The History of Thank a Soldier
Jan 2007 Tim Hortons for our Troops group on face book launched, for sending Tim Hortons coffee to soldiers in Afghanistan, To date 30,000 in free coffee has been sent direct. With $0.00 in certificates coming to myself or my site.
March 2007 Operation Pen Pal launched on Face Book, purpose matching soldiers and civilians from members of the UN Collation in Afghanistan and Iraq and soldiers around the world. To date we have matched over 1000 soldiers and civilians at no cost to anyone.
October 2007 Group created called Petition to Canada Petition To Canada Post For A Support Our Troops Stamp
Purpose: A petition to Canada post to issue a stamp honouring the sacrifice of Canadian Heroes it received 6600+ signatures and and letters were sent to the stamp committee and this stamp honouring veterans and current soldiers will be coming out in October of 2009
Petition Link : http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?SOT
Purpose: A petition to Canada post to issue a stamp honouring the sacrifice of Canadian Heroes it received 6600+ signatures and and letters were sent to the stamp committee and this stamp honouring veterans and current soldiers will be coming out in October of 2009
Petition Link : http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?SOT
Dec 2008
I also started two non military related groups called “Pay it forward Canadian edition” and “The biggest loser face book edition about getting people to perform random acts of kindness, the other who helping people like myself in trying to lose weight. Not really related but I did meet some very amazing people through both.
I also started two non military related groups called “Pay it forward Canadian edition” and “The biggest loser face book edition about getting people to perform random acts of kindness, the other who helping people like myself in trying to lose weight. Not really related but I did meet some very amazing people through both.
On December 5th, 2008 my website coffee4ourtroops.com had been hacked and shut down by a group of people in a foreign region claiming they found security faults in my website. I was devastated when I had seen this. Almost two years of work, photos from soldiers, guest book messages, all gone, I was almost ready to quit. I talked to a mother of a fallen soldier and she told me the things I do for the soldiers and their families mean too much and that I had to think about the soldiers who lose their friends while serving. They don’t quit, they get up the next day and have to soldier on and that is what I did. I was determined to get it back in some way.
April 2008 Support For Military families and Injured Soldiers group was created on face book
Purpose: A Networking site for connecting families of soldiers, and Injured soldiers to each other
I have met so many amazing family members of soldiers through this group and injured soldiers and its making a big difference as these people are meeting each other.
Purpose: A Networking site for connecting families of soldiers, and Injured soldiers to each other
I have met so many amazing family members of soldiers through this group and injured soldiers and its making a big difference as these people are meeting each other.
May 2008 I created an application on face book called “Military Gifts” just a fun application for the military community to send photos to each other on face book, weapons, memorials, jets, ships, base logos, all in small photos that go on each others profile when you send them.
Jan 2009 the Thank a soldier cause was launched and since then over 4000+ students in the US and Canada and 1 school in Britain have sent letters to US, Canadian, British Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. I’ve matched people up in Turkey in Denmark via request to the thankasoldier inbox.
Thank a soldier is run by myself but I have six admins on my cause page on face book who monitor for security violations, language and anything negative to our soldiers. they are :
Scott Norman – (Ontario, Canada) A close friend of mine since 1999 and probably one of the few people in this world I know would have my back no matter what. Scott helped me admin my Tim Hortons for our troops group since day one.
Nigel Pritchard – (Alberta, Canada) A Former reservist and member of the Calgary Highlanders. Nigel was also recently in the move Passchendaele as an extra and also a good personal friend of mine.
Ben Solowan (Alberta, Canada) also a former member of our military and have known him for about a year through several of the other groups that I run on here.
Daryl Innes -(Alberta, Canada) A former lineman with the Canadian forces
for nine years and met through face book then realized we worked for the same company now hahah,
for nine years and met through face book then realized we worked for the same company now hahah,
Jennifer Connoly : Former CF Member, currently working as a ER Nurse, she did three tours as a medic and has worked with many injured soldiers, I`ve met her a few times for coffee when I lived in Toronto and she was home between tours and one of the coolest most bad a** girls you`ll ever meet.
