How do you "support the troops"?

Question

How exactly? Pray for them? Send them care packages? Enlist? Write legislation? Put a bumper sticker on your car? Or merely say "I support the troops"?

Also, shouldn't it be up to each individual to decide if their actions support the troops? I'm getting sick of people trying to portray other people as non-troop supporters so they can further their own political agenda. I certainly think those scumbags don't support me in the least.

Answer 1

I adopted Marines through www.adoptaplatoon.org and send care packages and letters regularly. (They're looking for more volunteers now... hint hint)

I pray for them.

I'm enlisting.

I urge my Congressperson to support the troops by providing them with the equipment and funding they need and letting them finish their mission.

When I see them, I say thanks... I would buy them beers, but I live in Monterey and I'd go broke, haha.

And finally, no it's not up to each individual to decide if their actions are supportive - it's up to the troops. I can say that I'm supporting the troops by doing whatever, but if the troops say that they don't feel supported, my actions are not supportive and I should rethink them.

Answer 2

When my husbands' unit gets ready to deploy I try to make sure all the single soldiers have someone to send them a few packages while they are there. We make sure no one in the unit goes without someone "adopting" them.
Same goes during holidays we make sure extra special packages are sent or if they are here that they have somewhere to go.
I always support the family supports groups as well. Since I am a former soldier I try to help the non military wives understand why they may not get letters etc. for awhile and to try to keep there moral up.
I think everyone should do something to help the troops if you don't support the war that is fine. These soldiers are out doing a job.

Answer 3

As a former member of the military, I wish them well and give morale support through friends who have family now serving. I also do what I can to keep the facts from being corrupted by those who would distort the issues.

...up to each individual? We have enough "do as I say not as I do" people in this country. Saying "I support the troops" means absolutely nothing or is too cliche to be taken at face value. If you contradict that statement, it means the opposite. Here's a link to a similar question that was resolved on Y!A.

Answer 4

Seems to me the warm, fuzzy thing to do these days is put one of those stickers on the car then feel good about it. That's not supporting the troops that's just going with a fad.

If people want to support the troops, write a letter to someone in the military, 'adopt' a unit, send greeting cards and tell them how you feel. Don't forget the vets in nursing homes or those in your own family that served during other times. Tell your grandpa, dad, uncle or anyone else that's served 'Thanks'.

Get involved. Be active.

Answer 5

I send letters and care packages to deployed military. I also have an "I support AnyMarine.Com" magnet and a "Freedom is not free, just ask any Soldier" bumper sticker on my car in hopes of spreading the word about the "Any Soldier" organization. I've also recently signed up to volunteer at my local USO.

If I meet a service member while I'm out, I ask to shake their hand or give them a hug and buy them a beer.

I don't know if that's enough, but it makes me feel like I'm doing something.

EDIT: Thanks to Jeanne (above). I have just signed up for the "LEAVES" program as well.

Answer 6

I pray for our troops daily. I also push my representatives in Congress to end this war and bring our troops home. All of these right wingers say 'if you don't support this war, you don't support our troops', which is the biggest lie ever told. If they were so 'supportive' of this war I feel our troops would have better provisions than they now have. I have heard horror stories of no body armor and a general lack of provisions. Why are our guys over there riding around in humvees with no protection from the IED's? We should have tanks over there if this is a ground war, or more than we obviously have. Our biggest threat after 09/11 was Osama Bin Laden. I feel he is still our biggest threat. They make no mention of him anymore. How did Iraq come into this? This country will be militarily and financially bankrupt on this Iraq war, which will certainly leave our doors open for more terrorist attacks than we have ever seen.

Answer 7

I have always supported the troops, by serving in the Navy for 22 years and honoring and respecting all those who serve and have served, regardless of political issues. Currently I support my son who is serving aboard a Navy ship, and my other son who is serving with the Army in Iraq. I also supported a third son who served with the Army in Bosnia. And yes, I have 3 support magnets on my car.....and mean it!

Michael W - you sound like a fine, young man. Thank you for your support!

Answer 8

I offer friendship and try to help out every Hero who comes my way. Naturally, I pray for my friends, as well as for the whole of our troops, every day. I also teach others to support our troops one-on-one through the LEAVES Ally Program.

Answer 9

I've had unaccompanied military personnel from the nearby air base at my residence for holiday celebrations for the past 20 years. I was just getting to volunteer at a new USO at my airport until the USO headquarters turned down a request to create one. And, unlike the members of the "Petey Patriot Platoon" I thanked each one of the I met for their service to the nation and their devotion to the Constitution BEFORE September 11, 2001.

Answer 10

I support the troops by writing letters to my niece and buying her presents. I also write my representatives and encourage them to support the military, I belong to the VFW, I wore the uniform a long time ago, so I've supported the military in that way. I also pay my taxes (but so do they, so that really don't count).