Veterans Day Begins A Collection of Comfort Items in Ramona for the Troops

Lori St. Pierre's son, serving in Afghanistan, has given her a new perspective on military life.

"A piece of candy can make such a huge difference in their lives," she said. "Julian tells me guys ration out candy from home and they allow themselves maybe one piece a day. They say, 'When I finish this part, then I will let myself eat that piece of candy.'

"It helps them get through stuff."

Julian is in the infantry in Helmand Province. He turned 20 in October. He left Sept. 19. It's his first deploy.

"He's supposed to come home early May but it could be longer," St. Pierre, a Ramona resident, said.

She teared up as she talked, but she is finding strength, particularly with a new friendship with a military wife in San Diego Country Estates, who has more experience. The two women met at a birthday party. Now they're encouraging other military families to come together in a group called Ramona Supports Our Troops.

"There must be other people out there," St. Pierre said.

"It's the social connection," her friend said. She did not want her name mentioned. "Anyone is welcome."

People can contact the administration at the Estates for more information, she said. Ramona Supports Our Troops comes under the umbrella of the Recreation Department and gatherings are free. Members get together during weekdays at a local home to chat and have coffee.

As their first cause, the group is taking up a collection of comfort items for the troops. On Veterans Day on Friday, boxes will be placed in the lobby at San Vicente Golf Resort and at the office at . The public can drop off unwrapped items. The box at the golf resort will be there until Christmas Eve.

Here are some suggestions:

• shaving cream—large sizes
• baby wipes
• undershirts—olive green, short sleeves
• pre-sweetened beverage mixes for 16 oz water bottles (preferably Gatorade or Powerade)
• toothbrushes
• socks—100 percent cotton, boot cut black or green
• gum, lifesavers, mints, Dots or Swedish Fish candy (anything that won't melt)
• AA, AAA, C or D batteries
• liquid body wash—travel size

Unacceptable items include pornography, pork products, white socks or alcohol, the women said.

Donated items will be sent to Operation Caregiver, which sends them to the West Coast Marines.

Children at Barnett Elementary are also collecting comfort items and they will write cards to the troops as part of Holly Days next month. Cub Scout packs 678 and 679 will decorate Barnett and schools for Veterans Day, the women said.

St. Pierre understands the military need for baby wipes because her son is deployed in an area where there's no running water, she said.

"He told me, 'Keep the mouthwash coming.'"

Does it surprise her that the troops need these items sent over, when they might seem like basic needs?

"At first it did surprise me," she said, "but now I look at it like, if I send these things the military has more funding."

Julian attended La Jolla Country Day School and Granite Hills High School. He played football at La Jolla and lacrosse at both schools. He attended infantry school at Camp Pendleton.

How did St. Pierre feel about him joining the military?

"I couldn't be prouder," she said. "He's always known this is what he was going to do. When he was four years old, he announced he was going to join the Marines. My dad was in Korea but I was never into the military. I don't know where this came from. I was against war when I was in college. But I realize this is his destiny. His recruiter looked at his grades and encouraged him to go to college first, but he said he wanted to go now.

"He is truly my hero," she said.

St. Pierre said people need to understand that having a loved one deployed affects the whole family and people need to know how to deal with that. She said everywhere her children go, they say, "We should get this for Julian." Her youngest son just wants his brother home, especially for the holidays.

She said her husband, Dominique, and Julian are very close, so it has been hard for them. Dominique hasn't talked about it much, she said.

Patch asked Dominique what it feels like to have Julian deployed.

"I feel lonely and scared for him," he said. "And I feel scared for us."

"We haven't been able to get any mail," St. Pierre said. "He called once. He seemed really tired."

She said Julian's Family Readiness Officer sends weekly updates.

"She's kind of like your rock," she said.

St. Pierre doesn't watch television news accounts of Afghanistan.

"I just don't want to know," she said.

The family's faith is a central theme in the conversation.

"I pray for them all every day," St. Pierre said of the troops. "I ask others to pray with me. Julian told me before he left, 'Whatever happens Mom, I know without a doubt where I'm going.'"

The public can send care packages to Julian's company by taking them to the Post Office, addressed to: 3/7 Lima Company, Unit 41570, FPO AP 96427-1570. The company chaplain distributes the items as needed.

"The Post Office is really kind and they'll walk you through it," St. Pierre said.

The families and friends of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment are also walking 7,900 miles between them, to represent the distance from Twentynine Palms Air Ground Combat Center to Afghanistan to show support and solidarity throughout the deployment. For more information, email St. Pierre at lcstpierre@gmail.com .