Matthew Worth @Canadianmatt3 A Current serving soldier who has done one tour in Afghanistan and a great guy
My work has come forward and paid for my shipping and coworkers from both floors of my building have contributed to numerous packages being sent to front lines guys in Iraq and Afghanistan. We’ve also sent goodies to troops serving at embasys in non war zones just to include everyone.
I’ve been able to do all this without having ONE CENT come my way. Through friends getting together and sending things, people sending the coffee themselves, the schools sending the letters, I believe it’s truly unique. I see a lot of good organizations come and go in the last three years since I started all this.
When I am on my twitter account @Thankasoldier I conversate with people, I make jokes and talk. Yes I post links but its simply recruiting members to the causes, military related links. When I come across good organizations doing good things I will link to their twitter and to their site.
So I hope this gives you a little insight to all the things we do and thanks for taking the time to read it
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June 20, 2009 at 4:57 pm
I was Navy back in ’64 but a girl then and we couldn’t be on a ship. I thank you all for your Service to our Nation and for the time you spend away from your family and friends. My husband was Navy and in Viet Nam on a ship in the Gulf of Tonkin when my second son was born. He became Army, oldest son was Air Force and grandson was Army. We understand and thank-you for your Time and dedication. Come home safe……
June 20, 2009 at 5:46 pm
It is now June 16, 2009. There are so many people that seem to have forgotten all our troops at home and overseas. I really hope that our heros know of the millions that stand with them and thank them for their service. The sacrifice of our soldiers in all the branches of the military is not forgotten nor unappreciated. To the soldier still training at home, to the soldier in battle, to the soldier hurt in one of our hospitals . . . my family and friends thank you.
July 16, 2009 at 9:17 am
I just want to thank all the people how support us…I am serving in Iraq now. A friend showed me this link through facebook. I love the T-shirts and will order somewhen I get back home to the states which is not much longer. I just want to say THANK YOU TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT THE ARMED FORCES AND COALITION FORCES.
July 17, 2009 at 5:07 am
There aren’t enough words, hugs, or love in the world to give to the men and women in training, overseas, in the wars, at home, and in the hospitals!! You guys are the greatest and my family and I can’t say enough good things about you for choosing to serve and protect our country and our freedoms!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you always!! God Bless you all!!
September 17, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Want to say thank you to all who have served and serve now. You are the heroes of today and yesterday. Thank you is not enough for all you do. God bless you and may the angels watch over you and keep you safe. Thank you from the bottom of this militay mum’s heart.
September 25, 2009 at 12:48 am
I would like to thank all the troops for their hard work for this country, even my son who is in Iraq at this present time. I often pray for his and your safety there and a safe trip back home to your loving families. So, instead of always wanting God to Bless us, let’s Bless him, give him Thanks for everytime we wake up, for every breathe we take. So give him Thanks. I love you, God Bless you and your families.
September 27, 2009 at 10:54 pm
You soldiers are what America was and is trying to be again, there really is no proper way to thank you, ( the soldiers) for what you mean to our country, and many in America do not know the importance that you do for our country, but I do, the suffering and deaths you experience will not go in vain, you will make our nation stronger, and your words will inspire a great generation to be what our forefathers envisioned, you are the HEROES of the next generation, teach and tell your children why you fought and why it is so important to always remember the date 9/11,. you are our future, Make America Proud and Make America right…
October 6, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I have a son who is currently stationed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. We are counting down the days until he gets safely out of there. In reference to packages sent to the soldiers, I am here to tell you that anything sent to them is soooo greatly appreciated!! When my son emails us and “asks” for items, I know how little he has to work with over there!! We come from a military town; folks here don’t forget. We send packages as often as we can, to anyone who needs them, not just our soldier. All I can say is, if a school or business or anyone else DOES NOT support our war, then let them take over the position our men and women are in for a week or two…maybe that’ll enlighten them! Keep up the good work! Our military needs us!!!
October 6, 2009 at 1:32 pm
I was in the Army, 101st Airborne, from 2001-2005. I was with the first wave of soldiers that went to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was there for 357 days exactly. While there my wife gave birth to our first child and I missed that. Although I received letters and care packages from my family, which meant a lot to me and kept my spirits up, I sometimes felt that they were obligated to do so and at times almost felt bad that they had to run around and gather these things up, write letters and ship them off when I knew they had so much else to do.
