Newspapers / The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, … / Dec. 13, 1990, edition 1 / Page 13
Part of The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
under the sun THE BRUNSWICK&fEACON D THURSDAY DECFWBER 13. 1990 [ ) Giant Card Carries Christmas Mpccnno Tr\ ^nlrlior 0\/drcpnc ITiWJViI^U IV/ WV/IVIIWI V ? Wl 0)WViW IIY TERRY POPE Aspccial Christmas card is in the mail, on its way to the Saudi Arabian desert where American troops arc stationed for Operation Desert Shield in the Persian Gulf. Brunswick County government employ ees are hoping the card will brighten the holidays for a Shallotte man who will spend Ihis Christmas with his fellow soldiers in stead of at home with his family. It's addressed to county native Sgt. Chris Smith, 327th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. Smith, 21, is a 19X7 gi auuaiC Of West BiufiSWick High School iil Shallotte. He enlisted in the Army three years ago. His regiment was sent to Saudi Arabia Sept. 16. ranged to have employees attach pictures of their children, symbolic reminders lor the servicemen of why thev have been stationed overseas. "That's what the soldiers arc there for, re ally," Randone said. "The future." Randonc's idea grew. A rush to beat the mailing deadline sent county employees scrambling to find pictures of their children. "1 heard on the radio that we needed to gel the cards and letters in the mail early," he said. "I had thought about making a generic one, and having it sent from every one here." Ms. Smith .\ay.s her wish iiSi this Christmas is short. "If I could have one thing for Christmas, In letters, those arc the items Chris told his family he misses the most. Chris also described how ice is so scarce in the desert that when a truck arrives car ring a load all the soldiers run like children to grab some. "He told me that he never dreamed that he would be running just to get a piece of icc," Ms. Smith said. The family has also received a handwrit ten letter on regular notepaper from Chris' commanding officer. In the letter. Lt. Jay Peterson explains why Army troops were sent to Saudi Arabia io serve as a prctcctor of an oath of a! liance" to that country. Peterson promises that he will "do everything within my pow There arc messages from the county employees inside the card, but there is one very spccial message written in green ink for the holiday sea son. It reads: "Merry Christmas, Chris, from your Mom. 1 love you and miss you!" For Roger and Delilah Smith of Shallottc, it will he a different sort of Christmas, a holiday season spent hop ing that their son will remain safe on foicign soil, a long way from home but very much on their minds. Delilah would like to see Chris' face when he opens the card. "He'll probably do what I did," she said. "1 cried when I saw it. It meant more to me than words could ever ex press."' The county employees who made the card arc hop- photo conthisuteo ing Chris will share it with SGT CHRIS SMITH of Shalloite. This picture was taken while his regiment and that he and Smith was training in Korea last year. his fellow soldiers will write cr to make your son's welfare the highest it can be and the safest possible. I arn commit ted to my soldiers and their safety is my highest priority," he adds. "Their lives are as important to me as they arc to you and their trust in me with your trust in me shall be the guide to a safe and successful deployment to the Middle East." "I thought that was really nice," Ms. Smith said. "It helped me understand the sit uation better than 1 did in the beginning." Chris had planned to enroll in the University of Ten nessee, but changed his mind and enlisted in the Army in stead. His father, Roger, a mechanic for the Brunswick County Schools, was in the Army and served a year in Vietnam. Roger never re ceived special packages or cards in Vietnam like Chris has in Saudi Arabia, Ms. Smith said. In his letters to the familv. * thinking of you THIS CHRISTMAS r\ (T i ? ?> ? .