October 28, 2004

Rain or shine: supporting our troops

Americans rebuild America through acts of patriotism: Pro-America Spirit

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

As the presidential election looms closer, the subject of supporting our military is lost in the rhetoric, but local citizens are doing something far more tangible. This past Sunday, Almaden Feed and Fuel and Pro-America Spirit sponsored Holidays for the Troops fundraiser barbecue and car wash benefiting the Red Cross (Santa Clara Valley chapter) Operation: Care and Comfort, collecting donations and sending them to the men and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pro-America Spirit member Roberta Allen in full regalia. Photos by Jeanne C. Lewis

In the true sense of philanthropy, Almaden Feed and Fuel donated 50 percent of all dinner receipts to Operation Care and Comfort to send holiday packages to the troops enticing customers with the music of Tortilla Soup and barbecued beef sizzling on an open pit. Pro-America Spirit members washed cars to raise funds toward donations for the much-needed and appreciated items sent to the military. Donations from citizens dropped off at the event included packaged food items, toiletries, underwear, socks and stationery.

“People are very generous,” Julie DeMaria, Red Cross Operation: Care and Comfort member remarked as she accepted donations under a covered tent. “We have sent 55,000 pounds of care packages to the troops at 30 units on a monthly basis. We will continue until they come home. The Marines pass out food and candy and have really bonded with the people and children. They invite them to weddings and birthday parties. I talk to the soldiers who come home and are now helping the effort. That’s the most rewarding part.”

Operation: Care and Comfort is an all-volunteer military package program, under the banner of the Santa Clara Valley Red Cross. Working with the community, they have shipped needed parcels to the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan since April 2003. All donations are tax deductible and 100 percent of the contributions are used for the items or shipping costs.

Roberta Allen, a member of the grassroots Pro-America Spirit, dressed in signature red, white and blue complete with American flag contact lenses waved to passing motorists outfitted with sandwich signs reading “Honk for our troops.”

“Pro-America Spirit has more than 250 members now,” Allen remarked. “We’ve adopted Prabha and Brandon Boyles [Aaron Boyles of Newark was killed in Iraq last month, days before his son’s birth] and visited her three times. We want her and the baby to know that people support Aaron and that he was a hero.”

Pro-America Spirit is also involved in Boyle’s appeal and has collected over $1,500 in gifts and donations for the family. Allen also commented that Pro-America Spirit had sent electronics to the troops whose tent had burned down; a TV, three VCRs, two DVD players, tapes and DVDs to get their minds off the loneliness and brutality of war.

Pro-America Spirit members Stephen Monfort, Kevin Outman and Nelson DeSouza are comrades in spirit.

“It’s amazing how giving people are,” Allen said. “I was trying to get the best shipping price and An Le at UPS on Winchester ended up donating the costs. And the Feed and Fuel even donates the water we use for washing the cars. It really makes you feel good. Some things make you smile—others make you cry.”

Pro-America Spirit started over a year ago. The organization sponsors Pro-USA Support Our Troops rallies, care package drives and welcome home events for veterans. They have sent over 3,000 pounds of care packages, letters and paid for shipping costs with the help of Operation Care and Comfort.

“The Holiday for the Troops event exemplifies our community uniting behind a patriotic cause; to support the troops who are serving our country overseas,” Renata Carico, Pro-America Spirit founder said. “We want to make sure they know the people back in the homeland recognize their commitment to this country and the sacrifices they are willing to make. It is our hope that bringing the holidays to the troops will boost their morale and make their holiday season memorable despite being away from home.”

Carico mentioned that besides the needed care packages, the organization is also sponsoring Toys for our Troopers Tots program, collecting toys for the children of the soldiers overseas. With many military families on a strict budget, Pro-America Spirit is collecting toys, games, books, etc. for Christmas.

“It’s great to see the support here,” Randy Richman, an American Legion member remarked. “Speaking for the vets, we love it. There is a lot of negativity downtown, in Berryessa and down on Stevens Creek. I love a good patriotic spirit.”

Richman arrived to support the car washing effort and delivered fliers inviting the public to the 86th Annual Veterans Day Parade, Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. with a memorial ceremony beginning on Market Street at Plaza de Cesar Chavez. The parade beings at noon from Delmas along Santa Clara to Market Street and ending at San Carlos.

“There are a lot of people who are supportive of the troops but a lot of people don’t get the real news, the good news,” Pro-America Spirit member Angie Ploch said whose son, Michael, is serving in Iraq. “I like to talk to the young guys who have been there. I tell them don’t listen to the bad stories from the media. The people (Iraqis) love it that we’re there. They live ordinary lives and are happy we are helping them.”

Kevin Outman’s brother is being deployed for the third time in February. Pro-America Spirit welcomed Marine PFC Brian Outman home this past August. Since then he has married his fiancée, Alevh and is stationed at Twenty Nine Palms, Calif.

“Brian is going to the Syrian-Iraqi border where the troops are frustrated. He’s nervous about it but has had lots of training. They’ve been told they can only shoot if they are shot upon,” Outman, a Pro-America Spirit member who also served in Iraq said about his brother’s deployment. “The military is also offering money for weapons turned in and a lot have been brought in. If all goes well it will be Brian’s last tour.”

Almaden resident Gwen Yamato delivered boxes of food items from her own pantry and stopped to have her car washed for the $5 donation.

“I like when little things get a big return,” Yamato said carrying boxes of pancake mixes.

Perhaps Chris Whitaker, visiting her son in Almaden and whose husband was a Marine, said it best, “I’ll do anything to support the troops.”

Donations are accepted at Almaden Feed and Fuel, 18950 Almaden Road, New Almaden. Pro America Spirit also has a fund raising car wash once a month in the parking lot.

For more information, visit the Pro-America Spirit Web site at www.proamericaspirit.org or the Santa Clara Valley Red Cross web site at www.santaclaravalley.redcross.org/news_humanity3.html#quality.