For families with loved ones deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan, this weekend’s Deployment Fair should not be missed.

The event will be held at the Evergreen Elementary School from 9 to 5; dependents must bring the service member’s name and address to enter.

With approximately 17,000 soldiers from Fort Lewis deployed, the fair is a win-win situation for family members to send their loved ones a morale booster.

Specifically, family members will be able to create care packages that will then be mailed overseas.

Two of the driving forces behind the Deployment Fair are Rod Wittmier and Vicky Mohler.

“What we have here,” said Wittmier, “is a great opportunity to do something for someone else.”

The founder and executive director of VetsMeetVets, Wittmier’s new organization addresses the issue of suicide among veterans.
Statistics indicate that the group of veterans most prone to suicide is Vietnam veterans.

While working to address the issue, Wittmier’s organization is well aware of the rising number of suicides in the Army today.

Sixteen soldiers killed themselves in October.  Presently, 134 active-duty soldiers have taken their own lives, putting the Army on pace to break last year’s record of 140.

“We offer support to all veterans from all eras,” stressed Wittmier.  “We want heroes from other conflicts taking to heroes of this one.”

Wittmier’s efforts coincide nicely with what Vicky Mohler, the driving force behind Support America’s Armed Forces (SAAF), has been doing for the past six years.

Determined to make a difference, SAAF has not only provided guidance to Wittmier’s organization, it has consistently partnered with the local business community in promoting the effective use of community resources and networking capabilities.

SAAF works to maintain the morale of Fort Lewis’ deployed soldiers.

To that end, Mohler and her band of volunteers joined forces with Wittmier to provide contents for family members to create and mail care packages to their deployed service members.

“We are striving to create 1,000 care packages,” said Mohler as she put some trail mix and hard candies into a postal box.

She also said that it costs $10 to mail each box.  Along with the goodies, there will also be a letter from VetsMeetVets.

“We are here to help,” added Wittmier.

Both pointed out that members of the Pierce Military & Business Alliance (PMBA) and Top Foods have been wonderful to work with in not only supporting the Deployment Fair but the upcoming Veteran’s Day Observance Care Package event.
“All of this is about morale,” said Mohler.

For more information about Support America’s Armed Forces, visit www.supportamericasarmedforces.com or call (253) 686-9947.  For information about VetsMeetVets, visit www.VetsMeetVets.org or call (253) 861-7100.