Stockings filled with care
PEORIA -- Every first Thursday of the month, the Central Illinois Proud Families of Marines meet to swap stories, offer advice and share the indescribable feeling of having a loved one serve in the Marine Corps.
http://www.pjstar.com/stories/082706/TRI_BAPKO5QC.010.shtml
Sunday, August 27, 2006
BY EMILY ANDERSON
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
Saturday, the group and various volunteers met at Northwoods Community Church at 10700 N. Allen Road to cut, pin and sew 600 stockings for Marines serving in Afghanistan and Iraq. They hope to complete 10,000 stockings filled with food, toiletries and DVDs by November.
Patti Smith, president and co-founder of CIPFM, is the mother of two Marines. Her sons' involvement with the military taught her for the first time how much a gesture from home can mean to the troops.
"I just became aware of so many needs that I couldn't handle alone," Smith said. "It's an honor and a privilege to help."
Smith formed CIPFM in October 2005 after her sons Jesse, 26 and Josey, 24, joined the Marines. The pair signed up within six months of each other and were deployed to Iraq.
At the time, Smith had little knowledge of the military, so she researched and sought out people who also had family in the Marines. Her search led to the creation of CIPFM.
The group provides packages and support to troops, wounded, veterans and military families. But it also provides a place for families of Marines to find camaraderie.
Sue Pagel had trouble finding people who understood her situation when her son Jason Pagel, 31, left for 15 months with the Marines in Afghanistan. By the time he came home this March, however, Pagel had the kinship of CIPFM members.
"Until this group started, it was like you were on your own," Sue Pagel said. "There was support, but not this sisterly thing."
Pagel needs the understanding of Marine families now more than ever. Her son currently is at an undisclosed location in the Middle East with Marine special forces.
Pagel's niece, Michelle Reed, and Reed's fiance, both Army soldiers, are in Iraq.
Reed assured Pagel the stockings will be appreciated when they are sent in November.
"When my niece was in Korea, she said, 'You don't have a day where you don't wonder if everyone's forgotten you're here,'" Pagel said, wiping a tear from her eye.
Tom Elliott of Pekin hasn't had a child overseas yet. His son Matt Elliott, 24, just graduated boot camp. But he's already firmly committed to letting overseas troops know they're in his thoughts.
"We just want to support the men and women who are there (in Iraq and Afghanistan)," Elliott said. "It's like Patti said, let central Illinois know we haven't forgotten them."
Vicki Dobrinsky, a member of CIPFM, hopes the stockings will boost morale while troops are away for the holidays. Dobrinsky's son PFC Anthony J. Dobrinsky, 20, is stationed in Virginia Beach, Va.
"I'm hoping it lifts their spirits and gives them a taste of home," Dobrinsky said.
"Life over there isn't quite what they're used to and hopefully this will brighten their day."
Emily Anderson can be reached at 686-3114 or eanderson@pjstar.com.