Smardan, Romania. (November 16, 2022): In this photo by Sergeant Dommnique Washington, an American M1 Abrams main battle tank participates in live fire exercises with NATO ally Romania outside the town of Smardan. Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine, allied armored forces have poured into Romania, Poland, and Bulgaria along with thousands of servicemembers who will spending this holiday away from home.

Smardan, Romania. (November 16, 2022): They are the flower of America. Young, idealistic, dedicated, and willing to give of themselves so that others may be safe.  They readily accept hardship, loneliness, and separation from their families while they perform dangerous and exhausting jobs to defend our country.

In the photo above, U.S. troops train with the NATO ally Romania to prepare to defend Europe, and the world, against Russian aggression.  Right now, a 1,000 member Army Stryker squadron is joining roughly 900 U.S. servicemembers already in country and, according to the Pentagon, more are to follow in the coming months.

In Poland, America has over 10,000 American servicemembers serving in armor brigades with over 800 Abrams main battle tanks, combat aviation units, and dozens of support functions at bases across the country. For many, this is their first overseas deployment away from home.

In addition to ground forces, U.S. Navy and Marine units regularly patrol the Baltic Sea. The Navy now has 28 U.S. warships deployed to Europe including the amphibious warships USS Kearsarge, USS Gunston Hall, and the USS Gravely along with elements of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit already in the Baltic. Plans call for an even greater U.S. naval presence soon, just in time for the holidays. The Air Force likewise is sending thousands of airmen to deploy America’s 5th generation fighters to support NATO.

Of course, these are just the troops serving in the European theatre as there are tens of thousands more in far flung destinations like Korea, Japan, or Australia.

This is why Support Our Troops is issuing a national call to all good Americans to show their love and support for our deployed troops this holiday season by contributing to our Patriot’s Brigade that ships Yellow Ribbon Thanksgiving and Christmas Care Packages to our troops overseas.

Last year, Support Our Troops delivered over $40 million of tangible support to America’s military servicemembers with 97 percent of every dollar spent on services. We hope you will take a moment, right now, to show your support for our active-duty military deployed around the world.  Here's what you can do…YOU can make a difference in the life of a deployed servicemember this Christmas.  It’s simple!  

• Just go to SupportOurTroops.Org, and click on the Christmas 2022 Care Package article.
• You will find a list of things the troops are requesting
• Carefully read the packages rules that are posted there
• Send to:
• Support Our Troops^®
  Regional Distribution Center
  249-J Third St.
  Ayden, NC 28513

If you would like to provide items for future care boxes or donate to help pay to ship the goods, you can find everything you need to know posted on SupportOurTroops.Org.

Thank you for your support and we wish you and your family all the best at the holidays.

SOT Team