Letter: Troop support group gives thanks
Thu Dec 06, 2007, 02:02 PM EST
DANVERS -

To the editor:
An open letter to the town of Danvers Community.
This past month, the Danvers Youth Soccer hosted a major soccer invitational tournament in which teams from all over the state participated. For the second year in a row, Jeff Chambers, David Thye, and the DYS board of directors made the decision to offer the Veterans Day event as a tribute to our soldiers serving America today. In that light, all proceeds from the two-day tournament were donated to Operation Troop Support. This decision was immediately embraced by the referees, who donated their pay for the games to OTS as well.

As a result of this remarkably unselfish gesture, Operation Troop Support was able to pay for thousands of Christmas and Hanukah gifts for our troops this year. As we joined the tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 10 and 11, each day began with a color guard honoring the veterans, teaching the children of the significance of the day. The days were abuzz with game after game, players, coaches, parents, and referees all excitedly doing their part to carry out this wonderful event. DYS sweatshirts were sold, hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, and drinks were sold. The Smith School fifth-grade class set up a bake sale table, and Operation Troop Support was invited to set up an information table as well. By the end of the tournament, the Smith School had raised nearly $500, which they donated to the troops; the referees had all turned their pay for each game back to the soldiers’ fund, and the proceeds from the sales of shirts and food were all contributed to our cause. In total, Danvers Youth Soccer made a $7,000 contribution to Operation Troop Support, which paid for the postage to send gifts to over 5000 soldiers across the world and in the hospitals.

Operation Troop Support wants the citizens of the Town of Danvers to know how unselfish and patriotic your town soccer league is. This was the second year in a row that the league has voted to make this contribution, and our town should stand proud to be in the forefront of American cities and towns who don’t just say “Support our Troops.” You do it! God Bless the Danvers Youth Soccer League for their patriotic and unselfish act.

Dick Moody
Operation Troop Support