Operation Military Christmas 2022
2022 included challenges for our country...and that's an understatement. With that said, the Christmas season is especially important this year. In vivid ways, we can see how much we need Jesus Christ. And He always supplies reasons to give thanks. Chuck Norris said it well when reflecting on how we are to give thanks: "Thanksgiving is a duty before it's a feeling. It also doesn't say be thankful 'for everything, but 'in' everything. Find something, anything, to be grateful for even in the worst of times and our moods will be lifted. God prescribed our thanks-living because He knew it would make us happier..."
During tough years like 2022, we also can give thanks for our nation's heroes and their families. The Christmas season is an important time to remember our servicemen and women and their families, who deserve all the gratitude and kindness we can give. Think about it: There will be an empty chair at family gatherings in many households while so many brave men and women serve to protect our freedom. But we all can do something to help honor and thank our heroes and their families this Christmas and New Year’s. They are giving up so much so that we all may live in freedom. At Christmas, it's important to remember our veterans and servicemen and women who have done so much for us. Please see below to learn ways you can reach out and remember our heroes and their families this Christmas.
Christmas is a special time of year celebrate the glorious fact that Christ came to us as a baby. It's also a time of year to count our blessings -including the blessing of freedom. Join us as we appreciate our freedom-givers!
Shared with hearts full of God’s love for you all,Carrie Stoelting and Stacie Stoelting HudzinskiSisters and founders of Unite the USA
During tough years like 2022, we also can give thanks for our nation's heroes and their families. The Christmas season is an important time to remember our servicemen and women and their families, who deserve all the gratitude and kindness we can give. Think about it: There will be an empty chair at family gatherings in many households while so many brave men and women serve to protect our freedom. But we all can do something to help honor and thank our heroes and their families this Christmas and New Year’s. They are giving up so much so that we all may live in freedom. At Christmas, it's important to remember our veterans and servicemen and women who have done so much for us. Please see below to learn ways you can reach out and remember our heroes and their families this Christmas.
Christmas is a special time of year celebrate the glorious fact that Christ came to us as a baby. It's also a time of year to count our blessings -including the blessing of freedom. Join us as we appreciate our freedom-givers!
Shared with hearts full of God’s love for you all,Carrie Stoelting and Stacie Stoelting HudzinskiSisters and founders of Unite the USA
Sending Pillows to Our Nation's Heroes
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We are partnering with Project Pillows of One Touch Awakening. After the horrific living nightmares experienced by heroes who served in Afghanistan in particular, we feel strongly about reaching out in a way that helps them have reminders of our prayers when they sleep: Project Pillows of One Touch Awakening will send a pillow to a hero. It is a beautiful way to remind our heroes that we're praying for them and that America has not forgotten them. Send your loved one's name and address to us at info@unitetheusa.org and we will connect with Project Pillows who will send them a pillow.
Project Pillows volunteers are thankful for an opportunity to support our troops in a tangible way. We meet to assemble care packages, mindful of the difference these make when they arrive in the war zone. Sending a hug with every pillow...“Every pillow I put into a box to mail, I sent a hug with it. The whole time I was working on these, I kept thinking we are packing these boxes and the next person who opens them will be a soldier who is fighting for our freedom.” – Becky, Project Pillows volunteer
Project Pillows volunteers are thankful for an opportunity to support our troops in a tangible way. We meet to assemble care packages, mindful of the difference these make when they arrive in the war zone. Sending a hug with every pillow...“Every pillow I put into a box to mail, I sent a hug with it. The whole time I was working on these, I kept thinking we are packing these boxes and the next person who opens them will be a soldier who is fighting for our freedom.” – Becky, Project Pillows volunteer
How to Bring Christmas to Our Military
So, let's all do our part for veterans, troops, and military families to feel loved this Christmas.
1. Prepare a package: Send Christmas care packages to our troops.
2. Contact nursing homes. Contact nursing homes and ask for a way to send a bouquet, a box of gifts, or have Christmas bedside table arrangements delivered in honor of all veterans or military widows/widowers in the home.Ask if there would be a way to send cards to all or even just one of them.
3. Or just send an e-mail. If you have kids, include pictures of drawings by your kids to veterans or their widows/widowers.
4. Order a meal for a military family. Military families sacrifice so much, too. If you know a family whose husband, wife, son, daughter, mom, or dad can't come home for Christmas, reach out to them. Do something to acknowledge them and offer your thanks and prayers.
