Words of encouragement for soldiers overseas

Local groups working to send

messages to military personnel
By:Mary Ellen Zangara
   While the ranks of U.S. military personnel have been growing lately, one serviceman — Kevin Klink, a June Hillsborough High School graduate — was deployed in August on the USS Austin headed for the Persian Gulf.
   After graduation, Mr. Klink joined the Marine Corps, fulfilling a lifelong dream of his.
   "I have always wanted to join the military since I was little and seeing Jim Kemp (a neighbor) do it and it did inspire me," the now-Cpl. Klink wrote in a question-and-answer sheet provided by the Marines. "While I was visiting the veterans at Foothill Acres Nursing Home and hearing stories while playing cards with them inspired me. I was always raised to do my best in everything so I had to join the best. The pride and brotherhood in the corps is like nothing else in the world and I wanted to be a part of it."
   He was supposed to return now in March but with war imminent, Cpl. Klink will be there as long as it takes for the situation to be settled. He really misses home — and his parents, Kim and Angela Klink of Hillsborough. Mr. Klink is employed at the Manville Post Office.
   "The thing I miss most is my family and friends that are supporting me back home," he said.
   With so many in the service overseas, many are getting homesick and anxious to come home. Not all of the servicemen and women have families and friends who keep in touch with them, so some local organizations are helping out.
   The Veterans Committee and the Youth Activities Committee of the Manville-Hillsborough Elks, as well as some local Girl Scouts and school classes in the area are encouraging residents to write a letter or card to the personnel overseas.
   The groups say letters and cards with a little word of encouragement to send to the service personnel will make the day a little brighter for someone so far from home. Donations of items such as pencils, pens, notebooks, phone cards, stamps, snacks and other necessities also are being sought.
   Donations can be dropped off any Thursday night at the Elks Lodge on Brooks Boulevard during the weekly bingo games. All the donations will be sent to some local residents and their various platoons on land and on water. The deadline for cards, letters and donations is March 15.
   If you know of a resident who is in the service overseas, let the committees know so they can be added to the roster of local service personnel. Call Barbara Orzechowski at 904-0253 to add the name of someone you know.
   As for Cpl. Klink, his parents are proud and honored to learn their son was awarded a Meritorious Mast for his professional excellence and leadership during a deployment on Nov. 18, 2002.
   "Although we are very anxious about the current situation in the Persian Gulf area, where Kevin is based, we are so impressed by his commitment to serve his country. Kevin himself is proud to serve and committed to making a difference. Especially now, he will fight for peace so that his children will not have to fight," Mr. Klink said.
   When his parents told Cpl. Klink about the writing projects, he requested that the Elks acknowledge all the service people so they could all share in the support coming from the area.