letters from soldiers

Troop Batteries

Liz Holding Batteries

Here are some of the letters we have gotten over the past year. Read them below...

Hi Liz,

Thank you so much for the job your doing. I just received my care package from Operation Gratitude and it had batteries from you. I think I can speak for all the troops here. We can really use the batteries and they are not wasted. Keep up the good work and I hope you reach your goal.

I'm almost done with my deployment and will be home soon. I have a wife and 5 month old son waiting for me. Thanks again so much for your efforts, support and batteries.

Sincerely,

SrA David

Hello Liz,

My Name is Courtney *******. I am from ********Ca and I'm currently stationed in Iraq. I am active duty and I'm from Ft. Bragg NC.
I work in a medical logistics battalion, and I'm stationed at Camp
Anaconda in Balad. I think what you are doing is a great thing. It is
Much appreciated by the soldiers out here. I hope you reach your goal. Take care
Always,
Spc Courtney

I’m currently in Iraq, but with a little luck I’ll be home soon. I want to thank all of you who have participated in this endeavor. A lot of the batteries went to most excellent uses. …to our gameboys, electric shavers and such but know that none of them went to waste. I can not thank you all enough for the support.
I have been to war 3 times in my life and only came through with a small scratch in my head and some unfortunate memories. With each death you experience, I believe, a little part of you goes dark and cold, which is why many soldiers are just plain mean at times. I now understand more than ever that all the blood that's been shed all the lives that have been lost is a sacrifice that we do so the rest of the civilized world can seize the freedom we've earned and live it for all who can't.
Please tell LIZ that I personally wish her well in her arduous battle she must face and has been for so long. I hope you can make it through. I can not possibly compare my life to what she must go through. I give her great credit for her courage and perseverance. I commend you for what you are going through young lady and apparently for what you have accomplished thus far. I know, she more than any other lives for all those who no longer can. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, LIZ you’re the greatest.
Thank You,
SGT Ricardo - Father of 4

Hello,

I'm not to sure if this is Lizzy's personal email account or if she shares it amongst others. If this is not Lizzy, can you please make sure you relay the email to her, or pass it on to her and her family for me.

My name is SPC Yvette *********** and I have been part of the United States Army Reserves for the past 7 years now…

My unit and I were part of the first rotations to be deployed to Iraq in the beginning of 2003. We spent nearly 15 months away from our home. For most of us, those 15 months will probably be the worst 15 months we will ever have to face in our lives. Being in Iraq was an experience that is different for each individual Soldier, but I think we ALL shared the same feelings of hopelessness, despair, anger, and, of course, a fear of the unknown.

I just hope that those of us who have been to Iraq or Afghanistan are able to return with a genuine sense of appreciation and gratitude, hopefully forgetting the need to complain about the silliest of things. Sooner or later everyone could use a REALITY CHECK, Iraq was mine.

I cried after I read all the things you have to go through due to your illness. Then I thought about all the things you have done for the troops and your country and I went from feeling sad to angry! I was angered to think of how so many healthy men & women who are 3 times your
age, have such the nerve to complain about their life & then feel sorry for themselves! Shame on them! You should be proud of the beautiful young lady that you have become Lizzy.

Lizzy, I know you must have enough military friends already, but I would love to be your friend and maybe meet you one day! I know for a fact that all the other soldiers in my unit would love to meet you to! It
would be such an awesome treat to have you come down during one of our weekend drills before we leave to Afghanistan! Does this seem like something you might want to do? Your parents are more than welcome to join us of course!

***I attached a picture so you can know what your new friend looks
like! It was taken last April on the day we flew out of Baghdad, Iraq.

Thank you for everything Lizzy!

Your friend,
Yvette *********

Hi. I am currently deployed to Afghanistan and will be returning soon after being here for a year, In December, I had recieved a care package from Operation Gratitude and inside it contained a small pack of batteries. I would like say thank you very much for sending them and for your support for us here. It means a lot to all of us out here. Thank you again, Liz.

Colin

Hello Liz:
My name is Garcia and i got a box yesterday with batteries and i just wanted to thank you for your effort and support it gives me motivation and happiness just to know that you at your age are doing this for us. i have a 12 and a 13 and 9 2 boys and a girl my self i am very happy and proud of you and also fathers day is today so i got a present from you in fathers day.
thanks sgt Garcia

Very nicely done Liz! This is an awesome thing you are doing!! Can you tell me what the count is for batteries that you have already received? I just want to be able to pass this information on to my friends. We all want to know how close to your goal you are!
I’ll be adding batteries to your collection soon.
=)Annie
Proud Air Force Spouse
Living overseas

Dear Liz and family,

Last week, I was working on my computer with the TV on in the background. I had just come home from work where I had encountered some rude and mean spirited people, and I had allowed those few people to lower my own spirit and sense of happiness. As I was thinking about this, something on the TV caught my attention. It was your commercial! The timing was perfect. I quickly went to your website. After I read about you and your goals, I felt relieved to find out that there is someone out there working to help others. I was excited, so I emailed my friends and family the link to your website to encourage them to make a donation. From all this, I was able to collect about 56 batteries for you. Some will arrive from a website called www.batteries.com , and some will come via regular mail. I'm hoping there will be more to come in the future. The troops don't have a chance to relax like I do after a hard day at work, but I'm hoping the batteries will help them out a little bit!

~Suzanne

Hi Lizzie!

My name is Annette and my 4-yr old daughter, Sierra, is living with Cystic Fibrosis. I was so touched by your thoughtfulness for our troops and will be sending some batteries too. I am also thankful for you bringing awareness to others about CF. I pray everyday for a cure for you girls and many others. God bless you for what you are going through, and for putting others needs in front of your own. That is so admirable! I will attach a couple pictures of Sierra from last month Great strides (CF Fundraiser). I hope to hear from you soon and see your artwork!

Take care,
Annette

Hi Liz!
I just saw you on channel 10 and came to your website. What a GREAT thing you are doing! My name is Melanie and I live in Brea, California...just wanted to tell you that I think you are a super young lady and I will be donating batteries because of YOU! I am an artist. I have scoliosis (spine curve) and Arthritis and sometimes I get down..It made me happy to see your shining optimistic face on TV just now!! :O) Keep up with your drawing and artwork! I know you will go FAR! Blessings!

*Melanie

Liz, you are not alone honey. US Army, Sgt. Gregory L. Wahl and all his fallen brother's and sister's are with you. You will never ever be alone. Liz you started something that is special! You are as brave as the soldiers you have HELPED! You are an AMERICAN HERO! One that I so much more to those that knew and loved you. I have forward your site to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. You are the eason (one) Yet, a special reason. Why? Our soldiers do what soldier's do. Amazing you are the elite among over 300,000,000 Americans. Hopefully, your project will spirit other to do more for our soldiers. I have past this on to fallen families of our soldiers. One's that you probably touched with your batteries. At Christmas dinner in my house. I will have seven candle's. (RED) Marine's, (GREEN) Army, (WHITE) Navy, (BLUE) Air Force, (LIGHT BLUE) Coast Guard, (PURPLE) Colation Force's and (Yellow). With a little place card of a fallen soldier for each branch of service. To honor all his brother's and sister's. The “Yellow” candle is Elizabeth's! To your family and of course Liz. ...emotional with tears like those I shed for my Gregory. God Bless!