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December 1, 2009

Blue Star Mothers help promote soldier awareness

By Joe Malan, Staff Writer

Jamee Goldstein has two sons in the Army, so it’s important to her soldiers overseas and in the country know people care about them.

That’s why 41/2 years ago, she joined the local chapter of Blue Star Mothers, an organization that gathers together mothers who have sons or daughters in the armed forces.

There are about 10 mothers participating in Chapter 11 of Blue Star Mothers, and all of them have a son or daughter in Afghanistan or Iraq.

“We have lots of generous support for the community,” said Goldstein, 56, of Enid.

Still, she wishes more local mothers knew about the organization.

One of the things members do to promote their organization and soldier awareness is send care boxes to soldiers stationed overseas.

These boxes are filled with all sorts of goodies, including snacks, drink mixes, foot powder, CDs and DVDs.

Chapter 11 of the organization began putting together the boxes about five or six years ago.

Goldstein said the program began with only 10 families, but it has expanded to 50 since then.

Families of soldiers can apply for the program by filling out a form that is available from Blue Star Mothers.

The group currently has set up a booth in Oakwood Mall, between Riddle and Buckle, in front of Sears.

Brenda Bingham, president of Blue Star Mothers Chapter 11, said the group will fill 40 to 70 boxes of goodies a month to send to soldiers.

They also have fundraisers to help buy more items to send in boxes.

Bingham and other women in the group will be putting together boxes at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the mall. Bingham has invited soldiers previously sent to Iraq and Afghanistan to come out at that time and talk to the public about their war experiences.

Blue Star Mothers Chapter 11 normally meets at 6:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursdays of every month at the American Legion, 121 W. Oak. The first meeting generally is a monthly business meeting, while the second is when members put together boxes for the soldiers.

Bingham hopes more Enid mothers can join the group.

“If there’s any out there that want to be a Blue Star Mother, they’d be welcome to join us,” she said.

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