December 14, 2011
Listerhill Again Supports the USO’s Operation Phone Home
Although their Christmas trees sparkle and their stockings are hung, hundreds of local families are missing a bit of their normal Christmas cheer this year. Sons and daughters, moms and dads, husbands and wives are missing their loved ones who are scheduled to deploy from Washington State to Afghanistan with the Alabama Army National Guard’s 115th Expeditionary Signal Battalion this week.
“These families aren’t waiting for Santa to come this Christmas. They are waiting for a phone call from the other side of the world,” explained Brad Green, President of Listerhill Credit Union. “To help make their Christmas dreams come true, we’re going to help provide over 5,400 calls home through the USO’s Operation Phone Home program and 2,100 Christmas cards with personal messages of gratitude and encouragement.”
For the fourth straight holiday season, Listerhill Credit Union and WHNT News 19 have teamed up to collect over $1,800 in donations and Christmas cards that United Service Organizations (USO) will distribute to troops overseas.
Staff Sergeant Frank Henson of Green Hill is on his second deployment with the 115th. “It’s very important to be able to call home,” he said. “I used the USO phone network and received pre-paid calling cards my first deployment. They definitely helped me keep in touch.”
Members of the 115th that left for Afghanistan in late November were presented calling cards from the USO when their plane landed in Germany. It enabled many of them, such as Andrew Springer of Green Hill, to call home and let his parents know he arrived safely.
The USO reports that it has distributed more than 2 million prepaid phone cards to troops since Operation Phone Home began in 2003. Through the program, the USO has also developed a satellite-based phone network at USO centers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait. When troops come in, they can use the network to make a clear call to loved ones back home free of charge.
According to the USO, 100 percent of the money collected through Operation Phone Home goes directly to the purchase of phone cards and the operation of their private phone network.
“My brother is my best friend. I can’t wait for him to be home for Christmas next year,” said Listerhill employee Karri Tompkins. “Until then, we’ve got to be strong and support our troops every way we can.”
Questions?
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