Legion sharing holidays with soldiers in Iraq

To donate holiday decorations for soldiers in Iraq, visit the William J. Rogers American Legion Post 153 at 71 South Main St. in Auburn or call 782-1118. The post plans to collect donations until Dec. 5.

AUBURN — A local American Legion post hopes to make over a corner of Iraq with holiday lights, tinsel and Maine-made wreaths.

In early December, the William J. Rogers American Legion Post 153 plans to ship several boxes of decorations to the 619th Transportation Company, an Auburn-based Army Reserve unit that deployed to Iraq this summer.

"It's really tough being away at Christmastime," said Emmet Stuart, a veteran who is helping to organize the shipment. Deployed soldiers often must work unrelenting hours despite the holiday. The Auburn soldiers left home in June and expect to return in June 2010.

"We're hoping to brighten things for the guys," Stuart said. "We'd love to have them open a package and get that smell of a new Maine wreath."

The idea grew out of discussions with a soldier's wife. Brenda Longtin, who serves as the treasurer of the post's ladies auxiliary, asked what she could do to help the family get through the holiday.

"Help him," the wife replied.

On Oct. 1, the Legion post sent 250 pounds of goods to the unit. The parcels included candy, baby wipes, powders, feminine products, body wash and eight picnic-style coolers, used to keep drinks cold in the transportation company's trucks.

The goods arrived in Iraq six days later, Longtin said. The Legion hopes to send packages just as big this time. The group is looking for extra Christmas decorations people may have: lights, bulbs, bunting, wreaths, tinsel.

Stuart, who has helped organize parcels since the first units arrived in Afghanistan in 2002, has faith that people will step forward with donations.

"People still care," said Stuart, who serves as Americanism officer at the post. "People still can't do enough for them."

The parcels are appreciated.

Since the start of the war, Stuart has collected the thank-you notes from soldiers to the Legion post. The stack is more than an inch thick.

"They go from privates to generals," Stuart said.

dhartill@sunjournal.com