MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – The Blue Star Mothers of Coastal Carolina spent Sunday afternoon packing Valentine’s boxes to send to military personnel overseas.
Melissa Dion, a member of the group, spent years serving in Korea and Iraq as a Staff Sergeant in the Army. When her family sent her care packages, she says it helped her feel closer to home.
Now that her 19-year-old son is preparing to join the Army, Dion got the chance to pack a box for him on Sunday.
“I’m excited for all of the challenges he’ll get to face. It’s awesome being able to pack his box and go, ‘Oh I know he’s gonna love these,’ or, ‘I know he loves that,'” Dion said.
Janice Heilman, another Blue Star Mother, has been packing boxes for her son, a deployed Air Force Commander Chief, for over a year.
Her son was able to visit home before Christmas, however Heilman says sometimes others serving overseas are not as lucky.
“Some of them don’t hear from home; they don’t get a chance to call home or get home, and it’s very special to them to get their boxes,” Heilman said.
While Dion and Heilman pack boxes with loved ones in mind, most of the packages the Blue Star Mothers send will go to strangers.
“Any address (the Blue Star Mothers) get, a box is packed. We’re packing 85 today of kids who most of them, we don’t know who they are but they’re gonna get this box of love for Valentine’s Day,” Dion said.
Dion has an idea of how the soldiers overseas may feel when they see their suprise in the mail.
“To open this box and have something from home that you haven’t had in a while makes you so happy and reminds you that people back here remember that you didn’t chose to go where you’re going, but you’re doing what you’re supposed to do and they love you for it,” Dion said.
To learn more about the Blue Star Mothers, or how to make a donation, click here.
