is getting expensive. I'm just grateful the Army pays him enough money that I can reload his card. But sometimes money gets tight and we have to go a little while without talking. So I think what you're doing is great! I donated $10.00 to your foundation. I know it's not much, but I hope it helps! Thank you again! Sincerely, Joy Bodley

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Good Day!
Brittany you are an amazing young lady! Thank you for your support of our soldiers.
My step-dad and brother both served in Iraq with the 3rd Infantry Division. They have been told that they will be going for a second tour in July. My brother-in-law was just sent to Afgahnistan. I know how important it is for them to be able to hear their loved one's voices and not just read letters from us. I would get to talk to them for about 2 minutes each! It is not long but it is enough for us and them to know that they are well and say I love you!
I am going to contact our local Tulsa, OK NBC station and ask them to run a segment regarding your effort. I will give them your email addresses and the addresses to send donations and cell phones to. I cannot tell you how your kindness has touched my heart. It is nice to know that young people like you and your brother want to make a difference in another person's life. Thank you is not enough but I will say it anyway..THANK YOU!!
God Bless you and your effort! You will be in my prayers! Amanda Nix, Broken Arrow, OK

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You're the type of Americans that keep me going day-to-day. Who would ever think two teenagers would start such a program. I thank God for people like you, because of your action and of others I can keep in touch with my family. Thanks, SPC Edin Alegria, 137th QM CO., Operations.

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I was able to talk to my mother on Mothers Day and soon to be wife on our anniversery and I just wanted to say thank you for letting our little special moment be possible. Thank you and keep up the great work! ET3 Faulkenberg, USN, US NMCB 74, S6 Shop, IMSO / S. Admin.

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Brittany & Robbie,

I havnt heard my husbands voice very much at all lately. I think its importaint for our 4 yr old and almost 15 month old to hear his voice. I dont know if they can understand when I tell them dady says hi, when i get a message from him online. They cant get happy about it without hearing his voice.My husband is in the National guard. I very much look forward to my husband in Iraq getting a phone card. We have a lot of bills to pay off so we cant afford to keep buying phone cards. I am so greatful to you two and to everyone who donates.

That was such a great thing you guys did when you started out. Raising money for that soldier's high phone bill.

I know you have heard it all...but I hope you know that you are really helping people and putting smiles on their faces. For some families making it through a deployment is easyer just from being able to hear loved ones voices.
Thank you so much,
Renee, Mason, Lillie and my husband SPC Dikty.

 

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Dear Brittany & Robbie,
I live in Dedham, MA. I loved your idea, your thoughtfulness and selflessness when I first heard about it 4 years ago. I am part of the Dedham Junior Woman's Club and we have been donating cell phones for a few years now. Well, I want to tell you I am very grateful to you and your program because I have been the recipient of a phone call from my son who is now in Iraq and used one of your cards! He was quite surprised to see the message on the card he used that it was from your program. He had read about you in the newspaper and felt it was part of home reaching out to him. He called me on Mother's Day and my birthday. I didn't expect to hear from him and needless to say, it made my day! It brings tears to my eyes now thinking about it. Thank you so much for the wonderful idea and program you started. I'm sure it is hard work but please know that your efforts, and those who help you, are greatly appreciated by the families who are recipients of those phone calls. Thank you and God bless you. Sincerely, Kristen - Dedham, MA

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All,
Here is a picture of the Soldiers who received the cards - again, thank you so very much for thinking of us. We truly appreciate your kindness and generosity!
I can't tell you thank you enough!! This picture was taken behind a Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle at a Joint Security Station outside Baghdad. The Soldiers pictured are from 1/21 Infantry and very appreciative and happy about thier cards!
Thanks Again,
Major Bob Risdon

 

 

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I requested Some Phone card's for my son Ronald Joe Lewis II,& his shipmate's, they are on the Aircraft carrier the Kitty Hawk, they are out too sea, on a mission, but he just e-mail me and told me he received the phone card's, he said he gave them out, too all his shipmate's, and that they were very happy too get them, all 500 sailor's said Thank you, and that they are so happy too know that their are good people, out their that support our Troop's, they will be calling their loved one's, very soon,
Viola Lewis