Sending Care Packages to AFSOC Unit,

and Getting Back Even More

    Our club is very proud to raised money and sent packages overseas to a deployed U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command unit, one of which was a family member of some club members. Members even donated additional items to send to our troops who have sacrificed so much to be there for us. We gathered up and sent boxes of magazines, baby wipes (showers can be hard to come by), beef jerky, gum, hard candy, cookies, energy bars and lots of other food, and for kicks and giggles, some “Monkey Butt Powder!” What could be more appropriate from an atv club? The more we sent, the more members voted to send more.

We received emails expressing many thanks —

    ”Thank you so much for everything...    I just wanted to let you know how much we appreciate what you and the club are doing for us.    It is so nice to get that comfort and support from home, you can‘t even begin to imagine what it means to all of us... the Monkey Butt Powder was a hit...   it made it to the boss’ desk and then was posted on the internet, so you can just imagine what all happened with that...    It was pretty funny. They even copied it and posted it on the board... Classic. They had a lot of fun with it.”

These guys sent us something very, very special... an American flag with a certificate; but not just any flag.


Here is a portion of the letter that came with it...


    “The story on it (the certificate) is an actual ceremony that is performed and unfortunately we could not do that in person in front of all of you. I would have video taped it for you, but due to the nature of what we do, we are not allowed to do much of that and when videos do get done, it has to go through a lot of hoops to get released, I’m sure you understand that. It is important for security reasons mainly. We actually did the ceremony and folded several flags. As the certificate reads, each fold is performed and the statement is read just like that on the certificate. I can only hope that you can imagine us actually doing this for you. Then each of us would carry one of them. I had the one for the club with me... as you can tell it got bounced around a lot, but as the certificate states, it was taken into combat on the anniversary of the Twin Towers, especially for you and the club. On that very night (Sept. 11) on a mountain side in northeastern Afghanistan 12 Al Qaeda were killed and 23 were taken prisoner. After the fight, your flag was taken out and put on a post on the mountain for one hour and then remained flying in the back of a helicopter until we made it back to base camp. It was taken down, refolded and placed in the bag that you have now. It’s not the best folding job, but we were in a hurry. It is suppose to have the star at the very top and centered when it is done right. But like I said, we had to get going for another round. We regrouped and left again. I don’t have much, but this is the highest honor that I can give you for all that you have done for us. It is a tribute to you and the club, and a heartfelt thank you from us.”

When I first approached the board about sending care packages, I never expected this type of overwhelming response and generosity from our members. I enjoyed sending things from “home” to these guys who sacrifice so much. Together, we were able to give them so much more. After our President, Pete Feest, read the letter at the meeting, everyone started clapping.

With tears in my eyes, I have never been more proud to be a part of this club.

It's the people that make this club what it is, not what we ride.


Colleen Johnson

C-4 Secretary