Wristbands symbolize a unique overseas adoption

By TERESA McMINN
For the Daily Record/Sunday News

Feb 1, 2006 — It’s been nearly 30 years since he retired from the U. S. Army, but Bill Breen still gets choked up when he recalls being stationed overseas and getting care packages from his wife, Susan, that included tape recordings of their kids saying their ABCs and talking about what the family dog was up to.
Breen, of York Township, was in the Army from 1959 to 1979. His first assignment was with the 101st Airborne Division. Throughout his military career, he was stationed overseas in places that included Africa, Germany, Vietnam and Korea.

Although the kids are grown now, the couple still has those recordings.

“I just wanted to hear their voices,” the West Point graduate said, adding that it’s important for soldiers to know they’re remembered by those at home.

Tuesday, the Breens celebrated an announcement made by York Mayor John Brenner at City Hall that all 154 soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 159th Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division, had been “adopted” by York.

Brenner in July issued a proclamation declaring the unit, which is based in Fort Campbell, Ky., had been adopted by the City of York as part of the national America Supporting Americans program. York is the only city in the state to have adopted a military unit through the program.

Since then, individuals and families have supported the effort by writing and sending care packages to adopted soldiers.

“We have met our goal,” said Bill Breen, one of the coordinators for the adoption. He and Susan encouraged other communities to adopt military units. “It’s a matter of networking,” he said.

Brenner said he was delighted with the success of the program. The support and care packages show the troops their services are appreciated, he said.

“Regardless of what your opinion is on war … it’s important for us to continue to support (soldiers),” he said.

York Water Co. donated rubber camouflage “Support Our Troops” bracelets for people who adopted the soldiers. The bands are to be worn until the soldiers come home.

Kim Digiovanni of RG Group and several co-workers participated in the program. She said the care packages and letters represented “a little piece of home” for the soldiers.

Nicole Wherley-Sanderson and her sons Jesse, 8, and Noah, 5, and her daughter, Lexi, 1, also joined the cause. Her family’s West Manchester Township company, Wherley Generations Moving, adopted 14 soldiers.

“Probably because my dad was a Vietnam veteran, this was close to his heart,” she said.

She said many soldiers sent thank-you letters to her kids. Noah was excited to have recently mailed “Chronicles of Narnia” Valentines to the soldiers.

“It makes you want to cry,” Wherley-Sanderson said of the correspondence between military personnel and her family. “It’s very sentimental.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION
For more information about the Armed Forces Relief Trust, visit http://www.afrtrust.org.