I received the following note from a mother whose son is serving in Iraq:

"Dear John Messina,

Thank you for signing up on my website www.operationac.com to adopt-a-soldier.

I am pleased to email you this wonderful soldier through our program. I can't thank you enough for helping our deployed soldiers in Iraq. The environment with which they are faced is very grueling and nothing helps like getting regular mail and packages during their deployment. Especially now that the holidays are fast approaching. The last day you can mail priority mail packages to your soldier for Christmas is December 11.

This is a soldier in a Military Police unit. They ask for hot chocolate, hand warmers, dry socks (any socks you can send would be great). They also would like small battery operated lights that you can use in a tent. They are still in tents and it is cold, rainy, wet and muddy where they are stationed. This unit has boots and heaters already. They need items like DVDs, foods, especially cup-of-soup things. Just use your judgment. I understand that they just got the availability of hot showers but the motor that drives the hot water heater breaks all the time and they are often still taking cold showers in the cold wet desert."

I hope that many of you in the Mineola American family also adopt-a-soldier not only for the holiday season, but for as long as the soldier is serving in Iraq. Let's show these great young Americans that we appreciate what they are doing for America and the Iraqi people. Thanks.

John Messina