The Desert Angels held a ‘Miracle Box? packing party on March 26 at the Oakland County Sportmen’s Club.
Louise Downs of Metamora founded Desert Angels in 2001. She and her group ship thousands of boxes filled with needed items and letters to our troops overseas.
The boxes include various items such as ‘pocket foods? like breakfast and granola bars, dried fruit, jerky, crackers, nuts, snacks, cookies, canned or packaged tuna, or meats, socks, personal hygiene items for both men and woman, toys to give out to the Afghan children, notepads, and Bibles. Also each box was packed with a letter written by a Sashabaw Middle School student.
Miracle Boxes are named in honor of Pfc. Joseph A. Miracle of Ortonville, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on July 5, 2007. Joseph’s father is Glenn Miracle, a member of Oakland County Sportsmen’s Club.
‘We take the freedoms we have too much for granted. Somebody has to be there to make sure we have those freedoms,? Glenn said. ‘Just like that old saying ‘Freedom is not free,? somebody down through history has kept the U.S. the way it is. We owe it to them to honor and respect them. Whether you agree with the war and what we’re doing, you got to respect the men and woman that serving.?
Tom Forst whose cousin Kurt Ziobro is part of the Air Force Explosive Ordinance Disposal is on his third tour in Afghanistan.
‘I’m proud of him and hope he’s safe,? said Forst. ‘I pray for him everyday, he’s doing a great thing.?
Mari Cabic along with her husband have a son overseas, in the military intelligence unit.
‘We are really proud of him, what he’s done, and his love to serve his country,? she said.
Cabic said her son wanted to join the military out of high school, but they wanted him to go to college first. He graduated from the University of Michigan with a Criminal Justice Degree.
‘Even after college, he still had a desire to join the military and serve his country,? she said. ‘He loves his country, he loves the Lord, and he is a unique young man.?
For more information about the Desert Angels visit www.thedesertangel.org or call Louise Downs at 248-736-6403.