Lutz flag wavers plan to line highway to show support for troops
LUTZ - Flags will be flying more often in Lutz from now on. Like Tampa's Bayshore Patriots, Lutz now has a group of flag-waving demonstrators who plan to show their support for the troops every Friday.
A large yellow ribbon and flag mark the home of Barbara Mueller, the founder of the Lutz Patriots. The mother of a 24-year-old Marine said she was inspired to start the Patriots after seeing some war protestors.
"When I saw the anti-war demonstrations right when we had 19- and 20-year-olds rolling in toward Baghdad on tanks, it bothers me that people would protest against the president and the war because I see that as aiding the enemy," she explained.
Now, every Friday, Mueller packs up her SUV and heads out to U.S. 41 to show her support for her son and his fellow fighters. She has a lot of company, which apparently does not surprise her.
"I really think that the patriotic people who support our troops are far more in numbers than the people that don't."
According to Mueller, it is all she can do for those who are giving up everything for people back home.
Barbara Mueller plans to honor those serving, like her 24-year-old son Matthew.
"They are heroes," she continued. "I just have to say that Hollywood celebrities aren't heroes. These 19-, 20-, 22-year-olds going into war are heroes."
Whether or not it makes a difference at home, Mueller shared a letter from a U.S. Army captain that was written from the front lines of Kuwait.
"I'm not sure about who everyone was in the pictures that we received, but thank you so much for the support. I will make sure to show everyone in my unit the pictures," Mueller read from the letter, from Capt. Blake Gaylord. "It is unfortunate that the enemies of our way of life no longer live outside of our borders only. Instead, bright young Americans are allowing anti-American interests to brainwash them and coerce them into anti-war demonstrations. However, I am fully convinced of the worthiness of this cause, and history will prove the protestors wrong."
Lutz Patriots Sends Care To Troops Abroad: From The Tampa Tribune
LUTZ - The Lutz Patriots flag-waving group has taken on a new mission to help the military.
The volunteer group launched Operation Support Our Troops, a communitywide effort to send care packages to U.S. soldiers in the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan.
The packages, which could include personal letters to soldiers, will be sent to three chaplains, who will hand out the boxes to the most needy.
``Some soldiers get no mail. It breaks my heart every time I hear that,'' said Barbara Mueller, one of two women who started the weekly patriotic rallies in front of the Old Lutz Schoolhouse, 18819 U.S. 41.
Mueller said the care package items and money for postage must be donated by mid-November so they will arrive by the holidays. One package can cost $7 to $21 to mail, so costs quickly add up, she said.
``The need is not going to run out,'' Mueller said. ``It's just a matter of how much Lutz is willing to support.''
Donations can be brought to the Friday evening rallies, which run from 4:30 to 6 p.m., or dropped off at the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office substation at 19002-C First St. S.W. in downtown Lutz.
Some of the requested food items include Little Debbie snacks, canned fruit with pop tops, salsa, granola and nutrition bars, beef jerky, Rice Krispie treats, fast-food condiment packages, and presweetened Kool-Aid.
The personal items could include nail files, lip balm, razors, shaving cream, baby wash, sunblock, eyedrops and deodorant.
Organizers want to make it easy for donors.
They plan to set up a booth at the community's Market in the Park event Nov. 22 where people can buy a prepared care package - $10 for a small and $25 for a large box - and write a message on a postcard.
Since the Lutz Patriots began in April, the grass- roots group has taken on projects beyond holding up patriotic signs and flags.
They support 24 soldiers in Iraq with letters and care packages and contribute children's clothes and books to a school and orphanage in Iraq.
``It's become a part-time job for me,'' Mueller said. ``As I find a need, and I find someone here that will fill that need, I can't say no. We're simultaneously supporting Iraq, Afghanistan, an orphanage and a school.''
Reporter Elizabeth Lee Brown can be reached at (813) 885-7892.
Lutz Patriots Sends Care To Troops Abroad: From The Tampa Tribune
Understanding that many folks aren't keeping up with Afghanistan or Iraq for that matter, a certain group of folks in the small town of Lutz, north of Tampa Florida have taken on the mission to keep the vigilance high, and to make sure the troops know they are not forgotten.
They are the Lutz Patriots. And every Friday they hold rallies in front of the Lutz school on a busy thoroughfare in that town reminding the folks who pass by that America is on duty in this war...and those are our soldiers, not to be forgotten.
I heard today from Barbara, one of the founders of the Lutz Patriots, and she says that during the 90 minutes the Patriots are out every Friday evening,
"thousands of cars pass by. You would not believe the response from the people in cars passing by. 90% honk horns and hold thumbs up and even wave their own flags out the window. Certainly is a disparity between that and what we see on the news."
