“When you get a box like this, it looks like Christmas.”  Saratoga Springs VFW Assembles 98 Care Packages for Troops Deployed Overseas

While the Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be over, Saratoga Springs’ veterans aren’t forgetting those still deployed across the world. 

On May 16, the Saratoga Springs chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) filled boxes with coffee, hygiene products, snacks and other items as part of the VFW’s day of service. The boxes are being sent to troops currently deployed overseas through Operation Adopt a Soldier, a Saratoga Springs based charity that sends care packages to those overseas. 

Over 30 volunteers from the VFW, Boy Scouts, and Espey Manufacturing & Electronics filled 98 boxes to send overseas. The event started at 9:00 a.m. but volunteers worked quickly, only stopping to await more supplies to finish filling the boxes. While it’s unclear which country specifically the boxes will go to, representatives from Operation Adopt a Soldier said that based on zip codes, most will go to the Middle East or Europe. 

To fill the boxes, the VFW collected $2300 in donations and received support of Espey whose donation alone covered the cost of 58 boxes. 

Post Commander Jon Cheico. who served in the Navy on an aircraft carrier during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield said that the packages help boost morale for troops deployed overseas by giving them a little taste of home and let them know they’re not forgotten. 

“These are things that soldiers or sailors would really appreciate being deployed for such a long time overseas,” Cheico said.  “When you get a box like this, it looks like Christmas.” 

While the majority of U.S. military personnel are stationed at home in the United States, an estimated 213,315 active duty, reserve and National Guard Troops are stationed overseas, according to data from the Defense Manpower Data Center. This number does not include those on temporary assignments or deployments in support of contingency operations. 

Cheico said the decision to support Operation Adopt a Soldier came due to the War in Iran, officially named “Operation Epic Fury” by the Department of War. This Operation has killed 14 American troops — seven due to enemy action, six due to accidents and one due to illness — and injured an additional 406 service members. 

As for the VFW, The Saratoga Springs post serves 380 members, with 300 being locals and around 80 or 90 being part-year or out-of- town members. 

Looking ahead to other events, on June 24, at 6 p.m. the organization is hosting a meeting of the Saratoga County Peer to Peer Group, Saratoga County Veteran Support Officers and other VFW posts to help veterans with any issues they may have with VA benefits and claims.