Newburgh Free Academy, Class of 2001.
MARINE GYSGT LUIS A. MERCADO JR.
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Lance Corp. Brandon Spagnoli
Lance Corp. Brandon Spagnoli
Marine Lcpl Elizabeth Reyes
Lance Corp. Brandon Spagnoli
W e l c o m e
NEW: Article posted on 11/26/2011
Marine Sgt. Luis Mercado Jr. is the most popular man in his platoon when a package arrives in Iraq from his mom in Orange County. Surrounded by many soldiers, he distributes supplies of socks, drinks and food. Two large boxes of potato chips "disappear in 10 seconds, as if [the soldiers] have never eaten chips before," says Mercado.
Luz Mercado sends out the care packages daily to boost the soldiers' morale. Sponsoring her son's platoon has become her mission since their deployment to Iraq. "We have a mini Sam's Club in our garage," Luis Mercado Sr. says. "All you need is a shopping cart to go down the aisles...Things we take for granted, they appreciate a great deal. At 7:30 a.m., it is already 137 degrees there, so drinks are very important."
Luz operated as a one-person charity for months; now she is affiliated with the non-profit organization Support Our Heroes. "it was getting costly, about $30 to $40, to send the packages," says Luis Sr. The couple have been overwhelmed by the public's response to recent publicity, which sparked donations from families and organizations. "One child sent a letter with a check for $5. He said it was all he could do now, but when he gets older he wants to be a Marine," says Luis Sr..
Luz says the soldiers are doing more for her than she can for them. "Whether we believe in the war or not, they're giving us their lives."
'OPERATION NEWBURGH CARES'
Cafeteria North, Newburgh Free Academy
Saturday, November 20th, 2010
9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The Annual Operation Newburgh Cares Program will be taking place in the North Cafeteria of Newburgh Free Academy on Saturday, November 20th, 2010 from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM sponsored by the NFA Solar Racing Team, the NFA Key Club, the NFA National Honor Society, the NYS Science Honor Society at NFA and by the English and Social Studies Departments at NFA.
Students will once again be collecting donations, monetary and otherwise, to send to our local troops overseas. In conjunction with the Support Our Heroes Program the students will be writing cards, packing desperately needed items and mailing boxes to our military personnel stationed overseas during the holiday season. Please see the attached list for desperately needed items.
All items and donations may be dropped off at Newburgh Free Academy on Saturday, November 20th from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM to be packed by the students from the above listed organizations. If you have items to be donated but cannot drop them off on Saturday please feel free to call (845)527-4514 to arrange for a pick up.
Please help support those military personnel who are stationed overseas during this holiday season by making donations of any kind.
Christopher W. Eachus
Orange County Legislator
Teacher/Advisor, Newburgh Free Academy
201 Fullerton Avenue
Newburgh, New York 12550
FLYER HERE .
