New, spacious Post 52 open in time for Project Support Our Troops

New, spacious Post 52 open in time for Project Support Our Troops

Members of Veterans of the Vietnam War Post 52 are thrilled that their new building is complete — and especially pleased that it is done in time for the Project Support Our Troops Christmas packing of boxes for military personnel.In addition to sponsoring the annual Prisoner of War/Missing in Action annual memorial event and the annual Ride for Freedom, Post 52 is host for Project Support Our Troops.Phil Davis, president of the Welcome Home Association, emphasized that no funds received for Project Support Our Troops were used for the new building. He noted Project Support Our Troops has a separate banking account and financial entity.

But its home is Post 52, and at the post headquarters each month volunteers join to send boxes to military personnel serving throughout the world. The project was started 12 years ago. Monthly boxes are sent to between 50 and 75 veterans — except at Christmas when a box of goodies is sent to every name on the Troops list. This year 800 boxes will be packed — provided enough donations of items and money to pay for the shipping is received.

That also means that many more volunteers show up to help during the holiday season. That made the activity very crowded in the old building, but the new facility will give those volunteers more space and make it easier and quicker to pack the boxes.She hopes people in Crawford County will show their support for the troops by donating snack items, beef jerky, candy, toiletries, canned fruit and such items; however, no Ramon noodles are needed, she said. She hopes to received 8,000 pounds of items for the 800 boxes.