The articles from the Ladies Tea were published in both newspapers yesterday. I didn't think they were going to be published that quick. Although I'm not in it, here's the article from the Eagle Tribune:


Not everyone at the Ingram Senior Center's lunchtime tea yesterday agrees with the war in Iraq, but they unanimously support the troops.

About 40 senior citizens from around the region gathered to hear stories about the war from the mothers and wives of local soldiers who service overseas.

The visit, from two Salem mothers and one Salem wife, came after seniors in the group Seniors Embrace Life Fully began to write letters to three Salem soldiers in March.

Two months later, their project has expanded to include six soldiers who collectively have received hundreds of letters and several care packages from the seniors.

Beverly Johnson, 70, of Salem said she has a son who served during Operation Desert Storm. She's participating in the letter-writing campaign because she knows how much a letter can brighten a soldier's day.

"I kind of empathize with these families," she said. "It's difficult because you're home and you feel as though there's not much you can do."

A letter, Johnson says, is the least she can do - even if the soldier she keeps writing to doesn't even know her.

"He must've laughed when he received a bunch of letters from all these women he doesn't know, but now he knows us," she said.

And the women at the Seniors Embrace Life Fully don't stop sending letters.

When they heard that the soldiers wanted Goldfish, the care box at the Senior Center was instantly filled with several packages of the original, extra cheddar, and pizza-flavored snacks.

While they haven't received a letter back from the soldiers, they all said they know their communications are appreciated.

That appreciation was evident, and expressed, by the families of the soldiers yesterday.

Dolores Rancourt is the mother of a 27-year-old Navy pilot in Iraq.

"It's so important to write to them. It's like getting a piece of gold every time they get a letter," she said.

As Rancourt displayed a photo of her son in a sandstorm, the onlookers gasped at how yellow the sand turns the landscape in the Middle East.

They giggled as Pam Russell, another mother of a soldier, told the seniors that her son doesn't think everything is bad in Afghanistan.

He was thrilled when he got to eat goat, she said.

Her son, Thomas, 20, knew since age 12 that he wanted to go into the Army, Russell said.

"It's a proud moment being the parent of a soldier. We are all very, very proud of him," she said.

But she also said she was proud of the women in front of her who may have had children who served in the Vietnam War.

"I give a lot of credit to the mothers who had sons in Vietnam," she said. "We have more regular contact than you did because of e-mail, and my heart goes out to those who had such little contact with their loved ones."

Johnson, of Salem, said she was touched by the stories the families shared, but shocked when she heard their ages.

"They're all so young, it's just the begining of their lives," she said.

The Seniors Embrace Life Fully women agreed they will continue to support the troops and write letters to the Salem soldiers.

"I feel as though I'll do anything for the troops," said Ellen Venturo. "Magazines, cards, anything they want."

And whether they want them or not, 40 more letters will soon be on the way to local soldiers.

After the stories were told and the cake eaten, the women got to work and started writing cards to all six of their adopted Salem soldiers.

Other soldiers they write to are Salem natives Capt. Jeremy Brooks, Cpl. Matthew Hicks, Anthony Hawkins and Gary Khoury.




Before I get to the Union Leader story (the paper that interviewed me) I must let you know that they made a mistake, which I knew was going to happen. I am not 23... I am 22. And my husband did not just turn 26, he turned 25. With that said.. here is the story:


Through stories and memories, a few soldiers came home yesterday.

As part of their monthly meeting for tea, Ingram Senior Centers ladies met with three soldiers' families, who shared personal stories and thanked those who have helped support the troops.

"Just letting them know how much you love them and support them means a lot," Dolores Rancourt read from an e-mail sent by her son Christopher, a pilot serving in Iraq.

Pamela Russell spoke of her son Thomas and letters he had written home thanking those who have shown support.

"He was able to reach me on Mother's Day," Russell said. "It was a quick satellite phone call. I broke down when I hung up; I tried not to while on the phone."

The senior center has "adopted" six soldiers in all, and yesterday six tables were set up with cards for people to write to them.

Many attndees persued photos of the men in uniform standing against a desert backdrop.

"He loves that people are sending him things," Russell told them.

Stacie Hawkins, the 23-year-old wife of Army serviceman Anthony Hawkins, thanked all the women at the senior center for the birthday wishes they sent to her husband earlier in the month.

The cards are still arriving, weeks after his 26th birthday on May 2.

"He's beyond depressed about it; he thinks he's getting old," Hawkins said to the room of seniors.

Hawkins, wearing her husband's Army ring and dog tags on her necklace, said she would be happy to share what she's learned about shipping care packages.

"I've never shipped anything in my life before this - now I'm an expert," she said.

Ann St. Hilaire, the wife of a World War II POW, urged Hawkins to be supportive and patient when her husband returns home.

"Be patient when they come home," she said. "Most of them come back and have so much stress. It's amazing how different they are."

She softened the subject by talking about how her husband refused to eat potatoes for decades because he was forced to eat them daily.

Hilaire said she was already familiar with Rancourt's son as a neighbor but was pleased to learn about the recipients of all their support cards.

"I saw him grow up," she said. "I can still remember him as just a little kid."



I hope that all you faithful readers enjoy the articles! It's time for me to go get ready for work.