Julie organizes all the DVDs.

Colonel Larry Gallogly, the first Pack It Up contact, has returned to Afghanistan.

Colonel Gallogly received some of the packages we sent over for Christmas.  Here is an email we received from him.  Colonel Gallogly has been such an incredible supporter of Pack It Up and has rallied his troops every Rhody's Run for the Troops. We pray for his swift and safe return.

EMAIL FROM COLONEL GALLOGLY
Hi Robert,

I got back from my Kuwait mission late last night to find our office inundated with packages from Pack It Up. It is indeed quite impressive and we have had to alter our distribution plan.

The vast majority of the stocking bags will be distributed here at Al Udeid on Christmas eve. We are focusing on the young airman and also including some of our international partners.

The basketballs and footballs are all going to a place called Camp Bastion in Afghanistan. This is ground zero for the Marines and they service many small outposts from there. We have a small gym here that is well outfitted with balls and gear so the boys in the field need them more. They will also get most (all) of the books since they are building up new locations from scratch and have no libraries. I did insure that all Rhode Islanders/Massachusetts folks that I know are here got something from the boxes. The shirts and hats were a hit. Msgt Tanya Montella, a Rhode Island administrative assistant who is here with us, took care of the distribution of the “special” bags for the females and they were well received.

I have had all sorts of questions regarding who all these crazy Pack It Up people are. Most common of course is an address to send thank you’s. Should they send them to the Pack It Up address in Milton that was on the boxes or would a e-mail to Kristin be best and she could easily post what she wanted on the web site. Some folks want to donate! We have tried to set a certain tone as Rhode Islander’s while we are here. As people have seen the boxes and asked what it is all about the common reaction is, “ you Rhode Islander’s really are different”. It has solidified the family feeling that we all try to portray.

The General loved her hat and shirt. She went through all the names and asked me what the connection was and it is now front and center on her display shelf in the office. Every team she has any connection with is in last place so I hope this doesn’t carry over to the Pat’s.

We have already lost track of the DVD’s! Most disappeared on the first night but all committed to bring them back so they would rotate through the organization. I think we were a little selfish to keep those here but everyone rationalized that the folks down range didn’t have the ability to view them.

All in all it was tremendous and has uplifted an awful lot of spirits here. Our office is looking forward to distributing the bags on Christmas eve.

You have done a very good thing by getting this project off and running and you should be very proud of the great family you have that keeps it rolling.

Larry