4 Troops' aims to bring service men, women home Every minute counts when families only have a short amount of time to spend with loved ones who are serving in the Armed Forces. And being able to get those husbands, wives, mothers, fathers, sons and daughters home takes on special importance when a family knows it will be the last time they see their loved ones for at least 18 months. Jessica Warren, wife of Spencerport native Stephen Warren, is taking part in "Operation Tickets 4 Troops" as a way to raise enough money to bring her husband and the other 94 soldiers serving the New York National Guard's E Troop 101st Cavalry home for a leave. Jessica, a Long Island native, met Stephen when she was in college at SUNY Geneseo. "We got married in April and he left in May," she said. "But when you marry someone in the service you have to expect the unexpected." Mike Warren, Stephen's father, said that watching what his son is going through is like watching history unfold. "It's like World War II when you see these young people get married before they're deployed," he said. "Jess and Stephen haven't had a lot of time together yet. So it's important for the men of E Troop to have an opportunity to come home before they're deployed." It was the unexpected cost of trying to fly the soldiers of E Troop home from Louisiana that prompted Warren, Christina Sommer and Darlene LeBlanc to undertake Operation Tickets 4 Troops. They are hoping their fundraising efforts will raise the $55,000 needed to bring the soldiers of E Troop home one last time before deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom for an 18-month tour of duty. E Troop is a specialized Cavalry Scout unit comprised of soldiers from over 29 counties across the state. They are scheduled to go on leave in September but the cost of air fare to and from their embarkation point in Louisiana is not covered by government funds. E Troop was activated and attached to the 256 Infantry Brigade from Louisiana in May. They are currently training in Texas and will be transported back to Louisiana with the rest of the brigade. However, getting from there to New York is the missing piece Tickets 4 Troops is hoping to fill. Jean Warren, Stephen's mother, said her son is an enthusiastic, energetic young man who always gives 100 percent. "Tickets 4 Troops is our chance to help the soldiers come home. We want to raise enough to make it successful and accessible to all the soldiers in E Troop," she said. In July, she said the state of Louisiana raised more than $300,000 to bring their troops home for Independence Day weekend. Unfortunately, E Troop was unable to benefit from this effort, leaving soldiers and their families to bear the cost of airfare and other travel expenses. "There are a lot of families who have trouble meeting these costs because deployment usually means taking a pay cut from their civilian jobs in order to serve their country," Sommer explained. Assemblymember Susan John said that when she met with the families of the National Guard and heard of the hardship that the transportation issue has presented, she knew that New Yorkers would have to do whatever they can to help. "I applaud the families of E Troop and join them in asking for support for Operation Tickets 4 Troops," she said. "This program will help ease some of the difficulties that families face during their time of sacrifice." Warren and Sommer said the families of E Troop can't do it alone. "We need your help to bring our husbands, brothers, uncles and fathers home one last time before they go to Iraq," they said. "This is a way to thank our soldiers for sacrificing so much to defend the rights and freedoms we enjoy daily." Donations can be made to Family Readiness Group, c/o E Troop 101 Cavalry, New York Army National Guard, 300 Main Street, Geneva, New York 14456. "This is so important because it will be the last time we see our families for the next 18 months," Jessica said. "Every minute home for them counts and it means a lot for their morale." |
