When a member of VFW Post 8713 in Brooksville, Fla., learned he would deploy to Afghanistan, his VFW comrades and sisters wanted to show their support. They decided to adopt his unit, 3/20th Special Forces Group (SFG) Support Company, through the VFW Military Assistance Program’s (MAP) Adopt-A-Unit.
“I thought it would help the soldiers if they knew that we were behind them while they were away from home and their families,” explains Debra Parker, President of VFW Post 8713’s Ladies Auxiliary.
Post and Auxiliary members know Adopt-A-Unit’s purpose is to bring VFW’s support to the troops and their families. They worked hard to accomplish this mission by providing a variety of support and activities throughout all phases of the deployment.
The Post hosted a deployment party to wish the unit well and stayed in close contact with them after deployment via email. Post members also shared the latest VFW Operation UplinkTM “Free Call Day” information with them, so the unit knew when they could call home at no cost. The Post sent care packages too, and one Auxiliary member even made helmet liners to help the unit combat the cold winter.
When the unit arrived home, Post 8713 greeted them with a fun-filled homecoming party. MAP assisted with funding for it, so the Post was able to serve grilled steak and chicken, along with an assortment of other dishes, ranging from a vegetable medley and potato salad to cake. There was also a band to provide entertainment.
Parker knows how important Adopt-A-Unit is to the troops. “That’s what kept them going, knowing that they had our support from home,” she says.