31 August, 2011
St. Paul’s Episcopal and Grace United Methodist Churches are holding a prayer and dedication ceremony on Sunday, September 11th at 11:30 a.m. to honor and proudly display a special thank-you gift from the Churches’ Adopt-a-Soldier, Evelina. Evelina has just finished her deployment in Iraq, and both churches sent her supportive care packages, cards, and letters while she was stationed there. She thanked both churches by sending them a flag, bearing the colors of the United States of America. This flag is unique, since it was flown on the side of an Army helicopter during a support mission. The ceremony will take place at the churches’ shared facilities at 61 Wood Street in Hopkinton. All are welcome to attend.
The Churches’ contact person received Evelina’s name and address from the AdoptaPlatoon organization and agreed to send Evelina care packages once a month and weekly letters and cards. Evelina is the third soldier who has been supported by the Hopkinton Churches. Currently, because Evelina’s deployment has ended, both churches are eagerly awaiting the name of their next soldier for AdoptaPlatoon.
“We are very touched by Evelina’s gratitude and the gift of this flag,” said Nancy Jennison, chair of St. Paul’s Mission Outreach Committee. “The AdoptaPlatoon program has been a great way for members of both churches to help deployed soldiers on a very personal level by sending them morale-boosting packages and letters. Currently, they have a desperate need for more help, so we are hoping other churches, groups or even individuals will help by either adopting a soldier or becoming a pen pal to a deployed soldier. It’s a wonderful and rewarding way to help those in the armed services.”
AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort is a nonprofit group founded in 1998 run by volunteers throughout the United States that helps raise the spirits of deployed soldiers and raise the quality of life in all branches of the military. Individuals or groups can help by being a pen-pal to a deployed soldier or by Adopting a Soldier.
