Soldiers' Angels

When Chaplain Nevard contacted the Chaplain Support Team (CST) with a modest request, he may not have known what he was getting himself into...

Suckers for Soldiers was an idea I had early last year to get lollipops donated so I can pass them out to my Soldiers. The first time I went out to the field I went through 75 bucks on suckers, so I started contacting churches and support groups to hook me up with supplies - last year I tossed out a good six thousand suckers - now that we are deployed, I expect that number to seriously climb...I am running low on God Pops and could use a few boxes.

I use only two types of suckers (or "God Pops," as my Soldiers started calling them.  As in, "Chaplain, you got any God Pops?")...Blow Pops and Tootsie Pops.

CST got the word, and boy-oh-boy did they come through!  Angels all over the country went to work, and Chaplain Nevard says he received over 16,000 lollipops, so he has had to send them on to other bases in Iraq! 

Chaplain Nevard and his assistant display some of the 16,000 lollipops
received through efforts of the Angels of the Chaplain Support Team.

The best part is, these lollipops are not just satisfying a soldier's sweet tooth.  In fact, the benefits go much deeper.  Chaplain Nevard explains:

I wish you can see the way the Soldiers' faces light up when the suckers start flying -- and I mean flying! Last night we had a convoy rolling out for an all-night trip of route clearance. They were gathered in this lighted gazebo for their safety briefing and I come in to pray before they leave. I approached unnoticed and hid behind one of the bunkers.  All of the sudden there were god pops coming in: Wham! right in the back of the head. a couple more landing nearby. Immediately my guys knew who it was - some threw suckers back in my direction, others flanked the area and moved in for the kill. Suddenly it is no longer just another long night; their chaplain and your god pops made the difference. "It's gonna be a long night, guys - grab some extra to keep yourselves awake."

They line the lollipop stick in the loops of their IOTV (bullet proof vests), looking a lot like a Christmas tree. I pray for their safety and they roll out the wire, alert, smiling, and ready to face whatever may come.

And suddenly it is not just a matter of lifting a Soldier's spirits, it is keeping a Soldier awake, alert, and alive; it is no longer a just a matter of bringing a smile to a child's face, it is helping to bring a child's daddy back home.

Just another example of the great work of the Chaplain Support Team.  Way to go, Angels!