Grassley is marking the end of "Adopt an Iowa Soldier." The program, a team effort between WHO-Radio and Grassley, gave Iowans a way to express their thanks and well wishes to Iowa men and women serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.
"Adopt a Soldier was a success due to the overwhelming generosity and kindness of Iowans," Grassley said. "Hundreds of people contacted my office. Their willingness to support our troops in the war on terrorism is a testimony to the spirit and character that makes Iowa such a great state."
Nearly 500 people contacted Grassley's office to adopt a member of the U.S. Armed Forces. ?Adoptive families' showed their support by sending messages and care packages to their ?adopted' soldiers. Sponsors included individuals, families, school classes, church and civic groups and community organizations.
"The messages and care packages Iowans sent overseas meant the world to the men and women serving our country," Grassley said. "I received one thank you note from an officer who wished that all soldiers under her command had received the same treatment from people in their home states."
Grassley said the most challenging aspect of the program was obtaining the names of Iowans serving abroad. "It isn't as easy as it sounds," he said. "The military won't release the names and addresses of service personnel due to security concerns so we had to depend on Iowans with loved ones in the armed forces to contact us with those names."
Grassley's office received the names of nearly 100 Iowa soldiers. Grassley matched multiple ?adoptive families' with each soldier in order to accommodate the overwhelming interest. "Unfortunately, we just didn't have enough names to match every Iowan who contacted my office. If more names become available, I will pass them along to those people who didn't receive a soldier to adopt," he said.
Although Grassley's office is no longer taking names of Iowans who wish to adopt soldiers, his office is still accepting the names of soldiers deployed overseas. Iowans with a loved one serving in Operation Enduring Freedom can contact Grassley's office via his website at http://grassley.senate.gov, email at chuck_grassley@grassley.senate.gov, or telephone at 202/224-3744.