The Commandant of the U.S. Marines sent a personal note to Round Pond’s Beverly Foster the other day thanking her for sending personal care products to military men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In a personal letter, Gen. James T. Conway thanked Foster for sending care packages to “our brave man and women serving overseas.”
“I can’t tell you how much seemingly basic things like lip balm and moisturizer mean to those who are called to defend freedom in the harsh climates of Iraq and Afghanistan,” Conway wrote.
“Packages like yours improve the quality of life for our warriors and help remind them that the Americans back home are grateful for their service and sacrifice,” he said.
Foster, a widow who sells Avon Products part time, as well as working as a dog sitter and a clerk/pizza maker for Round Pond’s King Ro Market, has sent dozens of “care packages” to American service men and women overseas.
The note was a surprise.
“When I got the letter from the Commandant of the Marine Corps, I was scared. I thought I had done something wrong and they wanted me to stop,” said Foster.
Then she opened the note, read it.
“My wife, Annette, and I want to personally thank you for your kindness and generosity in preparing and sending care packages for our brave men and women serving oversees,” the letter began.
“I saw the note and thought it was a prank, someone was playing a joke,” she said.
Then her daughter looked Gen. Conway up on the Internet and found Mrs. Conway was named Annette.
“It was him, he was real,” she said.
Instead of a joke, it was a pat on the back from the nation’s top Marine.
“Your efforts are a testament to your patriotism and compassion. On behalf of all Marines, I extend our sincere appreciation for the support and good will you show our troops. Many thanks, and all our best wishes.”
The note was signed: Semper Fidelis, James T. Conway, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps.
“This means so much to me. It is humbling that he took the time to thank me for helping his troopers. He didn’t have to do it,” Foster said.
Her project began months ago when Air Force Sgt. Paul Baptist, was getting ready to ship out to Afghanistan for his third Middle Eastern tour. He stopped to see his neighborhood Avon Lady, Beverly Foster.
“He asked me if I could get him some of Avon’s Moisture Therapy cream and lip balm,” said the 10-year veteran independent sales agent.
When she got him some, Foster said she got to thinking, “I’ll bet others might like some of that stuff.”
Foster asked her friends to help with the costs of the products. She then bought them and packaged them up for mailing. Round Pond postmaster Steve Culpovich helped her package them up and mail them off using a special box that qualifies for a special U.S. Postal Service rate.
This summer, after talking to Sgt. Baptist, she put out a donation can at the market. Folks started dropping change and a few bucks in it. Some donations were a lot more than a few bucks.
It didn’t take long for the story of her overseas troop packages to get around. LCN’s Round Pond columnist Candy Congdon picked up the story and soon people were asking Foster if she could send a package to their brother, or son or friend.
“Give me their names,” she replied.
By the end of the summer, she had collected more than $900 in donations and had sent off more packages.
“I buy the products at cost, my cost. I don’t make anything off them. I pack 50 little tubes of moisture cream and 50 tubes of lip balm and send them off. It costs $11.95 to mail them to Iraq or Afghanistan,” she said.
Recently, she sent off a package to the friend of a friend who is a Marine Lt. Col. in an infantry regiment in Iraq. He wrote her a thank you note and wondered if she might want to send a similar package to one of his pals, another Lt. Col. who was with a Marine regiment in Afghanistan. On the way, she said.
So far, Foster has sent out 21 packages overseas. Now, she wants to enlarge her program.
Next year, a group of Maine National Guardsmen will be sent overseas. Foster says she would like to make sure each one of them has a package of lip balm and hand cream.
Don’t be surprised if Beverly Foster comes asking for a few dollars to help her on her new project. Anyone so interested may send donations to Beverly Foster, 1155 State Route 32, Round Pond, 04564.
