Employees at TMW Systems recently showed their appreciation for troops serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom by helping to make the “wish list” a reality for some members of a West Virginia-based National Guard Unit.
Beth Fallon, a technical support team leader for TMW, got the ball rolling by adopting Chief Warrant Officer Ronald Eagle — a public affairs officer with the 201st Field Artillery Infantry Heavy Howitzer Brigade in Iraq — on www.soldiersangels.org. When she told her co-workers about her pledge to support Eagle through correspondence and care packages, they immediately pitched in and donated seven cases of snacks for his unit. Then they decided to raise the stakes and purchase as many items as they could on the unit's entertainment “wish list.”
Thanks to the more than $800 raised from a bake sale, TMW employees were able to buy Eagle and his comrades an acoustic and bass guitar with amplifier, Playstation 2 games, and CDs.
Eagle says he's grateful for the support of Fallon and TMW. “What is a sponsor to a soldier? A sponsor is a best friend, someone who cares, and someone who takes care of you. In the middle of a battle, best friends keep you focused on the mission,” he said.
While Eagle and his unit are scheduled to be deployed back to West Virginia in February, TMW employees plan to adopt another “soldier” — and help boost morale for another unit.