Click here to read the Current News from Iraq November 2006 Operation Military Support's fourth annual Veterans' Day Fundraiser Dinner was held on November 11, 2006, at the Sequoia Woods Country Club in Arnold, California. Around 100 people attended the dinner and auction, which raised close to $17,000, all of which will be directed toward purchasing care package items and for postage to mail the packages to the troops. These packages have been going out nearly every Monday for the past 4 years and it would not be possible without the generous support of all of our volunteers and donors. Visit Photo Gallery for more photos of the event  Guest Speaker HM3 Lacie Miller, US Navy Returned to Camp Pendleton, CA from Second Tour of Duty in Iraq Calaveras County Resident Guest Speaker Tyler Palmer, US Army veteran,Served one Tour of Duty in Afghanistan with mortar unit Calaveras County Resident Lacie and Tyler presented with Calaveras Frogs, attired in Navy and Army uniforms.   Lacie Miller presents American flag flown over her camp in Iraq for the fundraising auction.         Much Delayed and Well Deserved Welcome Home Lacie Miller, introduced her father, John Miller, a veteran of Viet Nam military service, and asked for a welcome home for her father and for other Viet Nam era veterans, who did not receive the honor of a proper welcome upon their return from service. The dinner attendees extended a warm welcome for a very touching moment. Lacie's mother, Dawn Miller, looks on. Framed photos and letter in Arabic with English translation, from Col. Najim, a Battalion Commander in the Iraqi Army, thanking Americans for their support of the Iraqi people through organizations such as Operation Military Support.  Board members of Operation Military Support each received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, signed by U.S. Congressman Dan Lungren, "in recognition of outstanding and  invaluable service".  Presented by OMS Historian Ed Anderson.  Pictured left to right are OMS Board Members Karla McKahan, June Downum, Ed Anderson, Suzette Glanville and Kiss Anderson. Not pictured, Shirley Smith.     March 2006 Pictured is the Student council of Gwynedd Square Elementary School in Pennsylvania, displaying some of the 160 letters the school sent to the troops in 2005.  They received 43 replies to those letters.  They mailed more letters in 2006. (Click on thumbnail for larger view.)   Added Sunday, January 1, 2006 On December 2, 2005, board members of Operation Military Support had the honor of participating in a meeting with the staff of Pentagon’s “America Supports You” (ASY) program along with 84 other organizations. The meeting started with a tour of the White House to view the beautiful Christmas decorations, and upon returning to the Pentagon we were furnished breakfast. Allison Barber, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs, Internal Communication and Public Liaison, introduced Lt. General Odierno, assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who had just returned home from Iraq. He gave a wonderful power-point presentation and filled us in on our military mission and accomplishments, as well as future activities for our military in Iraq. Lt General Odierno honored us by answering many questions presented to him. After a quick lunch break all of us proceeded to the pressroom of the Pentagon to meet with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. Mr. Rumsfeld showed much interest in all of our organizations and asked us to continue our work for our military and military families. He was very attentive, friendly, and answered the questions posed by the attendees. He compared our work, and how it is unfolding, to “pebbles dropped in a pond...and with each gesture, each pebble dropped in the pond, the ripples begin crisscrossing and reinforcing each other.” Before he left, Mr. Rumsfeld introduced Department of Defense Director of the Standards of Conduct Office of the General Counsel, (Attorney) Mr. Stephen Epstein. Mr. Epstein gave a very interesting power-point presentation and advised us of our responsibilities and conduct as representatives of non-profit organizations formed to support our military. After moving into another large room for a short picture show of ASY, Director of Press Operations, Captain Roxie Merritt, U.S. Navy, (proudly Navy!), opened up the meeting with a funny anecdote about the competition among the different branches of the military. On the Media, she told us that “...the Pentagon is trying to arouse more positive press to represent the majority of the United States public." The negative press affects the morale of our troops and that is where all of you come into play. Send those cards, letters, and help in any way you can to show your support for all the men and women that are serving our country so unselfishly.” An interesting fact we found out while at the ASY meeting, is that many of the other organizations are very large, have nation-wide contracts, and have paid staff. Operation Military Support is unique in that we're a 100% volunteer organization, and all donated funds we receive go directly to benefit our military men and women. America Supports You is a wonderful organization that was