Madison Family Helping Troops this Fourth of July

It's fitting that Joe Kennedy and his family do the bulk of their work with their favorite charity around the Fourth of July. Their work is helping those who preserve this country's freedom in far away lands by allowing them to escape–if not just for a few minutes–to another place.

Kennedy, his wife Vicky, son Joe, and daughter Isabel have been working to send books to troops oversees through Operation Paperback since 2006. After their latest push ends this weekend, Kennedy estimates they and those they work closely with will have sent about 1,600 books.

The initiative for the family's work with the charity stems from Joe Kennedy's experience looking for a Tom Clancy novel while stopping by an American Association of University Women (AAUW) book sale at Drew University a few years back.

Kennedy met a woman from New Providence who was collecting books for her son and his group, which was overseas in the service. Kennedy wanted to help, as well, and tried to find the woman.

"I couldn't find her," Kennedy said. "I thought it was a shame my books didn't get sent to the troops."

Kennedy did some research, and found Operation Paperback through its Web site. The group was started by a group of Air Force spouses, spearheaded by Chrissy Honeywell, wife of Chief Master Sergeant Rick Honeywell who was stationed in Kuwait. Chief Honeywell found himself looking for something to do recreationally when there was downtime. Through the efforts of Chrissy Honeywell and the other spouses, soon the group in Kuwait found itself building bookshelves to accommodate what it was receiving.

As the organization stands now, volunteers register on the site, then enter the genres they have and the number of addresses they want for shipping the books.

After that, they get a mailing addresses for the servicemen and women. The volunteers label the books with Operation Paperback stickers, write a letter to the servicemen and women, pack it all in a box, and ship it.

Kennedy has received many of the books he donates from the book sale at Drew, as they give them to him when the sale is over. In particular, Kennedy says Kathleen Magill and Angela Stuehler from AAUW have been very helpful to the cause. In the past two years, he estimates he will have received 600 books that way.

Beforehand, Kennedy was donating his family's used books. He also went to the Drew book sale to purchase books for the troops, some of whom submit specific requests through Operation Paperback. When Kennedy saw that a Madison Boy Scout troop was helping to dispose of the books after the sale, he thought they might be able to help the troops overseas.

"It was a shame to see them go to waste," Kennedy said. "So I asked them if I could have them for the troops."

Kennedy also gets donations from friends and coworkers. He's also received them from Madison-based groups, especially the Elks.

"They called me up and said 'we've got books,' " Kennedy said. "I figured I'd get a few dozen if we were lucky, and we ended up getting over 500 books."

Kennedy will try to fulfill the requests of troops, as Operation Paperback will receive lists of what they are looking for. Kennedy said most of the time they are for generalities, like a genre or author. However, sometimes he does receive requests for a specific title. There is also what Kennedy says is an almost universal request to refrain from sending romance novels.

Kennedy has received many letters and e-mails of thanks from the troops. Two in particular stand out, as they were from one of his friend's children. The daughter was stationed in Germany, while the son was in a remote location in Afghanistan. The two both responded with letters of thanks for having their title-specific requests filled.

"I'm personally an avid reader, and so are our kids," Kennedy said. "I know what a book can mean. It's also more than something that troops can do on their downtime; they can leave them with another service member when they finish their deployment. So it's not something only one service member can use.

"It's nice to get thank you letters from the service men and women saying 'we really appreciate the donation.' "

Kennedy and his family, as well as the Boy Scout Troop loaded the leftover books from the AAUW sale at Drew on Wednesday. As usual, Kennedy expects to have about 15 boxes of 20 books each packed up and ready to go by the end of the Fourth of July weekend. In the past, the books have gone to Germany, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

Though they send year round, it seems fitting that the family's biggest push happens around Independence Day.

"I've never served, but I've always had a deep admiration for our troops," Kennedy said. "I wondered what way I could support them personally. I was looking for an organization I could give my own donations. It has worked out very well."

Here are excerpts from some of the thank you letters the Kennedy family has received over the years:

• Thank you for the selection and for your support. Yes, reading does help break the monotony, and to help take your mind of the mission for the moment. I prefer to e-mail you personally to express my thanks; I hope you don't mind. Again thank you for the books, and your support. If there are any questions you have or anything you want to know feel free to email me anytime. ...
  Sincerest thanks,
  SSG James M.
• Just wanted to let you know that I received two boxes of books recently. One from the Kennedy Family and a second from Carla Walker. Our soldiers appreciate the support of the U.S. people and the books you provide. Any books I can't find time to read will end up at the Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR) library so someone will read them.  We are deep into the dog days of summer with temperatures reaching into the 120s. So it's hot, with night temperatures cooling into the 90s. You'd think that would feel pretty good after 120, but it's still just constantly hot. Right now with our extension, it's looking like we have a little over four months left here. Under our original plan I'd be home in two months. Again I appreciate the support, and can't wait to get home.
  - MAJ Beth D, FOB Warhorse, Diyala Iraq
• Thank you very much. I got the box yesterday. You guys are awsome for getting the K. Hamilton books for me. Thank you so much. Means alot. I wish you and your family the best for the new year. Sorry I have to run, but take care.
  Love,
  Chantel