What really brought a smile to my face was when I received a care package from children that I didn’t even know. They didn’t understand everything that we did over there or even why we were there….more importantly, they didn’t understand the hardships that the soldiers and the soldier’s families went through. What they did understand was love and caring for our country and its protectors, which I feel is extremely lacking in society these days. That is what this school should be considering when trying to decide whether or not to support this drive not focusing on the war….they are not sending over grenades or bullets they are sending over love and kindness and that touch of humanity really helps keep us grounded over there and remind us at the hardest of times in the worst possible situations, what we are there for.
To that school board…don’t turn your backs on the soldiers….don’t do what was done to our Vietnam Veterans when they returned….embrace them as you would your own family because you should always remember…there are two individuals that have given their lives for your freedom….Jesus freed your soul….a soldier gave you a free country to live in and enjoy and still fights for that today, without that our world in the USA would be a much different place for you and your children to grow up in. They should be taught that and respect the flag and those that protect it.
Respectively,
Buck Mayfield
SPC US Army (Ret) – 101st Airborne Veteran
October 6, 2009 at 3:24 pm
I can only imagine that none of the members of the “Parent Board” have any family or friends ( near or distant) that serve in our Armed Forces.Shame on you !!!!!!!
October 6, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I was a wife of a former Marine and I am a proud sister to a Marine. I think who ever thinks that children writing our troops that they are supporting our troops is beyond uneducated. Our children should honor our troops and should know what a honor it is to have them behind us. There are many families that are without family cause a loved one is overseas for our country. Many of our troops dont get mail from family or really may not have loved ones. It is important to our troops to keep thier hopes up and to keep them grounded to reality that there are really people out there in this world that do care about them. I think it is a great idea for the children to write to the troops. Shame on anyone who thinks it is not a great idea. This is also a great time to shape those young minds into wanting to be someone in life and what a better thing to do when you grow up enlist vs being a drug dealer or gang member.
October 7, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I am an Airman in the U.S. Air Force and recently returned from a tour in Iraq. I can say that without a doubt that receiving letters and cards from children whom I had never met before was one of the most uplifting experiences a troop over there can have. For the “Parent Board” to make such a decision is foolish and wrong! We in the military don’t expect a thanks for what we do because we VOLUNTEERED for this job, but for a child to be told “No, you can’t do that,” is quite disheartening. Regardless, I would personally like to thank everyone out there who does support us. Without you, our job would be much more difficult. To all brothers and sisters still over there, stay safe and come home soon.
November 30, 2009 at 5:56 pm
This is an amazing web site Dave. Keep up the good work. It’s really remarkable to see the incredible online community that is evolving in support of our national heroes. J Mars
December 29, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Thank you for doing this Thank a Soldier campaign. The first time I saw the video, I was very moved. I thought; I can do this! Since then, my 6 year old son and I have had several occasions to say “thanks” or ‘Merry Christmas” to soldiers we have seen. I like to think it brought them a smile and made them feel appreciated. This type of activity helps me stay focused on the positive, otherwise I would feel consumed with sadness over the things soldiers are experiencing.
Bless you!
April 21, 2010 at 10:16 pm
My son deploys soon for qwait and its nice to that people do care
May 6, 2010 at 3:06 am
Thank you for serving our country, at this time my niece and a few friends are over there among you. There is no way I can express my gratitude for the effort you all put out every day that you are gone. I pray every night for each and every one who is fighting for this great country so that you will return home safely to family and friends. MAY THE LORD GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU SAFE UNTIL YOU RETURN HOME. Your true friend always, Amy Anne Muennink
May 7, 2010 at 2:06 pm
For all of you who would like to give back to a soldier. Please visit http://www.OperationOnceInALifetime.com and join the Aid Brigade. For a mere $10 a month you can be part of a growing force that is looking after those who watch over us night and day!
June 16, 2010 at 2:18 am
my nephew is in the army serving in kuwait i love him to death and if any one is to speak ill of him it will be me and them he is a good kid getting ready to have a baby and he better meet his daughter god love all those who serve my prayers go out to you