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Message from Pete and Pam Wright
 This issue of The Special Ed Advocate is different.
In September, 2007, our son Jason was deployed to Iraq. Jason worked as a JAG officer with the First Armored Division in Northern Iraq. Later, he was selected for a role that took him "outside the wire" every day.
Jason's deployment ended in December 2008, after a 15 month tour.
Like many of you, we are frustrated about these wars. Like many of you, we said "We support the troops."
After Jason left, we were sad and scared. We had to take action to fight these negative emotions. We needed to support Jason and "the troops."
We asked ourselves, "What have we done to 'support the troops?'"
The painful but honest answer: "Not much."
As a result, we spent great deal of time on the Internet. We wanted to learn all we could about how ordinary people - like us and you - can support the men and women who are serving long, often dangerous tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The quest has been an emotional roller-coaster. We learned a little about what life is like for many who are stationed in these countries. We have ideas about how we can lighten their loads a bit.
They need to know we are thinking about them and that we are concerned about their welfare. We need to view them as our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our husbands and wives, our friends - because that's who they are.
The Candle
A candle burns in the front window of our home and office. These candles will continue to burn until all the troops are home from these wars.
In this issue, we'll share some of the things we learned. If you want to learn more, take a look at our new page about how we can all support the troops - for real.
Please don't hesitate to share this issue with others.
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| What is Life Like? |
After looking at thousands of photos, we realized that many of our troops are living in a tan world - tan sand, tan plywood walls, tan tents, tan uniforms. No brightly colored leaves, no green grass.
 Some feel like they are living in a bubble. They have no contact with the outside world, but they are safer that way. As parents, we are relieved to hear about this "bubble."
Jason lived in the bubble for a while. Later, he was assigned to a different job that took him "outside the wire" every day.
The troops miss their husbands, wives, children, parents, and pets.
They miss milk and butter, the smells of home. They miss the freedom to travel and feel safe.
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| How Can We Help? |
Our young men and women are serving in hostile lands, far from home. What can we do to put a smile on a face? In our quest, we found dozens of websites and dozens of ways to help support the troops.
Everyone needs mail from home!
Sending a letter, in an envelope with a stamp is the single most important thing we can do. After learning this, Pete began to write a diary. He sends the diary entries to Jason two or three times a week, in letters, by U.S. Mail. 
Want to help a a soldier in harm's way, but have no idea of what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it? The Support Our Troops page will tell you exactly what to do.
Learn how you can Adopt a Soldier or Platoon or choose a unit to support. Many projects are organized so everyone can help. The U.S. Postal Service will even send you a free shipping supplies for Care packages.
Or you can contact us at team@wrightslaw.com to help support our team.
Find out how you can Be A Hero...To A Hero. It's easy - and you'll be glad you did.
"Thanks for all the support you have given us. Seeing a letter in the mailbox means more than you will ever know."
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| How Can Teachers & Kids Help? |
"One Letter from a Child Has an Amazing Positive Effect"
 Jason wrote, "I have a pen pal. She's in 2nd grade. In fact, her entire 2nd grade class is writing our legal team here. When we all received our first letters 2 weeks ago, just before Halloween, there was so much excitement. It's amazing how one letter from a child in Arizona can have such a positive effect."
Teachers - Create a class project - a geography lesson or practice letter writing skills. As Jason said, "It's amazing how one letter from a child can have such a positive effect."
Kids Can Take Action Too!
Read what kids are doing to support moms and dads in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In Be A Hero...To A Hero, you'll find a "thank you" letter you can send to a soldier. |
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