Well, yes Barbara, it certainly is...and that is what this web site is all about...telling the stories that get overwhelmed by the body count headlines.
Barbara flatters me by saying "We just have to tell you that we go to your website every day and you are doing one great job of portraying the truth."
Aw shucks, Barbara...now ya gone and made me blush...
Anyway the Lutz Patriots put together care packages for our servicemembers. As Barbara says it:
LUTZ - Barbara Mueller's plan was simple: Stand on U.S. 41 waving a flag in support of the military effort in Iraq.
"We really never imagined it would turn into hundreds," said Mueller.
Today, the flag wavers who call themselves the Lutz Patriots will celebrate what they see as a possible end to the conflict in Iraq.
"We think that the sight of Gen. (Tommy) Franks smoking a cigar in Saddam Hussein's palace might indicate that the war's end is drawing nigh," said Mueller.
Mueller said well over 100 people may show up to don red, white and blue at today's rally. At 5:30 p.m., the group will travel from the usual meeting ground at the Old Lutz School to the field next to the Lutz Train Depot, where they will use their color-coded bodies to spell out their ultimate message: "USA = Freedom."
Today's display was conceived as the final gathering of the group. But when Mueller announced the news at the last event, many members expressed a desire to keep waving each Friday.
"Maybe 10 people out of the group just shouted "no!' " said Mueller.
"I absolutely believe it is true patriotism," Mueller said. "Many people told me that the first time they came out, it brought them to tears."
So the rallies will continue as long as the people are willing.
What is unstoppable now started in March with a conversation between sisters in church. Mueller and her sister Karen Williams shared a common thirst to support the troops. They decided to invite friends to join them in waving flags. Williams invented the Lutz Patriots moniker. They hung two posters in Lutz.
"Very grass-roots," Mueller laughed.
At the first rally, on March 28, 85 people showed up. The next meeting boasted 130 people. The group has maintained more than 100 diverse members each time. They include veterans, college students, grandparents, parents, toddlers and William Westcott, a fixture of the Lutz Fourth of July Parade, in full Uncle Sam garb.
Joyce Kibbe is among the slew of Lutz Patriots with children on active duty. The group has been a source of comfort to Kibbe and her husband, Bob, while they wait for the safe return of their son, Brett.
"It's almost like having a support group," she said, waving a large American flag last week at passing traffic. "It makes us feel a whole lot less alone."
Behind the crowd, a toddler-friendly table was stocked with glitter, construction paper, markers and a sign welcoming children to make patriotic posters. Andrew Elwin scampered to his grandpa, Drew Marsh, with a freshly designed sign, handed it over and ran back.
"The only way they're going to learn patriotism is through us," Marsh said.
Members Lori and Mike Ingles view the rallies as a chance to take an active role in the Iraq war.
"We can do something besides sit home and watch the news," she said.
Rosemary Jasin stood under a shade tree beside her infant son Allen Christopher, who relaxed in a stroller. With a small American flag pinned to her shirt, Jasin wondered about the future. She was asked how she would feel if her son wished to join the military one day.
Words cannot express how exciting it was for me today to go out to the mailbox and have four letters from our Adopt a Platoon soldiers! I think they speak for themselves so I am going to quote them here in full.
1- Hello, I'd like to start off by thanking you all for what you are doing for us. It means a lot to me and my soldiers to know that someone cares. I'll tell you a little about myself and what is going on here where I am. I am married with 2 children, and I've been in the military for 14 years. I've been a paratrooper for 14 years and stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina for 11 years. I'm a jumpmaster and the 82nd Airborne Division Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for 2003. We are in the town of Fallujah West of Baghdad. Right now it's the most active and dangerous part of the country. We are receiving casualties every day and mortar and rocket attacks every night. It gets tough at times when I see a wounded soldier or a soldier killed in action and he is only a child of 18 or 19 years old. We are stretched thin with personnel so we have people doing jobs they were not trained to do and sometimes it costs us dearly. We will not give up hope. We will keep trying. We will defend at any price. We are part of the best division on earth... the All American Division... America's Guard of Honor... The 82nd Airborne Division ! Never Forget Us ! SFC Johnson
2 - I'd like to say thanks for your support. That means a lot to me. I really appreciate it. People that I don't even know are taking care of me and giving me stuff that I really need. It gives me the strength to keep going and makes my duties a lot easier. It makes me feel proud of myself and my country. This is my first deployment. I was nervous when we were in a convoy from Kuwait up through Iraq but now I'm okay. Everything is fine. Now I'm just waiting to get back home and see my family, my wife, Audree and my daughter Melanie. We would be very happy if you could keep writing to us. Thanks for your support.
