Blessed at Camp Blessing, Afghanistan
ESCANABA - No snow or evergreen trees were anywhere in sight near Camp Blessing in December, but a Christmas stocking was hung there with care. Marine Cpl. Joseph Roy, Gladstone, and his fellow Marines at the camp in Afghanistan were blessed with some extra-special Christmas gifts and holiday greetings, compliments of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) staff at the CAA. The handmade Christmas stocking was crafted for Roy by Mae St. Juliana of Hermansville, an RSVP volunteer.
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Mary Feldhusen - mfeldhusen@dailypress.net
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PHOTO: Cpl. Joseph Roy, Gladstone, in Santa hat, poses with other Marines and members of Afghan special forces at Camp Blessing in Afghanistan to send a group thank-you for the boxes and boxes of Christmas gifts they received from Escanaba. Not everyone is pictured because of "missions and guard post and stuff like that," Roy said, "but there was plenty for everyone."
The packages arrived in Afghanistan the night of Dec. 11 after being sent out from Escanaba on Dec. 1.
"It was really quick," Roy said. "Sometimes I don't get mail from my mom for months."
The Marines opened the boxes the next day. They found them packed with everything from toothpaste, soap and toiletries to candy, treats and homemade cookies along with handmade greeting cards fashioned by Gladstone Middle School students and children in the Gladstone ABCD Program (formerly the Afterschool Program).
Marines separated the contents into categories - toiletries, food, socks and miscellaneous, Roy said. Gifts and goodies were distributed among the 100 Marines in Roy's regiment with plenty left over to share with members of the Afghan special forces.
"There was plenty for everyone," Roy wrote in an e-mail to his mother, Denise Busch, an administrative program manager for the Early Childhood Program at the Community Action Agency (CAA) in Escanaba. "Everyone got stuff, and was very happy and appreciative."
Roy got to deliver a thank-you in person to the staff at the CAA. He arrived home in Gladstone late Christmas Eve. His whole unit was pulled out of Afghanistan and is being replaced by another group of Marines.
"I was just lucky to get the first flight out," Roy said.
"Joe himself came in personally to thank us," said Rhonda Raspor, RSVP supervisor/secretary. "Those of us around here are extremely grateful we were able to help make their (Marines) Christmas a bit more enjoyable."
Roy served in Afghanistan approximately 6ยข months. His entire unit will be out of the country by Jan. 20, he noted.
"I only have about a year left in the Marines," Roy said.
He enlisted in the Marines in January 2003. He was on leave until Jan. 4 when he returned to duty. He will be stationed in Hawaii for the next few months, he said. He is not sure if he will be redeployed for service in Afghanistan or Iraq.
Roy's Echo Company at Camp Blessing was originally "adopted" by the RSVP as a "Make a Difference Day" project in October. When volunteers began collecting for Christmas packages, they were overwhelmed by the response, said Theresa Nelson, RSVP director.
Busch was also touched by the outpouring in the community of generosity and support for her son and his Company of Marines.
"It really helps," Busch said. "I want to add my thanks for making this Christmas special for everyone there."
A 2002 graduate of Gladstone High School, Roy is also the son of Michael Roy of Ishpeming.
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Mary Feldhusen, (906) 786-2021, ext. 144