This week we received an email and a picture of one of our soldiers, Sfc Joao M. Vaz. The email just warms our hearts, and in his own words says, “On behalf of my team and I, we just wanted to thank you for the care package you all sent. It means the world to us to know that there are people back home that still care and support us. We are located in COP Zerok, Afghanistan, where luxury is sparse, and life is a bit rough. That box with a little piece of home in it helps get us through the long days here. Thanks again for your support.”

We love to receive emails from our soldiers, and very seldom receive a picture. This was a real treat for us, and we want to share it with you in this week’s column. The items shown, and the special drawings from the children, in this soldier’s box came from the Academy for Little People in Chickamauga. It is these emails and pictures that keep us mailing these boxes weekly. The children who had a part in sending these items and letters in this box will never forget this experience.

I received information from a group that is part of the Chattanooga Veterans Coalition. This group comes together to help to improve the quality of life of our veteran population. The Chattanooga Area Brain Injury Association is starting a support group for veterans who have had a brain injury. It may be a brain injury from combat or from a stroke as a veteran grows older. They have asked us to get the word out to our local veterans about their existence. Their next meeting is Nov. 18 at 9 a.m. in the board room of Siskin Hospital for Physical Rehabilitation. I have been invited to attend this meeting, and at this writing plan to be there.

I had the privilege of meeting Dixie Benson, the director of the Parent’s Day Out and pre-kindergarten at LaFafayette First United Methodist Church, this week. Benson and the church plan to help with our Christmas boxes for the soldiers. They will begin their program for these boxes in November. This is a great need for Operation Coffee Cup: groups to help get items together for the soldiers so that they can have a nice Christmas in the country where they are deployed. We have also plan to attend a program that the children at this school are doing for the veterans on Nov. 11.

Veterans Day is Nov. 11. We encourage you to fly your flags in honor of all of our active, and retired veterans. If you do not have a flag, consider making that purchase for this special time.

Roger Sherrill lives in Ringgold. He can be reached by email at halojumper@charter.net or by phone at 706-937-3918. You can also become a fan of Operation Coffee Cup on Facebook.