3- It is truly astounding that so many people would support what we are doing over here in Iraq. For that I cannot begin to express my thanks. I originally joined the Army so that I could pay for college. That way I could work on my writing skills and reach at least one of my goals by publishing at least one book. My true goal is to become a graphics designer. I guess I'm here in Iraq because ... well I was told I had to go. Either way though I'm proud to be here trying to help out the Iraqi people. The organization you have down there in Florida sounds very cool. Our unit is based out of Ft. Bragg. I live up in Virginia and would religiously go home every weekend when we were at Bragg. Things out here aren't too horribly bad. I guess overall we're comfortable. We work a lot and have to pull guard duty on a lot of different places. They are beginning to build a PX here where we are. Your package was great fun to open. Everyone in our section absolutely enjoyed the items you sent. We thank you graciously. I can't think of much else to tell you. I do think it's going to be wierd being a 19 year old combat vet. Thank you again. I appreciate it. Sorry if my spelling was bad. We don't have any dictionaries.
4- I want to say thank you for your support to us. It is very pleasant for me to know that we got people like you that are interested in helping us thru this hard time. Makes my job easier when I see that people recognise our duty. I'm a 23 year old male from Humacao Puerto Rico and I've been in the states for two years. You don't know how happy I was when I saw that package. I was happy for it but I was even happier when I saw that somebody that I didn't even know before was thinking of us. I'm not going to be able to pay you for this but the God that is up there... He will pay you even more. If you have time I will be waiting for your answer. Well one more time THANK YOU A LOT ! And one day I will like to say thank you in person. God Bless You !
Note from Barbara - Is there anyone who could doubt that we should continue Operation Support Our Troops?
Northoftampa: Lutz: For the troops: candy, socks and lots of love
Lutz: For the troops: candy, socks and lots of love
A group in Lutz is collecting donations to put together care packages for American soldiers overseas.
LUTZ - The Lutz Patriots are making a list and checking it twice: beef jerky, Kool-Aid, Chapstick, socks.
The flag wavers are seeking such everyday items for care packages to be mailed to U.S. soldiers overseas for the holiday season, calling the project Operation: Support Our Troops.
"I just pictured these guys going to mail call and not getting anything and I couldn't stand it," said Barbara Mueller, co-founder of the Patriots.
The group gathers to wave flags at the Old Lutz Schoolhouse on U.S. 41 from 4:30 p.m. until dark every Friday. Since they came together in March, each group member has "adopted" a soldier in Iraq to write letters to. The Patriots recently mailed 24 packages to Iraq and are preparing to send more, as well as to soldiers stationed in Afghanistan and children in a Baghdad orphanage.
Needed items include candy, salsa, oatmeal, granola bars, games and journals, feminine products, sunblock and hair brushes.
Mueller received a letter requesting dark-colored long underwear and sock and glove liners. The letter writer said cold-weather gear has been lost or destroyed on missions.
The community has so far been generous. Mueller said one wholesaler donated a large supply of shampoo. "We just loved mailing that to the soldiers and to the orphanage," she said.
Mueller stressed the need for monetary donations to help pay for shipment. She said a small box costs $7 and a large box $21 to mail.
Bins are set up at the weekly rallies to collect care package items, as well as at the Hillsborough County Sherriff's Office substation in downtown Lutz and the Lutz Community News on U.S. 41. The Patriots plan to sell preassembled care packages for $10 and $25 at the Market in the Park festival on Nov. 22. Notes and self-addressed stamped envelopes for return letters may be included in any package.
"I think they just appreciate hearing personally moral support," Mueller said.
Those who cannot make it to a donation site may call Loren Williams at 731-8956 and arrange to have items picked up.
To arrive in time for Christmas, items must be mailed in November, but Mueller says the group will continue to send packages well after the holidays.
"It has just been a privilege," Mueller said of the operation. "I just am so grateful to live in a country where I know I'm safe."
- Stephanie Hayes can be reached at 269-5303 or shayes@sptimes.com
Needed items: Girl Scout cookies, Little Debbie snacks, pop-top canned foods, chips, condiment packets, salad dressing, spices, Chex Mix, Power Bars, dry cereal, Rice Krispie Treats, comic and joke books, blankets, puzzles, toys, paper and pens, crossword puzzles, playing cards, books, newspapers, magazines, small American flags, reclosable plastic bags, batteries, nonaerosol bug spray, duct tape, fly swatters, fans, sewing kits, hats, towels, shoe insoles, black no-name sunglasses, baby wipes, dental items, razors and shaving cream, deodorant, T-shirts and underwear, lotion, eye drops, baby powder, nail files, foam footballs, bandannas.
Northoftampa: Lutz: For the troops: candy, socks and lots of love
