4 ounces for free

Keith McCray knows how much a letter from home can mean to a GI.

He’s ex-Army, a former supply sergeant with the 101st Airborne.

Now he wants to help put a smile on the faces of America’s military men and women serving overseas when they hear the words “mail call.”

To do that, he’s offering free mailing services to soldiers and sailors, fliers and marines with APO and FPO addresses through his packing and shipping company. It’s called The Mailing Center and there’s one at 250 Center St. here.

McCray said the program, which he’s dubbed “Operation Mail for Freedom,” kicks off Monday. It will allow people to send letter mail – up to 4 ounces – to friends or loved ones serving in the Mideast, Afghanistan and other global military operations.

The weight limit means a two-page letter, along with the envelope it’s in, can be accommodated, he said. His packaging and mailing facility also has information for people who want to send packages to people in the military serving overseas as well as customs declarations.

McCray said his “Operation Mail for Freedom” is his way of giving something back to the community.

“Just to hear from someone back home,” he said, can make a GI’s day.

His mailing center is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and until 1 p.m. on Saturdays.

All mail going to service people needs to have their names and APO or FPO addresses, McCray said.

-Doug Fletcher
Mexico
Boxing for troops

Plans for sending care packages to local and Maine troops overseas have snowballed for students at the Region 9 School of Applied Technology.

“People have told us they wanted to do something,” said Judy Powell, coordinator of efforts by two classes spearheading the effort.

Since a story appeared, people have called or stopped by the school offering money and a variety of items to be sent to fighting troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. More than $150 has been donated to pay for shipping the shoe boxes filled with toiletries, snacks, magazines and other items.

Students in the cooperative education class are writing letters to soldiers as well, telling them how much they appreciate their bravery and courage on behalf of everyone in this country.

“One student asked the soldiers to not only take care of themselves, but also to look out for each other,” said Powell.

Enclosed in the boxes are addressed envelopes just in case the soldier who receives a box wants to reply.

Six more boxes are ready to go, packed by cooperative education and certified nurses aide students. A few more military addresses for soldiers with roots or family members in the River Valley area and in Maine have been turned into the school. Powell said they are looking for more.

Those wanting to help out or provide military addresses for specific soldiers may contact Powell at the school at 364-3764.

-Eileen Adams
Kingfield
Shrine of welcome

Pvt. Jerry Norton is driving a Bradley tank near Baghdad in Iraq, his grandfather Ray Meldrum said.

Norton, 20, is the son of Wanda and Wade Brown of Kingfield and Tom Norton of Salem. He’s with the U.S. Army 3-7 Cavalry.

Norton’s grandmother, Pat Meldrum, is rigging up a little shrine with his picture and yellow ribbons at her home in Kingfield to welcome her grandson home, her husband Ray Meldrum said.

The Meldrums and the rest of the family are trying to keep as much abreast as they can, he said. That includes watching the news and “pulling your hair out,” he said.

“Not much anyone can do, just hope for the best,” Meldrum said.

Wanda Brown received a letter from her son Wednesday, Meldrum said. As near as they could figure it was mailed March 16. It basically said he was OK.

Norton joined the Army right out of high school and has been in three years.

Meldrum said his daughter Wanda is doing “real well. She’s a strong woman.”

-Donna M. Perry

New Vineyard

Hoping word is true

Brian Ellis’ mother, Carol, was excited Thursday.

A friend of hers told her that it stated on the news that the one of the longest deployed battleships would be coming home.

That would be Brian’s aircraft carrier, the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln, she said, but she hasn’t heard it herself.

“If it’s on the up and up, the ship will be coming home,” she said. “We’re hoping for the end of April or first part of May — that would be sweet.”

Brian, 23, has been on the ship for more than 10 months.

She and other military families held a bake sale recently to support the troops.

She’s holding a special haircut day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 19, at C.J.’s Hair Salon on Route 27, offering regular cuts for $5. All proceeds will go to the military relief fund, she said, the same as bake sale proceeds.

-Donna M. Perry

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