El Paso Residents Adopt-a-Soldier for Thanksgiving
[Guest post by DRJ]
El Paso, Texas, residents opened their homes to Fort Bliss soldiers this Thanksgiving in the annual Adopt-a-Soldier program:
“Families from throughout the area welcomed nearly 700 soldiers from Fort Bliss into their homes today as the annual Adopt-A-Soldier program yielded new friendships and plenty of Thanksgiving cheer.
“We adopted two soldiers but I already told them that if they have any extra we’ll take them home too,” El Pasoan Corine Mendoza said inside a packed Stout Gym where soldiers waited to meet their host families for the day. “If I had a big yellow bus I’d take them all home.”
For over three decades, the program has helped strengthen the bond between area residents and Fort Bliss, where many soldiers find themselves far from their loved ones during the holiday.
Pvt. David Unruh said Thanksgiving usually means a day relaxing with relatives and plenty of food. But the Mendoza clan in West El Paso will do just fine, Unruh said. “I think I’m going to have a pretty good time,” he said after chatting up a storm with Mendoza and Jovita Avila. “Talking is a habit of mine and they seem like very nice people, very kind.”
Col. Mark McGee, commander of 6th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, which organized the program, said he has been impressed with the generosity by local residents.
“Communities are always supportive of the military but I think in El Paso it’s at a different level and that warms your heart,” McGee said. “Many of these kids are away from home for their first time and for a family to open up the doors to their homes and feed them and take care of them for a day is really special.”
There are similar programs in San Antonio TX, Arizona, and undoubtedly others throughout the US.
El Paso is a blue city in a red state and its residents do a great job supporting the troops. Republican or Democrat, I believe average Americans support our military men and women.
– DRJ
El Paso is a friendly town, where politics take a back seat to common courtesy most times. It’s true that El Paso is military-friendly, and has been for a hundred years. It’s largely Democrat, though.
Most of the soliders were young kids in AIT — specialized training that allows no time to head home for Thanksgiving, even if the soldiers have saved up enough money to go.
Additionally, they say about 300,000 turned our in cold (by El Paso standards) weather for the annual Sun Bowl parade. Not bad for a city of 700,000 people. Even CBP vehicles were cheered–even while lots of locals aren’t fond of immigration enforcement policies.
Some agendists might find such tolerance an odd thing–but it’s fairly normal for El Paso.
Comment by 4 Borders Pundit — 11/23/2007 @ 7:03 am
Thats good becuase EL PASO is not SAN FRANCISCO becuase EL PASO is conservative and they would rather have a nativity rather then a gaia in their town square and ACLU be damned
Comment by krazy kagu — 11/23/2007 @ 7:52 am
My daughter was one of the adopted soldiers in San Antonio (a wonderful place!) last year. She had a terrific time with the family who took her into their home.
I will be forever grateful for their generosity, knowing that even though my daughter couldn’t be home with us, she was with someone who cared.
I’m happy to say that she did get to be home this Thanksgiving. We also invited a soldier friend of hers who’s family is in CA and couldn’t get home.
I too would have a busload if I could.
Comment by yankeemom — 11/23/2007 @ 2:42 pm
My husband Jay and are Senior Adults and we live
on El Paso’s westside.
We’re trying to get details etc about the 2008 Thanksgiving Day adopt a soldier. So far we have
two soldiers …each from Michigan. We’d like to
learn all the details about adoption process….on more than one or two. Do you have
application forms?
Thank you. In previous years I’d call too late
and find out that all the soldiers were taken.
So, I’m writing ahead of time.
Our cell # is 915-491-5920.
We look forward to your response.
Mary Ann and Jay Bogle
Comment by Mary Ann Bogle — 10/28/2008 @ 12:02 am