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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Goodbye 2012. Hello 2013!
Happy New Year to all!
Once again, the Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs directorate has been lauded as THE MOST published Public
Affairs office in the entire National Guard.
I want to personally thank the entire Public Affairs team, including my PA team in Joint Forces Headquarters, our State Command Historian, our Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, our Air Wing PA team, our J6-Visual Information team and our outstanding Unit Public Affairs and Historian Representatives-all who made these stories on our news website possible!
I asked my Public Affairs staff to give me their most-memorable posts from our Kentucky Guard website.
These stories are listed below.
Enjoy these links as we bring in the new year.
To all, Cheers! Lt. Col. Kirk Hilbrecht - Director, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
| Gov. Beshear: Devastation is “unlike anything I have ever seen” [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Civic Leaders and Employers experience ‘Kentucky Guard’ life [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Operation Immersion: Boot camp for health professionals [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Kentucky Soldiers conduct IED training with Japanese forces in Africa [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Kentucky Guard sponsors first Bluegrass Mud Run [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Documenting Kentuckians in the War of 1812 [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Fifth Annual Border Bowl brings out the best in athletics, life [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Kentucky Guard, high school football gear up early for upcoming Border Bowl [click on the image above to see associated story] |
| Kentucky Guardsmen take charge in Horn of Africa [click on the image above to see associated story] |
New Agriculture team takes charge in Afghanistan [click on the image above to see associated story] |
| Guardsmen assist community with water shortage [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Appalachian ChalleNGe Academy in full swing [click on the image above to see associated story] |
| Top White House official honors 123rd Airlift Wing for 15th Air Force Award [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Louisville-area youth learn about military aviation at Kentucky Air Guard [click on the image above to see associated story] |
| Army Aviation community experiences first-ever Command Sergeant Major Challenge [click on the image above to see associated story] |
Care packages bring smiles, support to Guard Families [click on the image above to see associated story] |
DWA
Frankfort, Ky. (Dec. 1, 2010) — You only have a couple of days to act if you
want to make sure your loved ones overseas have a merry Christmas and a happy
New Year!
Jennifer Mason and her husband Chief Warrant Officer Travis Mason join their daughter, Ashley Best, in putting together Christmas packages for deployed troops. (Photo courtesy Military Missions)
“We encourage everyone to get their care packages in the mail by this Saturday,” said Jim Barber, Family Assistance Coordinator for the Kentucky National Guard. “That’s the deadline for getting presents to the troops in Afghanistan and Iraq in time for the holidays.”
Barber says the Family Assistance Center gets a lot of calls this time every year about sending care packages.
“We can provide information on what units are deployed and addresses to send gifts,” he said. “The one thing we don’t do is provide postage. The sender has to take care of that.”
Becky Walton and Beth Bates work on Christmas cards to send to the troops. Becky's husband, Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Walton, is with the 1204th Aviation Support Battalion. Beth's husband, Maj. Frederick Bates, is with Agribusiness Development Team II in Afghanistan. (Photo courtesy Military Missions)
Local groups have already gotten a head start on making sure the holidays are celebrated by troops overseas. Jennifer Mason, a Family Readiness Support Assistant with the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, organized a recent packing party for Operation Send Christmas held in Frankfort.
“We sorted and separated donated items and packed them up to be sent to every deployed Kentucky service member,” said Mason. “We send packages to troops in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. We want everyone to know that they’ve been in our thoughts.”
Mason credits Beth Pennington, founder of the Lexington, Ky.-based Military Missions for getting the packages to the troops.
“A lot of troops don’t get anything from home,” said Mason. “Beth works with the units to make sure everyone gets something for Christmas.”
There are some limitations on what you can send. Restrictions include no alcohol, drugs and other contraband. A complete list can be found at your local post office. Also, a customs form must be completed listing the items contained within each package. That form can be obtained at the post office or downloaded at www.usps.com.
Call the Family Assistance Center at 800-372-7601 for more information on sending packages to the troops overseas.
To learn more about Military Missions visit www.military-missions.org.
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