Beautiful Americans

My office just happens to be right next to the Chaplains office, so every day when the mail comes in, I help unpack the chaplain's boxes and I feel the need to share that with all of you. 
There isn't a day where we don't get at least one box addressed to "Chaplain", "Troops" or "a Soldier". We have a table set up in the corner where we set all of the care package items that people send us, so that the Soldiers can go through them and take what they need. Just today we got a box full of snickers, hygiene items like shampoo, toothpaste, q-tips etc, socks, boxes of food and drink mixes, some body sent 4 cartons of cigarettes (the smokers were ecstatic)! We just opened another box, from Georgia, that was full of new magazines (Cosmo, Marie Claire etc), nail files, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, chapstick, lip gloss and many other little things that girls want. It amazes me that even after 10 years of war there are still people out there this willing to help. Not only is it wonderful to get these items from home that we can't buy here, but it is so heart warming and sweet to see all of these boxes and to know that these people are still trying to take care of the troops and help us out.
 I was especially  touched by the girly box we got today because it's the first time I've seen a package geared towards the women over here. It's reassuring to know that even though it seems like most people have forgotten about the men and women over here risking their lives, there are still people that not only remember, but are going out of there way to show their appreciation.
All I ask is that you give us return addresses so we can send you thank you cards!!
If you ever questioned my beautiful country and it's wonderful and caring citizens, please remember that not everyone is as ugly as the stereotypes and there are still many great people out there.
Acts like that make me even more proud to be an American.