formed to be used as an umbrella for all recognized non-profit organizations. The American public can use it as a tool to locate an organization that fits your area of interest. There are over 170 organizations listed, and not one is the same. They range from direct morale boosters for the troops, to helping the casualties, casualty families, supporting military families at home, flight miles, phone cards, fallen soldiers education grants for their children, etc. There are too many to list here. We encourage you to visit http://www.americasupportsyou.mil and find an organization where your expertise can be put to use. Added December 25, 2005 L - R: Kiss Anderson, the Hon. Donald Rumsfeld, June Downum June Downum and Kiss Anderson met Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld at the Pentagon in April of 2005, and began Operation Military Support's on-going relationship with the Pentagon-sponsored program "America Supports You". America Supports You is a newly formed Pentagon-sponsored program to support all non-profit organizations that are formed to support our military. We had another meeting with America Supports You organizers in New York in August 2005. We have now been invited to send a representative for a second meeting at the Pentagon on Friday, December 2, 2005. June Downum will be attending the meeting in our behalf. The purpose of the meeting is to allow America Supports You to update members on key defense issues and to thank team members for their support of the troops and participation in America Supports You. The day will include meetings with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and other Department of Defense leaders, and a special tour of the Pentagon. We will provide details of the meeting on this site in December.   Added November 26, 2005 Operation Military Support hosted two fund raising dinners over the Veterans' Day weekend and residents of Calaveras County, California and donor sponsors from the area once again showed their incredible generosity. The two events netted over $21,000 in donations as the 140 attendees enjoyed prime rib dinners and had fun participating in live auctions conducted by a local auctioneer. All funds raised by this third annual Veterans' Day project will be used by Operation Military Support to pay for purchasing care package items and paying shipping charges to get those care packages to the troops. Many of our adorable Military Bears were also sold at the event and funds from those sales will be specifically directed to buying and shipping bears to members of the Military, allowing them to send recorded messages home to their families for Christmas. Guest speaker: Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Miguel Angel Delgado, Jr.   Senior Chief will be serving his 6th tour in the Middle East beginning in January, 2006. Following that tour he will be retiring after 26 years of serving our Country and his fellow military servicemen and women. Senior Chief Delgado was instrumental in helping to organize Operation Military Support in January 2003, sending us the first batch of names to put up for adoption. His invaluable assistance has continued since then.   Ghee Hagedorn of Tahoma, CA was the high bidder for the first flag flown over Camp Fallujah, Iraq. Senior Chief Delgado with his Commanding Officer opened that camp, now known as Camp Fallujah, and flew this flag on the day of their arrival. He donated the flag for our fundraising auction.   June Downum, Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Miguel Angel Delgado, Jr., and Suzette Glanville, at the Veterans Day fund-raiser in Arnold, California. Senior Chief was the guest speaker at this event. June Downum is the Co-ordinator and Suzette Glanville handles Public Relations for Operation Military Support. Added November 4, 2005 Clicking the thumbnails will open a new window with a larger photo! Radio Station KSFM in Sacramento, CA conducted a gift drive in partnership with Operation Military Support to provide Christmas for the troops. The event was advertised as Operation Desert Santa, the DJs broadcast from the parking lot of a Sacramento shopping mall, 24 hours a day for 5 days and nights, giving listeners the opportunity to show their appreciation for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan by dropping off gift items. This is the second year that KSFM has donated time and energy to express their dedication to the men and women in the U.S. Military. Operation Military Support will now ship the donated items to our military men and women, using monetary contributions from citizens all over the United States to pay for postage. We hope to get all the items shipped before Christmas so that every man and women serving our country will be reminded throughout the Holidays that we send our love and appreciation for their sacrifice. Click here to visit the Activities & News Archive page!  100% of all donated dollars go directly to benefit our military. Send your  cash donations to help us pay for shipping packages to the troops! Click logo below to donate on-line Send your cash donations to help us pay for shipping packages to the troops! Send to: Operation Military Support P.O. Box 901 San Andreas, CA 9524