On Sunday, September 12, at 3 p.m., a community prayer service will be held at the Bladen Community College Auditorium to pay tribute to the troops from Bladen County who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Along with the prayer service, a care package drive will be held throughout the month of September to collect items to send to the troops.

The event is being called the Bladen County Troop Support Prayer Service and Care Package Drive, according to County Commissioner Greg Taylor, who is in charge of planning and organizing it. The theme is: "Lest We Forget."

The idea for the prayer service originated at a meeting of the Bladen County Commissioners about a month ago, when Commissioner Jimmy Smith mentioned that it would be appropriate for the board to sponsor a community prayer service for the county's men and women serving in the two countries.

After Smith made the proposal, Chairman Lewis Tatum suggested that Smith take charge of such a service. However, since Smith was still involved in a political race at the time, the board asked Commissioner Greg Taylor to take charge of planning and organizing the event.

Initially, the event was to be just a prayer service, as Smith had suggested. However, Taylor, who had been participating in a care package drive for servicemen through his Sunday school class at Dublin First Baptist Church, came up with the idea of including a care package drive along with the countywide event.

"I thought it would make this event even more significant if we could collect care packages for all of the troops, both active and reserve, that we have over there," said Taylor. "So, as I was getting together the committee for the prayer service, they (the other committee members) thought it would be a good idea, too.

"We are planning to record the prayer service and include a copy of the CD in the care package along with the other items," said Taylor.

Items for the care packages will be collected until October 1 at various locations around the county, said Taylor. In Elizabethtown, the items may be dropped off at the National Guard Armory. In Bladenboro and Clarkton, the items will be collected at the town halls.

The campuses of Bladen County Community College will also be collection points, according to BCC President Dr. Darrell Page. At the East Arcadia and Kelly campuses, Naomi Miller and Mary Peterson respectively will be in charge of collections. At the main campus in Dublin, Harvey Robinson at Student Services will be in charge of collections.

Additionally, the Student Government Association will be assisting in the effort.

Items for the care packages will also be accepted at the Prayer Service on September 12.

"We are going to challenge churches, civic groups, employee groups, and businesses to donate specific items," Taylor said. "They may donate enough for all of the care packages we plan to make-about 300-or a portion of the number required."

Taylor said that Carla Evans and Brenda Gooden will keep a record of the items that have been promised from groups. Groups wishing to donate a specific item to the campaign may call them at 862-6933 to find what has already been promised.

He added that donations made through churches or the county will qualify as income tax deductions.

A suggested list of food items for the care packages include: beef jerky, Slim Jims, canned meats (pull top), canned cheese (Easy Cheese), squeeze mayonnaise, squeeze peanut butter, individually-wrapped snack items (except chocolate), cookies, powdered Gatorade and powdered drinks such as Kool-Aid and tea.

Travel size personal items on the servicemen's wish list include disposable razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, individual tissue packets, shampoo/conditioner, shower gel, sunscreen, hand lotion, lip balm and cotton swabs. A miscellaneous item that is often requested is playing cards.

Taylor said that this list is not exclusive and that other items may be included.

Taylor pointed out that his committee has access to the names of all the National Guard troops from the Elizabethtown Armory. Though some of the Armory's troops are from other counties, Taylor said the effort plans to send a package to each member of the unit who is deployed.

He has contacted the office of Congressman Mike McIntyre in an effort to obtain a list of active duty military members who are serving in the two countries.

"However, we don't know how long that may take," said Taylor. "We would like for folks to call us and tell us if they have a family member in the regular armed forces who is serving in Iraq or Afghanistan. We'd like to make sure that no one is missed."

These calls should also be directed to Evans and Gooden at 862-6933.

Reverend Dr. Bill Young, pastor of Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church and member of the committee, said he is excited about the effort.

"This is a way that the citizens of Bladen County can show support for the troops as well as their families through the service itself and the care packages the community will be sending them," said Young.

Young said the reason for the October 1 cutoff for mailing the packages is to ensure that they can be mailed by October 15 in order to arrive by Thanksgiving.

"We will also need donations to cover the cost of sending the packages," Young said. "Donations may be made at the sites where the other items are being collected."

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