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Summer Adams, wife of SSG John Adams
says thank you! Please click here to read her letter.
What others have said....
"Dear John, I just can’t tell you
and everybody else that helped how much my family and I
appreciate your kindness to help us out. It was truly touching.
I told my husband. He couldn’t believe it. He thought it was
just awesome what you do for the families. We will never forget
it. Steve is still at Walter Reed. They’re waiting to close his
abdominal. He does have a spinal cord injury so he will be
placed at a spinal cord rehab in Tampa, FL for a year. We’re
just taking it day by day – that’s all we can do at this point.
My kids are staying with my Mom. I’ll bring them to Tampa when I
get there. I will keep in touch. It’s just been so hectic right
now. It takes me a while to catch up. We just can’t thank you
enough for your kindness. My son loves the Wal-Mart cards. I’ll
keep in touch. Love, Laurie, Steve, Stevie & Stephanie"
"Thank you so much for all you do.
My youngest son Dylan gets the mail to help around the house and
he looks for your envelope. Dylan refers to the gift cards and
certificates as his reward for giving up his Dad to serve the
United States. When we received the extra certificates this
month I was so thankful. “Hurricane prep” is expensive as you
know, as well as clean up and all the extras. Thank you again.
This family appreciates you!"
"Sorry
it has taken so long to write to you. This year has flown by
and I don't even remember what happened to September, with all
the hurricane frenzy! I have been meaning to thank you for your
support! War time is tough on the kids with a daddy who is an
activated reservist. Our four children look forward to their
Wal-Mart card each month. It gives them a boost and makes them
feel very important! I explained that their daddy is brave, but
so too, are they! They know that these cards are given to them
as a way for people to thank them for letting their daddy serve;
for sharing their dad and for being so brave (the littlest ones
cries about dad every time we are in church! - God Bless her.)
They miss their dad and I think each time they receive a card,
it takes a lump out of their throats. They have put the cards
to great use! They are not allowed to buy candy, soda, or
junk! They have been instructed to buy something that dad would
buy for them if he were here! They have bought things for their
rooms, school supplies, clothes, fun stuff, and believe me, it
has saved us a few times, too! Thank you for being so
incredibly supportive! Every time I tell someone about
Operation Brave Kids it puts a lump in my throat and a tear in
my eye. You all are wonderful!"
"Just a note to say,” thank you in
a big way.” My son has done exceptionally well in school this
semester and it was a big help having the gift cards from
Wal-Mart, so that I may reward him. He in-turn took the gift
certificate and gave it back to me and said it was ok to use to
purchase needed supplies to send my husband in Iraq. I am
doubly blessed because of your generosity. Thank you!"
"Thank you so much for thinking of
the families of the soldiers who risked their lives serving in
Iraq. Many people do not value the National Army as much as
they do the regular army. Bottom line is they are all serving
their country, so that we don’t have to worry too much. The
point is I’m glad that you and your wife cared enough (more than
enough). The past 14 months were very rough for me and there
were times when I turned to organizations that displayed the “We
support the troops” sign outside the business and left with an
unanswered “how?” My daughter enjoyed all her books and toys
that Operation Brave Kids has granted her by way of the ToysR Us
gift cards. Thank you so much – God Bless You."
“My children were placed on operation brave kids
last month when their father (an army reservist) was called to
active duty, needless to say it has been hard for us, very hard.
My daughter 6 and son 15 months are still to young to realize
all that is happening, they just know that daddy will be gone
for a long time and seeing me upset doesn't help. He will be
sending us enough to get by, however these donations help so
very much. For example, we won't have access to any funds until
the 1st or 15th of every month, and today March 31st I didn't
have anything in the refrigerator and had been feeling helpless
all day and for the past 3 days as well. So when I saw the
Publix gift certificates in the mail.....I was so relieved, I
didn't have to feel helpless anymore, I can now go to the
grocery store and buy diapers, milk, bread, and the basic things
I took for granted before when my husband was home.
So, I want to thank you, thank you for helping us
have one less worry tonight. God bless you, God bless our troops
and God bless our children.”
“My children and I miss our soldier dearly, and so
the certificates come in handy when they are at their lowest
point.”
“I continue to be amazed at the generosity of
people around us during this difficult time. It makes my
husbands job much easier knowing that people are being so good
to his family while he is away. Thank-you for adding
happiness to our lives during this difficult time. May God
bless you as you continue to make a difference in the lives of
our precious children here in South Florida!!"
"Operation Brave Kids" brings me much
appreciation in knowing that the communities and businesses of
South Florida care about me and my children. This program
has really touched my heart!!”
“My children look forward to this each month and
they feel so special that they can buy whatever they want with
their OWN money. The $25 each buys them an expensive toy
(as they call it), so I just wanted to say thank you on behalf
of myself and my children.”
“I would say you may never know how much this
means, but I believe you do. Because the cards are
for the kids, I asked them what did they think we should do.
My son said, I will need extra paper to write my dad lots of
letters and my daughter wanted a disposable camera to take
pictures and send them to their dad. I am thankful to you
for your help."
“My eyes are filled with tears.
I feel like I have been invited into a stranger’s home,
to be thanked for the sacrifices that the kids and families of
the Reservists and National Guard so selflessly make to keep the
nation free. As a
Reserve family, we will go this alone.
There are no other wives to lean on, no commissaries to
shop for groceries. Can I share with you how scary the thought
of this is? I wish
more people understood….”
“I am stunned by this organizations generosity, and
empathy towards the families left behind.
Never in a million years did we ever think his unit would
be mobilized. It
was, and just 5 weeks after we had our first child.
The emotion of the entire ordeal is still settling in,
and he has now been gone for 2 months.
This is a wonderful gift you are providing, and on behalf
of our family I thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
"Knowing
that someone is helping out your family instills a sense of
gratitude, especially when it's someone you don't know.
Knowing that that same person is helping out your squadmates
gives you a sense of belonging and a great feeling that you are
not alone. To the Troops it's knowing that your
"6" is covered at home!" -- Father of a
Soldier
“As the wife of a Reservist, I cannot express the
loneliness and horror one suffers when a spouse is called to
duty during wartime. There
are no support groups as there are when you are full-time
military personnel. There is no military base that the family lives on where they
can gather together to share their concerns and fears, not to
mention their financial hardships.”
“It is most refreshing to find folks like you who
are willing to step up to the plate and provide moral support to
our servicemen’s families.”
“This is a wonderful program you have started, I
have just spent the last 5 minutes crying at work!!! It touches me that there really are people out there that
care about our men and the families they have left behind.”
“I believe I speak for all the families who
have and will receive the gift certificates, when I say it’s a
blessing. It’s
almost like receiving a little Christmas every month.”
“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate
the generosity. It
has been a difficult transition for my children.
They are very proud of their father going and serving our
country, but they are confused about their emotion and miss him
dearly. I have had
a difficult time trying to explain why we can’t get the things
we would like to due to financial setback. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for bringing some joy
and support to my children.”
“I was in tears this morning hearing your
broadcast, and I thank you.
If only more people would acknowledge our sacrifices, and
I say “our” because it is not only the soldier that fights,
it’s also the sacrifice of those left behind.”
"I
cannot thank your organization enough for thinking of our
nations most valuable -- the children. The certificates
offer the children happiness and hope in a time of emotional
turmoil. My daughter, being 10 years old, decided one item
should would buy was a journal. That way she can record
her private thought and feelings to help her cope while her dad
is away. It is a nicer world when you know people
care. What a wonderful thing your organization is doing to
help the families."
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