Operation Thank You is a regional organization that sends “a little piece of home” to troops deployed overseas with birthday cards and various comfort items ranging from food to sports equipment.
The non-profit, based in Warren County, was formed in 2004 and has sent thousands of items to troops. On Monday, volunteers with the organization met at Bob Evans restaurant in Mason.
“We’re very thankful and appreciative of our troops who accomplished this,” Alexander said.
Andrea Baker, who is originally from Middletown, was at the gathering with one of her daughters Molly Renee, 3. Baker received an unexpected phone call from her husband, Marine Cpl. Sherman Baker, 29, of Milford, during the lunch
Her husband is a heavy equipment mechanic who is deployed in Afghanistan with his unit based out of Camp Pendleton, Calif.
“It’s a rejoicing day,” she said. “But it doesn’t mean everything is over until they’re all home.”
Baker, 28, said she was awoken by what seemed to be “a thousand” texts and emails about Bin Laden’s death from a network of military wives that she belongs to.
“He’d heard already,” she said. “But he said that even though he’s (Bin Laden) dead, we’re here to do a job and it’s done until we go home.”
Christine Aiello’s son, Peter, is an Army private first class in Afghanistan. She and her daughter Colleen, brought in some photos of her son.
“As a Christian woman, I don’t approve of violence. But the death of him (Bin Laden), how great it is,” she said. “Kudos to the President. He approved the strike.”
“Great” was the reaction of Squire Richard of Turtlecreek Twp., a retired Marine lieutenant colonel who served in Vietnam.
“We’ve been working for this day for a long time. Justice has been accomplished.”
He echoed other’s concerns about staying alert.
“I think we’ll really have to be on the alert because terrorists will attempt some type of retaliation,” he said. “We have to do what’s necessary to get rid of these terrorists. There may be a price to pay, but I hope not. We just can’t be complacent.”
Wendy Rodriquez of Mason said she was concerned about possible retaliation, saying security will need to be heightened.
“I’m very glad they finally got him, said Rodriquez, an Army major who served in Iraq several years ago. “I felt justice was also served for the families and victims of 9/11 and those service members who died in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
She said the news inspired her to wear the remembrance bracelets of two soldiers who died from her unit in Iraq in 2004.
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