5. Order pillows for servicemen and women. Our servicemen and women do without many comforts so that we can live in freedom and peace. For example, did you that when troops are deployed they don't have a pillow to rest on? You can change that through Project Pillows. Click here to learn how you can help. It's easy and so helpful.
6. Send old-fashioned Christmas cards that could add a splash of Christmas color to military quarters.Or, send acceptable Christmas decorations.
7. Write e-mails and attach files that include photos to print off and use for décor. If anything, it will be a day brightener for the recipient.
8. Offer to help schedule a Skype call to bring a friendly face from back home into his/her life at Christmas. Not all military families have the technology to Skype with their loved ones in the military. Loan your smartphone or laptop for a specified time so they can Skype with their loved one over Christmas. Now that would be an incredible gift!
9. Keep a gift card in your purse or wallet. That way you are ready to encourage a veteran on a moment's notice.
10. Keep your eyes open. If you see a need, put some thought into what you can do to help. It's amazing how a small gesture of thoughtfulness can mean so much.
Together we can make a difference. We urge you to do something this Christmas season to support and pray for our heroes and their families. America, now is the time to unite and stand with our military. We need them...but they also need us.
Together we can make a difference. We urge you to do something this Christmas season to support and pray for our heroes and their families. America, now is the time to unite and stand with our military. We need them...but they also need us.
Unite the USA's
Featured Veteran of the Month: Patrick Brady
Patrick Brady, Medal of Honor, Vietnam War
Operation Christmas Star
A Christmas Outreach for Gold Star Families
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Special Announcement: Operation Christmas Star
This Christmas we are honoring Gold Star families in a new way. We would like to send a special star ornament made from olive wood from Bethlehem to each Gold Star family brought to our attention. Please e-mail us Gold Star family names and mailing addresses to info@unitetheusa.org.
If you know of a Gold Star family and want to do something, let us help make it easy for you to do it. Or, if you have lost a son, daughter, mom, dad, brother or sister, please contact us. Will you join us in reaching out to these most deserving, precious families? Send us an email, pray for the project, and share about it on social media.
We hope and literally pray that the ornaments will remind each Gold Star family member that many people love them, pray for them, and remember their profound, incalculable sacrifice. May we all remember the words of the Lord: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
This Christmas we are honoring Gold Star families in a new way. We would like to send a special star ornament made from olive wood from Bethlehem to each Gold Star family brought to our attention. Please e-mail us Gold Star family names and mailing addresses to info@unitetheusa.org.
If you know of a Gold Star family and want to do something, let us help make it easy for you to do it. Or, if you have lost a son, daughter, mom, dad, brother or sister, please contact us. Will you join us in reaching out to these most deserving, precious families? Send us an email, pray for the project, and share about it on social media.
We hope and literally pray that the ornaments will remind each Gold Star family member that many people love them, pray for them, and remember their profound, incalculable sacrifice. May we all remember the words of the Lord: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
Virtual Parade for Heroes
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As Christmas approaches, we need to encourage and support our veterans and current servicemen and women more than ever.
So many military families are separated from one another this Christmas season and New Year's. And Gold Star families will celebrate another Christmas and New Year's without their loved ones.
Many heroes wrestling with post-traumatic stress do not like being in crowds. Many heroes also suffer from injury-related and/or age-related mobility issues. Therefore, we are hosting another Virtual Parade for Heroes this upcoming Christmas season and New Year's so that every hero can be honored.
To be included in our next Virtual Parade of Heroes, please e-mail us the hero’s name, picture, and service information by January 1, 2023 to info@unitetheusa.org. The virtual parade will then be published in early 2023 in an online musical video virtual parade and you will be notified of its publication by e-mail.
This year's Virtual Parade for Heroes will have a special emphasis honoring heroes killed in action as an extra way to support Gold Star families. If your loved one was killed in action, please let us know when you e-mail us.
We are grateful for this opportunity to give credit where credit is due! Join us!
God bless you,Carrie and Stacie
So many military families are separated from one another this Christmas season and New Year's. And Gold Star families will celebrate another Christmas and New Year's without their loved ones.
Many heroes wrestling with post-traumatic stress do not like being in crowds. Many heroes also suffer from injury-related and/or age-related mobility issues. Therefore, we are hosting another Virtual Parade for Heroes this upcoming Christmas season and New Year's so that every hero can be honored.
