Dog Tags for Kids: That's One Good Idea

War is tough on families, when a parent is overseas. Code Pink notwithstanding, there's not a realistic alternative to what America and other countries are doing to keep terrorists from killing us: but there is something that individuals can do, to help the families of America's military.

Dog Tags for Kids - Grassroots Support for American Military Families

"Charity gives engraved dog tags to kids"
MyFoxOrlando (December 25, 2008)

"LANCASTER, Calif. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- A California nonprofit is on a mission to send unique presents to children whose parents are serving in the world's most dangerous war zones.

"Rose Sliepka has no children of her own, but said she was compelled to make a gift for thousands of kids when she heard about a soldier who wanted to send his children a gift from Iraq.

" 'The only thing inside were some band-aids and sunscreen,' Sliepka said. 'That's all he had access to.'

"Sliepka, who owns an engraving shop, quickly focused on dog tags as something that was meaningful for military families and affordable for her to make...."

The dog tags cost 50 cents each.

Just the same, with 400,000 given out so far, it takes more than pocket change to keep Dog Tags for Kids running. The organization depends on donations to keep helping military families.

Dog Tags for Kids - From a Parent Overseas to a Child at Home

"100% of Your Donation Delivers Smiles"

"Help us send dog tags to troops in Iraq, Kuwait, and Afghanistan so they can send them to their kids back home!

"We desperately need everyone's help. Please see our Donation Page for more information. Thank you!

"This is a grassroots effort to show our support for the troops and their families. We tried to think of something we could send Dad or Mom that...."

"Letters and Quotes"

"...We have a ton of soldiers here, who come into our police station and see the 'LOVE DAD' dog tags. We give them out like candy and the soldiers always come back and tell us the praises they get from thier families about the dog tags...'How neat it is', 'What a good idea, who thought of it?', 'The kids take them to school and show as show and tell'....stuff like that. A couple of our soldiers have got them from you guys and they run out real fast....."

Dog Tags for Kids shows a sample of the dog tags "in Appropriate Service Colors" - DTfK used to give Photo Tags, too, but got swamped by the demand.

There's a donations page, where a person has a couple of options for supporting the program.

Individuals Make a Difference

Hats off to Rose Sliepka, one woman with a good idea and a lot of grassroots support.

Related posts, on Individuals and the War on Terror.

Individuals Count: See the Snyders

I've posted a few times about Albert Snyder. He's the father of Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder, who died in a Humvee rollover in Iraq.

He's also the man who is trying to stop the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, from defaming more soldiers, and intentionally inflicting harm on grieving families.

The Westboro Baptist Church (WBC), which has no connection to any Baptist association, apart from the name, is under the impression that God hates America (it's one of their slogans) because America tolerates homosexuality. And that's making their beliefs sound as sensible as possible.

After the WBC started harassing mourners, some states and the American federal government passed laws that help control 'demonstrations' at funerals.

Albert Snyder has taken efforts to control WBC's outrageous behavior to the grassroots level. He sued the WBC and won a judgment against the WBC's leader yesterday.

The WBC says it's appealing that decision. No surprises there.

Two points here.

1. Mr. Snyder is struggling in what I believe is a good cause, and he needs help
   The law firm that's representing him isn't charging fees, but Mr. Snyder has to pay for the research, getting papers, that sort of thing.
   He's been getting some financial support, but as of this morning, he's around $50,000 (USD) short. And, he's not in the class where that's petty cash. Albert Snyder's website, www.matthewsnyder.org, spells out how you can help.
2. Individuals make a difference sometimes - and this is one of those times.
   Lance Corporal Matthew A. Snyder died while helping America get Iraq on its feet: A job that I think makes America (and all countries that don't have the bin Laden / Mullah Mohammed Omar seal of approval) safer. If he hadn't been there, part of that job wouldn't have gotten done.
   Albert Snyder is trying to slow down a group that's dedicated to breaking the morale of American soldiers and their families. He may encourage other individuals to resist lunatic ravings. So far, Mr. Snyder has succeeded in diverting WBC's resources from their usual activities: quite likely saving the family of some fallen soldier a great deal of grief.
   Even Fred Phelps, WBC's leader, is making a difference, albeit a negative one. His twisted mutant clone of Christian beliefs is hurting the targets of his hate-pickets, and seems to be keeping his followers in a state of rage: and that isn't healthy.

Why bother?

I'm not against free speech. But the WBC has, in my opinion, gone far beyond expressing their opinions. Their "God Hates America" demonstrations seem to be dancing on, or beyond, the edge of trying to damage the morale of American soldiers and their families.

And that's something I don't think is right.

Related posts, on tolerance, bigotry, racism, and hatred.
Related posts, on Individuals and the War on Terror.