I have to thank Mr. David Morrisey of Fleet Bank/Quick & Reilly of Williston Park who, along with his colleagues, have adopted a soldier. They used the website www.operationac.com.

There is another website that also allows you to contact soldiers overseas and send them some goodies as they serve their country and protect us. As you know, our government provides these soldiers with the basics. Receiving a care package from an unknown American citizen who appreciates what they are doing, has to be an upper for them. [And for you!]

This second website is called Operation Gratitude ... www.opgratitude.com.

Both of these grass roots organizations depend entirely on donations to continue. You can either send money and they will provide the goodies to the soldiers or you can do it directly yourself.

One of these websites indicates that they have served 5,000+ soldiers to date. We have over 100,000+ in Iraq alone. A lot of work still has to be done.

Please get with the program and show these terrific young people how much we appreciate what they are doing for us. High school students, why don't you start the ball rolling in your school, for instance? If you own a small business, why not you and your employees do the same? If you are a vet, you know what a special package will mean for the young man or woman serving overseas.

John Messina