Serving in the
military, leaving home and getting deployed onto harm’s way is very difficult for
every solider. But for those with families that they had to leave behind, it
can even be more painful. Because of this, military service men and women often
struggle to find something that they can send to their loved ones – especially
for their young children – back home. Whether it is a letter, a piece of band
aid or a bottle of sunscreen lotion it can mean the whole world to the little
kids waiting for their mom or dad to return.
In an attempt to
find something truly significant that the troops could effortlessly send to
their loved ones, Rose Sliepka implemented a program that allows soldiers to
send something that their kids could proudly wear and hold on to until they get
back home. This came in the form of a dog tag, which is sent in an appropriate
service color to a grateful service member, all free of charge. Small, light
and easy to mail, the dog tags were being shipped as a form of gratitude and
support from those who were willing to donate for the cause. The grassroots effort became famous among
moms, dads and of course, to the kids waiting for them.
Together with Kids
Charities of the Antelope Valley, the initiative grew to become a
well-recognized, non-profit organization known as the Dog Tags for Kids. The people behind
them were able to pursue private and public donations and significantly expand
the program. Starting with just a handful of dedicated volunteers and the
massive support obtained from the public, the organization was already able to
ship nearly 800,000 dog tags overseas last November 2012 and sent back home to
their children. The impact that the program has made was, and still is,
phenomenal, and the troops cannot be more appreciative and thankful for the
people that support them.