To be included in our next Virtual Parade of Heroes, please e-mail us the hero’s name, picture, and service information by January 1, 2023 to info@unitetheusa.org. The virtual parade will then be published in early 2023 in an online musical video virtual parade and you will be notified of its publication by e-mail.
This year's Virtual Parade for Heroes will have a special emphasis honoring heroes killed in action as an extra way to support Gold Star families. If your loved one was killed in action, please let us know when you e-mail us.
We are grateful for this opportunity to give credit where credit is due! Join us!
God bless you,Carrie and Stacie
A Military Christmas: 15 Gifts to Send a Soldier
Our military works 24/7 and servicemen and women are deployed around the world. Here’s a list of 15 things you can send a soldier for Christmas curtesy from GuidePost:
1. Christmas Candy. Especially chocolate because it will travel well this time of year and won’t during the warmer months. 2. Baked Goods. Cookies and bars travel better than a full cake.
3. Individual Drink Mix. This makes even lukewarm water palatable for our men and women far away from home. Also, the individual packets are much easier to carry when they’re away from base.
4. Beef Jerky. Our soldiers need good quality snacks, and this is a popular source of protein while out on patrol.
5. Nuts. Another great snack, packed with protein.
6. Individual Snacks. You know the individual likes and dislikes of your soldier, but some good choices are protein bars, granola, small pop-top cans of fruit, etc.
7. Handwritten Cards and Letters. Now is a great time to ask friends and family to write short cards and letters to arrive inside the box. Including handmade cards from children is also great. You can contact your local school, preschool and/or church and find plenty of teachers who would love to take this on as a class project.
8. iTunes Gift Cards. Most soldiers have iTunes accounts and can get much more than just music. There are audio books, TV shows and movies available.
9. Pictures. Yes, you can email them pictures, but something to have in hand often means the world to our loved ones away during the holidays.
10. Socks. For soldiers in combat uniforms, socks don’t last long, so it’s always a welcome gift. Look for black, brown or dark green.
11. Batteries. There’s always a need for these.
12. Toiletries. Travel size soap, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. But, if you’re including these things in a shipment with food be sure to double bag these items in zip-top plastic bags. Nothing’s worse than getting a box from home where everything is covered in mouthwash or toothpaste.
13. Wet Wipes. Great for so many things during deployment.
14. Playing Cards and Frisbees. Life on base, even a base far away, is sometimes boring, and these can help pass the time.
15. Books, Magazines and Puzzle Books. Again, good ways to pass the off hours.
1. Christmas Candy. Especially chocolate because it will travel well this time of year and won’t during the warmer months. 2. Baked Goods. Cookies and bars travel better than a full cake.
3. Individual Drink Mix. This makes even lukewarm water palatable for our men and women far away from home. Also, the individual packets are much easier to carry when they’re away from base.
4. Beef Jerky. Our soldiers need good quality snacks, and this is a popular source of protein while out on patrol.
5. Nuts. Another great snack, packed with protein.
6. Individual Snacks. You know the individual likes and dislikes of your soldier, but some good choices are protein bars, granola, small pop-top cans of fruit, etc.
7. Handwritten Cards and Letters. Now is a great time to ask friends and family to write short cards and letters to arrive inside the box. Including handmade cards from children is also great. You can contact your local school, preschool and/or church and find plenty of teachers who would love to take this on as a class project.
8. iTunes Gift Cards. Most soldiers have iTunes accounts and can get much more than just music. There are audio books, TV shows and movies available.
9. Pictures. Yes, you can email them pictures, but something to have in hand often means the world to our loved ones away during the holidays.
10. Socks. For soldiers in combat uniforms, socks don’t last long, so it’s always a welcome gift. Look for black, brown or dark green.
11. Batteries. There’s always a need for these.
12. Toiletries. Travel size soap, deodorant, toothpaste, etc. But, if you’re including these things in a shipment with food be sure to double bag these items in zip-top plastic bags. Nothing’s worse than getting a box from home where everything is covered in mouthwash or toothpaste.
13. Wet Wipes. Great for so many things during deployment.
14. Playing Cards and Frisbees. Life on base, even a base far away, is sometimes boring, and these can help pass the time.
15. Books, Magazines and Puzzle Books. Again, good ways to pass the off hours.
Featured Bible Verse
Featured Quote
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"Thanksgiving is a duty before it's a feeling. It also doesn't say be thankful 'for everything, but 'in' everything. Find something, anything, to be grateful for even in the worst of times and our moods will be lifted. God prescribed our thanks-living because He knew it would make us happier."
-Chuck Norris