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ANGELS IN OUR MIDST

If Anne Schirmer had her way, she'd be in Iraq or Afghanistan helping the troops.

But, she says they told her they don't take elderly grandmothers.

So, from the homefront, she's content to just do, what she does.

I just felt that this was something that God wanted me to do.

Come on into my room.

Actually, this is the troops' room. It's where Anne Schirmer collects a little bit of everything for care packages to send to the service men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Anne Schirmer, Sends goodies to the troops; They share, everything gets shared. And it just means so much to them to have something from home.

She gets their names from people she meets by chance usually at church or the navy museum or blood center where she volunteers. Like the brother who asked her to please send something to his sister in Iraq for her birthday.

Anne; For her, I sent some fru fru stuff all wrapped up in burgandy net and a white teddy bear. And a card and I signed it with her brother's name.

I just do it.

And it's something Miss Anne's always done. This mother of six helped her young children fill shoe boxes with supplies for troops during the Vietnam War.

There are two combs. There is tissue.

All of the items are carefully selected.

There are four little bars of soap.

There is foot powder

Things they need, things they like.

Beanie weenies and there are two little cans of fruit. Slim Jims and beef jerky always goes.

And a little bit of herself goes into each box with a personal letter.

Anne; I write it as though I were sitting having coffee with them. And I just tell them what I'm doing; that I'm not a chick looking for somebody. I'm just a grandmother and this is just what I do.

And there are the letters back.

Anne; We like magazines, anything from automotive and fitness magazines to gossip magazines like Star and People. Seriously, Marines always read them when they're available.

Some are painful to read...

Anne; We have had a couple of hard months here. We have had 20 soldiers killed and more wounded.

I cried. I cried.

She can't be there to provide comfort and love, but this grandmother will continue to send some from home.

Anne; ...and that's it. All I have to do is put the letter in there and seal it up and take it over. And that's what I do.Angels In Our Midst (Anne Schirmer)

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