FREE MAIL FOR OUR SOLDIERS.
Wesley Chapel, Florida— When Bob Williams came home from Vietnam after serving in the Navy he made a promise to himself, "When I got out of the Navy in Vietnam it was not a good time to be a service person. I decided if I could try I'd try to make things better for the men and women in military."
Making things betters means sending the troops items from home, snack foods, coffee, candy, popcorn movies, toiletries, flannel underwear, a coffee maker, letters of support, whatever their wish list calls for.
Over the years Williams has spend tens of thousands of dollars of his own money to buy and ship the items. The need jumped after 9-11 and the donations poured in but the cost to ship the items to the troops remained. "If Congress would pass legislation where we can send stuff to the troops for free it would be tremendous," says Williams.
Shipping a 69 pound box costs $37.77 Bob sends about 250 boxes a week to troops overseas. "When we spend 8-thousand on postage I'd rather spend 8-thousand on food to the boys and girls same thing with families."
Congress has the right to free mailing it's called franking. Williams would like that right granted to charities and military families. "With the billions we give away to foreign aid, the billions flush down the toilet and we can't send things to the men and women that are making our lifestyle possible. The very people protecting the right to live the way we do and can't send stuff without paying $37.77 that's sad," says Williams.
The business man has military families drop by his business to drop off a card or small package to include in one of the boxes headed overseas to their loved ones unit. "They as us to put it in the box we're sending to the unit to get something to them. They live on a military income, it's hard," says Williams.
His efforts may be paying off. US Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D) from Tampa and US Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R) Palm Harbor have introduced a bill that would allow free mailing to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. So far, 180 representatives have signed on.
Rep. Bilirakis says the bills would not restrict the size of the box. He says troops would have vouchers to give a family member or charity authorizing them to send the package. The voucher covers the cost. There would be 12 vouchers given to each serviceman and woman to use one voucher each month. Rep. Bilirakis's office says the money to fund the program would come from the Department of Defense's budget. He hopes to have the bill passed by the end of the year.
Meanwhile the letters, emails and pictures of thanks from troops overseas are sent to Bob Williams by the 100's.
A wall in his business off State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel is covered with them. There's a picture with his name written on a 500 pound bomb. "To be delivered to the Al-Qaeda of your choice," jokes Williams. There are several pictures of units holding bags of coffee with handwritten signs saying "thanks."
One unit named a smoking area after Williams for the cigars he sends them. Many local companies donate cases of items from snacks to coffee and cigars. Each item sends a piece of home to the troops.
One unit writes: "The coffee and snacks brings cheer and happiness to each person encouragement to everyone."
Another says: "A lot of early mornings and late nights so coffee and cookies come in real handy." They're so happy to hear from the people in the states says Williams.
Williams says each letter carries the same message, "They say the same thing they have no problem being where they are defending our freedoms. Folks back home need to remember them not let it be like another Vietnam."
It's not just the postage Williams says the slow economy has made it harder to get donations things like snack foods to send the troops. They also collect small toys for the troops to give the children in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Williams says the latest project is to send 1 gallon size plastic bags filled with toiletries, snacks, books, anything a soldier would like.
The goal is to collect the bags by mid March and ship them overseas in time for Easter. Williams has put a call out to schools, civic organizations, churches and anyone willing to help.
Williams does not handle any monetary donations directly. One can send checks or money orders payable to the Postmaster at P.O Box 7560, Wesley Chapel, Florida, 33545. Williams can be reached at 813-991-0400.
To sign a petition asking Congress to allow the free mailing of letters and packages to our military in Iraq and Afghanistan click here. web addy
www.rallycongress.com/drillflorida/1454/packages-soldiers/
To learn more about Williams, see some of the pictures and letters soldiers send in gratitude for the care packages click here.
www.ourtroopsonline.com/