* ; ' & k\ <?'A i ?. # r? j ^ wr. LOVE YOU ALL ! L replies. The employees' message inside reads: "To Our Fellow Americans: During this season of hope, joy and love, we arc sure you would rather be home to cclebratc with your loved ones. We want you to know how grateful we arc to you for the sacrifice you arc making. These pictures of our children and loved ones arc re minders of why you are away from your loved ones. You arc assuring them of a safe and free future. As you look at them, please sec the hope and promise shining in their eyes and feel the love in their hearts. They join us in wishing you all a safe and happy holiday!" The card was the idea of Steven Randonc of the Brunswick County Planning Depart ment. He painted the Santa on front and ar k: that's what I would ask for," she said. "To have Chris home." Chris is married to Paula, whom he dated in high school. She has plans to become a registered nurse. This month makes three years he has been in the service, having trained at Fort Benning, Ga. and later ai Fort Campbell, Ky., where he had been sta tioned since May 1989 after returning from a year spent training in Korea. Paula still lives at Fort Campbell. Hardee's of Shallotte has also adopted Chris for the holiday season. 'They're going to send him a Christmas package," Ms. Smith said. The Smith family has also sent Chris a package of Pringles potato chips. Pop Tarts and Gatorade, and are getting together a sccond package to mail before Christmas. Chris talks about night training in the desert with strong winds that blow sand in ihe sol diers' faces. Among the items he happened to carry with him to the desert, a pair of clcctric hair clippers. When the soldiers have access to a portable generator, Chris plugs it in and cuts all of the soldiers' hair. He has joked with his family about relum ing to Shallotte to become a barber. "If he had known this was going to hap pen," Ms. Smith adds, "he would have gone to college. He did real well in school. He was well known in school, well liked." He played on the football team and was named most valuable player on the Trojan track team at West Brunswick. He also played baseball when younger and learned to roller skaie w hen he was nine months old. "We've always been a real close family," STAFF PHOTO BY TE#*t *OPl STEVES RANDONE first had the idea to send a Christmas card to a local sol dier stationed overseas. Pictures of Hrunsnick County employees' children *ere attached to the card. Ms. Smith said. "We all love sports." blue pack. He talks about letters he h^ re Chris has plans to coach sports at the ceived from his grandmother and Mark and high school level. He just began serving the Amy, his brother and sister, and asks about last year of his commitment to the Army. his dog, Petie. "They're saying now that they won't let "It has cooled down a lot since I've been them out in a year, so I don't know what here," Chris writes. "Now that we're up will happen," said Ms. Smith, who works north, it's not near as humid as it is down for child support services with the Bruns- south. wick County Department of Social Serv- 'Tell Dad 1 love and miss hirn vcr> ices. much. too. Take care of the family and tell In a recent letter to his parents. Chris Petie I said hello. 1 love you very much, talks about the package he had just received Mom." and requests more Gatorade, the kind in the "Love always, Chris." Ramos & Lewis ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW MEADOW SQUARE, HIGHWAY 179 SHALLOTTE, N.C. 28459 "Real Estate Transactions (Document Preoaration, Title Exammat ons and Closings) "Estate Planning and Aamimstration (P'eoaration of Wills and Trusts) "Domestic Matters (Divorce, Alimony, Child Custody and Suooort) "Court Reoresentation (Criminal, Civil and Traffic) PREPARATION OF SIMPLE WARRANTY DEEDS $25.00 PREPARATION OF SIMPLE WILLS $60.00 UNCONTESTED DIVORCE $150.00 plus court costs PREPARATION OF SIMPLE SEPARATION AGREEMENTS $195.00 Telephone: 754-7557 Holiday Gifts For That Special Person On Your List Are At... Ocean Supply Isle Company Your neighborhood hardware store with a whole lot more... for the family...for the contractor! cms> Case WcftiEi crRUTES1 See our line of...PLUMBING ? ELECTRICAL ? PAINT and SUPPLIES POWER TOOLS ? HOUSEHOLD SUPPLIES Live...Beautifully Shaped Virginia Pine Christmas CI. QQ Trees ' aii sizes ? w.5/5/ LOCATED ON HWY. 179, BETWEEN OCEAN ISLE & SEASIDE OPEN: Monday-Friday 7-5:30, Saturday 7-3:00 579-0575 ?r~ V J* Childrens Clothing Christmas Is For Families, & The Love They Share Best wishes & heartfelt thanks to all our "little friends" & customers for making the past year a successful one. Don't Miss This Late Santa All Fall Fashions 50% Off Infant/Toddler Boys 0-7, Girls 0-14 Little Friends Sonrlse Sq., Sunset Beach, 579-9363
The Brunswick Beacon (Shallotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Dec. 13, 1990, edition 1
13
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75