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Navy Announces 2011 Spirit of Hope Winner
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Carolyn Blashek, the founder of Operation Gratitude, is the Navy's 2011 Spirit of Hope winner, officials announced, Sept. 17 in NAVADMIN 286/12.
Blashek founded Operation Gratitude in 2003 as a nonprofit, volunteer based organization to support deployed service members, their children and wounded warriors. Since its inception Operation Gratitude has sent over 750,000 care packages addressed to individual Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines in hostile regions such as Afghanistan, the Middle East and onto military ships. The organization has also sent thousands of "Battalion Buddy" packages with stuffed animals to the children of deploying troops.
Cmdr. Randolph Borges, commanding officer of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 85, Air Station North Island, Calif. nominated Blashek. In his nomination letter he said her "service to the spiritual, social, welfare, education and entertainment needs of the men and women in the armed services and truly represents the core values of the Navy."
Blashek will be presented her award at a joint ceremony honoring awardees from all services at the Pentagon, Nov. 15.
Established in 1997, the Spirit of Hope Award is presented by the Wiegand Foundation in honor of the famed entertainer and supporter of military personnel, Bob Hope. The award is presented to individuals or organizations that embody Hope's commitment and service to the men and women of the military. A Navy Sailor or civilian has been honored with this award every year since 2005.
For more news from Chief of Naval Personnel, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnp/.
I just want to say that I was delighted to hear that Carolyn Blashek was awwarded this great hone and say that she certainly deserves it for all her hard work and for the way she founded this organization originally by herself, out of her home. Also, not mentioned was the fact that after 9/11 she orginally tried to enlist but because of age could not, so she chose this way and worked out of her home and out of her own pocket. Congratulations Carolyn, you well derserve this honor!
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I think this is wonderful. She certainly deserves to be honored, what an amazing organization she founded. We have a have sent packages, letters, emails, homemade Christmas cards, Christian tracks, crochet helmet liners, and our love and apprecation to the troops through Operation Gratitude. It may not seem like much, but the troops are always very grateful which is enough for us. We are a little church, Temple City Grace Baptist Church, located in Temple City, California. Thanks, Colleen