Operation Story

Operation Story is a foundation that is currently was formed by two moms who want to make sure that the stories of our nations heroes, our soldiers’ stories are told and preserved for future generations. We are interested in helping three main groups:

1. Active duty soldiers – by helping their families create books (custom, hardbound with letters, drawings and photos) to send to them while they are deployed. The active duty soldiers could even create a brag book while deployed to tell their families how much they miss them.

2. The children of the deployed – by helping them to create a book of their parent or loved one to ease the hardship of their separation.

3. Injured soldiers- Injured soldiers could feel some healing power through writing their
stories.

4. Widows/widowers – write the story of their fallen hero so they are never forgotten.

For the active duty soldiers, the books we are talking about creating are 5x5 inches and about 1/3 inch thick, so they are portable and lightweight. Obviously the books would be done at no cost to the recipients.

We will organize Story Days at military bases where we will go and have access to a computer lab where they can help families put together a book for their serviceman. We will also have photographers to donate their time - they will take pictures of the family right there so they can be included in the books. Also, we will have "art stations" where the children will create artwork and write letters to be scanned and placed in the book.

When the books are published, the ones that are not being sent to the deployed will be brought to the base to be delivered. On this day, we will be having a “Memory Day” party. We will have volunteers to serve coffee & and cake or lunch, along with having activities for the children.

On Memory Days, one of our goals will be to promote support for our troops. We will be anticipating and arranging for local as well as national coverage. We believe that promoting support for the troops is of utmost importance.

We will also work through hospitals like Walter Reed where soldiers are recovering from their wounds and help them write their story - if they want to.

With the injured soldiers, we realize that some of them might not psychologically be willing or able to write their stories, while for others it could be a healing process. If an injured soldier does work with us, a copy of their story is donated to the hospital where the soldier received treatment.

We feel it is important that the stories these men and women have – of quiet courage and fortitude – are documented. We remember the World War II generation and of all the little things that were not documented because it was just a part of normal life then, and how interesting it would be for us now. We have an opportunity to make sure that the sacrifices that are made and the great deeds that are being done by our military are recorded and celebrated.

We are able to do this for no charge to the members of the military.

If you would like to find out more about our organization, please feel free to contact me at OperationStory@yahoo.com