6 Dec 2004
I want to thank you for the package yall sent. I really appreciate the fact that my fellow Laredoans are thinking about us. Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We will be away from home but we have each other out here. I left Laredo in March 2001 to serve in the U.S. Army. I have been in for 3 ½ years. I attended Kawas, Ligarde Elem., Cigarroa Middle & Cigarroa High School. Ive been stationed at Fort Hood (Killeen, TX) and hour from Austin. Well, Im currently in Baghdad, but Ill be home soon. Again, thank you for the support and prayers.
Sincerely yours,
Reina Beck
P.S. I would like my correspondence shared!
Dear Laredo Cares,
I am LCpl Sharp (Marines) and I received one of your boxes about a week ago. I just wanted to thank you guys as well as all of the students who put forth the effort to put together the care package you sent. The box was greatly appreciated by both myself and my fellow marines. Have a great holiday season.
Sincerely,
LCpl Sharp, Peter J
(United States Marine Corps)
Letters from Sgt. 1st Class Ismael Orona. Sgt Orona is not originally from Laredo, but his family, who resides here submitted his name to the Laredo CARES program)
12-14-04
Hello again Laredo Cares,
As I was going through the CARE package I found these two small items, that had labels of where they came from. And I thought I should send them a special thank you since the children and staff from these two schools took the time to attach their name to the Twizzlers from Martin High School and the Paleta de Cajeta from the Hearing Impaired Students at Daiches Elementary School. I really enjoyed the sweets. Can Laredo Cares please try to send my short letters to the two schools. Once again I thank you and (am) extremely proud to serve the community of Laredo, Texas. My best wishes to all. Have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Take care and God Bless you all.
Your friend in Iraq,
Ismael
P.S. Just to let you know our mail service will stop on 15 JAN 05, because we will be moving.
(Drafts of the letters to the two schools follow)
12-14-04
To the Martin High School students, teachers and staff,
Hello to everyone. My name is Sergeant First Class Ismael Orona and I received the Twizzlers that you sent in the Laredo Cares package. As a matter of fact Im eating one right now as I write to you folks. Thank you so very much, I appreciate the care and support. You are all great Americans. This makes me proud to serve you. My best wishes to all and a Merry Christmas. Have a very Happy New Year. God Bless you and your families. Bye!
Your friend in Iraq,
Ismael
P.S. Just to let you know our mail service will stop in mid JAN 05, because we will be moving.
12-14-04
Hello to the students, teachers and staff of Daiches Elementary School, I thank you for the candy that I received in the Laredo Cares package. A real special greetings to the Hearing Impaired students that sent the Paletas de Cajeta. I really enjoyed them. For everyone at Daiches, I am proud to serve you all. I appreciate the support for my troops and me. The community of Laredo is super.
Let me introduce myself. My name is Sergeant First Class Ismael Orona and I am from Sabinal, Texas. My unit and I are currently stationed at Camp Cooke on Taji, Iraq. This is about 45 minutes north of Baghdad. My unit is scheduled to return back home to Fort Hood in late March or April 2005. We cant wait, because we miss our families. With that said, here are my best wishes to everyone. May you all have a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. You folks take care and God Bless you and your families. Bye for now.
Your friend in Iraq,
Ismael
P.S. Just to let you know our mail service will stop in mid JAN 05, because our unit is getting ready to move
