Dear Readers:

I met Carolyn Blashek, founder of Operation Gratitude, via telephone in early 2007.  I had been writing political commentary then only a short time, but I had written a good deal on our war effort.  As a result, much of my email came from our troops, stationed in the war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan. Regularly, email from our troops requested that I find out more about this great organization that kept sending care packages to them in their battle-weary outposts.

The name, “Operation Gratitude,” kept popping up again and again in my mail from our troops.  They mentioned the stuff in the packages, and especially the handwritten cards and letters from Americans of all ages, in all situations and even from school children, all thanking them for their service.  The packages arrived stamped with their own names, ranks and personal military addresses and often came to every member of their squads on the same day.  The thing they couldn’t figure out — and wanted me to find out for them — was who was behind this terrific morale-booster.

“Who is Operation Gratitude”?  they asked again and again.  “Who started this thing?”  “Who pays for all this great stuff?”  “Why are they doing it?”

The questions about Operation Gratitude came so often that I myself became intrigued — very intrigued.

So, I began to track down the source of all this appreciation.  I anticipated finding some big-moneyed backer with an army of paid staff.  Or some veterans group or troop-family group, who spearheaded this thing.

What I never — in a million years — expected to find was an American homemaker, who was simply so passionate about our war effort and all of the brave young men and women fighting in foreign lands on our behalf, that she dropped her whole life just to figure out a way to say, “Thank you!”

I’ve written several whole columns on Operation Gratitude and our Troop Mom (the name I gave her, by the way) and I’ve gotten to know Carolyn Blashek personally over the past 3 years.  She is one of the most amazing power-house people I’ve ever known and as genuinely altruistic as any person can be.

Carolyn was recently recognized by California’s first lady, Maria Shriver, as a Minerva Award recipient and even though I couldn’t be there to see her accept this well-deserved tribute, I was with her in spirit as I always am.  In her acceptance remarks (see in video below), Carolyn once again showed her true colors — always red, white and blue — by accepting the award in honor of our fallen heroes, whose sacrifices make every American’s pursuit of his or her dream possible.

I hope you will all join with me as I pay tribute this great American:  Carolyn Blashek, Founder of Operation Gratitude, America’s Troop Mom.  Through Carolyn’s amazing vision and leadership, we all have a way to make our appreciation for our troops known to them in the field.

Bravo, Carolyn!  Bravo!  You are one of my own heroes.  I’m so proud to know you!