On Valentine’s Day 2003, love was not on the minds of many Americans. The great debate of our nation was about going to war in Iraq. In the midst of the debate, Deb Rickert wanted to send a simple message of support and love. Rickert is the founder and president of Operation Support Our Troops – America, a military support non-profit organization.

Q: What is the mission of your organization?

A: Our mission is to support and improve the morale and wellbeing of our troops serving in harms way, their families, and the returning veterans. We do that through several different programs [such as] a comfort package program; we send 25 lbs packages to our troops all filled with items donated from the community. So a lot of the mission is to keep the community involved under the premise that they are all of our loved ones. You know these aren’t just my sons. These are the sons and daughters of all America, husbands and wives of all Americans.”

A mom’s support organization for deported troops. A proud military mom Deb Rickert (left) and son , Lieutenant David Rickert (right) work on their booth at the D.C. National Guard to gain awareness of Operation Support Our Troops – America .

Q: Are there any other programs Operation Support Our Troops – America has?

A: On Veterans Day, Operation Support Our Troops – America launched “America Has Not Forgotten.” This program was created in reaction to research findings that 70% of American asked responded that the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan had no affect on them. “We believe that Americans do care about our troops. I truly believe that, but they need to be reminded. They need to be made aware, and when they are made aware they respond appropriately.”

Operation Support Our Troops – America also has partnered up with the U.S. Army Golden Knights to do a program called “Leap of Faith”. The two day seminar starts with a workshop on how families can deal with the grief after losing a service member. The last day participants can take a leap of faith in the form of skydiving with the tandem team of the US Army Golden Knights.

Q: Are you currently military? Do you have a husband or a son or a daughter serving?

A:  Two Sons. Here’s one of them, Lieutenant David Rickert currently serving at Fort Benning, well he’s currently standing right here. And I have an older son Captain Dan Ricket currently serving at Fort Bragg.

Q: How can Civilians get involved with your organization?

A: The very simple things. Find out who at your job, who in your neighborhood has someone serving. And ask them, “How are you today? How are you doing with this?” You can, through our organization, you can write letters. Mail them to us and well put them [in the care packages]. These are the care packages that we send. Every care package comes with a packet of letters from community members. So remembered that when our troops are gone if they feel like they are forgotten it’s going to make it that much harder for them to come back and reintegrate successfully. But if they’re over there, and they are getting letters of support from average citizens, not just from their mom and dad, but from average citizens then when they come home this is still their America. It’s their community.

Reported by Zia Johnson, Photo by Alexus Packwood