Group to create scrapbooks for members of military

The Monroe Garden Club is seeking contact information on all men and women from the community currently serving in the armed forces in an effort to compile scrapbooks in their honor.

The 20-member group is specifically looking for the names and addresses of Monroe residents serving away from home on active duty or reservists on active duty, said Jessie Hull, vice president of the club.

Each group member will design their own patriotic scrapbook cover and inside compile 4 x 6 photos of such things as the community’s new Veterans Memorial, the city’s administrative offices and fire stations, and some information about the club that was established in 1960, she said.

The book also will include personal photos of the service members and a letter from each garden club member.

“It’s not just for people in Iraq and Afghanistan, not just for those service members — it’s for everybody. ... A lot of stuff goes to Iraq and Afghanistan, but there are people on the ships and the support units in Germany,” said Hull, who served as a hospital core man in the Navy for four years while stationed in Rota, Spain.

“For as many service people we can find, we’ll do it for them. It’s going to be fun.”

The group plans to mail the scrapbooks to service members before the holidays, she said.

Hull, 40, said she came up with the idea to compile the scrapbooks to support our troops.

“Even college students ... you know how it is when you’re away from home. It’s something nice.”

Anyone in Monroe interested in having a scrapbook sent to their son or daughter, a family member or loved one actively serving in the military should contact Hull via e-mail at squid8892@yahoo.com. The deadline to submit the information is Oct. 19.

“It doesn’t matter whatever current address they have, the awesome thing about being in the military is they will find you,” she said.

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