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Navy for Moms Christmas Project

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Christmas for Carrier Strike Group 11

Navy For Moms has taken on the task of sending a Christmas stocking or goody bag to each sailor in Carrier Strike Group 11 and its attached air wings.  The strike group is made up of the USS Nimitz, USS Chosin,  USS Sampson, USS Pinckney, USS Rentz, and several air squadrons.

The USS Nimitz along with Carrier Strike Group 11 deployed in July of 2009 and is in the Indian Ocean supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.  The strike group was recently informed that they would have two months added to the deployment so they will be gone for eight months instead of six.  Navy for Moms thought the sailors could use a some cheering up for Christmas.

Dianne
Proud Mom of a USS Nimitz Sailor

Christmas At Sea 2009

USS Nimitz and Carrier Strike Group 11



Navy For Moms is sending Christmas Cheer to Carrier Strike Group 11 this Christmas. OK, it won't really look like this but we hope our project will bring smiles to the faces of our sailors! A little something from home lets them know they are being thought of.

The Navy Times Scoop Deck Blog!

The Navy Times reports on the Navy for Moms Moms Holiday Project



"The carrier Nimitz and its strike group will spend Christmas at sea this year after Navy commanders extended their deployment to eight months. A group of Navy moms isn't taking this lying down, however. Via the Twitter Feed of Excellence came word this morning that users at NavyForMoms.com plan to "adopt" the Nimitz strike group and send care packages to try to help make its deployed Christmas a little brighter."

Read more here at The Scoop Deck

Navy for Moms Holiday Project on Facebook

Navy for Moms Holiday Project on Facebook
This is the Facebook page for the Nimitz Moms Christmas Project. We will be sending Christmas stockings filled with candy or holiday goody bags to each of the crew w/ the Nimitz Strike Group. USS Nimitz including air wing, USS Chosin, USS Rentz, and USS Sampson.

My Contribution to the Navy For Moms Holiday Project

Five Boxes, 80 Goody Bags


Students make Christmas cards for CSG 11

5000 Handmade Cards for CSG 11 Sailors

Manatee County school children put the United States Navy on their Christmas card list.
Over 5,000 handmade greeting cards are being shipped out Thursday afternoon.
Students create Christmas cards for the troops
It takes six weeks for these cards to reach the sailors deployed out at sea, but the mom who organized the school cards on the Suncoast says this project already put her in the Christmas spirit, because of how much these kids cared to help.

Nolan Middle School employee, Karen Bonanno, let's us take a peak at some special Christmas gifts; thousands of handmade cards written by school children. "I work for the school system, so I thought they would give me at least 2,000...to my surprise I got over 5,000!"

Proud Mom of a US Sailor T-Shirt

Perfect gift for a sailor's mom!

Moms like to express their pride in their kids and this Proud Mom of a US Sailor t-shirt is perfect for that. Moms of sailors would love this t-shirt.
All proceeds from the sale of this T-Shirt will be donated to the Navy For Moms Holiday Project 2010. It will be used to buy Christmas goodies or it will help to defray postage costs. Thank You!

Proud Loved one of a US Sailor shirt
Proud Loved one of a US Sailor by stargazer00
Browse more Navy T-Shirts

Carrier Strike Group 11

Ships in the Nimitz Entourage

These are the ships deployed in the Indian Ocean with the Nimitz. They will be at sea for Christmas this year. The Nimitz Moms of navyformoms.com plans to send each of the sailors on these ships a stocking or goody bag.
USS Nimitz
USS Nimitz (CVN-68) is a supercarrier in the United States Navy, the lead ship of its class. She is one of the largest warships in the world. She was laid down, launched and commissioned as CVAN-68, but was redesignated CVN-68 (nuclear-powered multimission aircraft carrier) on 30 June 1975 as part of the fleet realignment of that year.
The USS Chosin
CG 65 is the first U.S. NAVY warship named in commemoration of the First Marine Division's breakout from a Chinese Communist encirclement at the Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War in the bitter winter of 1950.
The USS Sampson
Guided Missile Destroyer. USS Sampson (DDG-102) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She was authorized in 2002 and is the fourth U.S. Navy ship named to honor Rear Admiral William T. Sampson.
USS Pinckney
"Proud To Serve"
USS Pinckney (DDG-91) is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in the United States Navy. She is named for Cook First Class William Pinckney (1915-1975), who received the Navy Cross for his courageous rescue of a fellow crewmember onboard Enterprise (CV-6) during the Battle of Santa Cruz.
USS Rentz
Guided Missile Frigate. In December, 1985, The USS Rentz moved from Long Beach, California to its current (2007) location in San Diego, California. Following initial shakedown cruises and operations, Rentz was assigned to the USS Ranger aircraft carrier group. As part of that group, the ship regularly cruised the Southern California Operations Area off the coast of San Clemente Island with a pair of fuzzy dice dangling above the ship's computerized helm. During "breakaways" after underway replenishment (UNREP) at sea, Rentz blasted the Beach Boys song "Little Deuce Coupe" as its inaugural "UNREP breakaway song."

Thanks to all who are helping with the Navy for Moms Holiday Project!

Thank You from Navy for Moms!


Navy For Moms have enlisted school children across the country to make hand made cards for our sailors. Many businesses and organizations have stepped up to help the Nimitz family complete this project. Ladies' groups, realtors, Boy Scouts, American Legions, VFW, Moose Lodges, Elk, Queen City Candy, Curves and more have made generous donations of goods or money. Some have given us wonderful discounts. We estimate that the project will cost more than $10,000 for stockings or goody bags and items such as candy, beef jerky, granola bars, individual drink mixes, and postage. We are close to our goal. We don't want anyone to be left out!

The USS Nimitz and its entourage will spend Christmas at sea this year.

Proud Mom of a US Sailor Mug

Nice gift for the Mom of a Sailor

Maybe instead of a t-shirt your mom would llike to have this Proud Mom of a US Sailor mug for her desk.
All proceeds from the sale of this mug will be donated to the Navy For Moms Holiday Project 2010. It will be used to buy Christmas goodies or it will help to defray postage costs. Thank You!

Proud Loved one of a US Sailor mug
Proud Loved one of a US Sailor by stargazer00
Create a custom mug on zazzle

Air Squadrons Deployed with the Nimitz

Jets and Helicopters

  • Black Aces
  • Tophatters
  • Warhawks
  • Sidewinders
  • Indians
  • Black Ravens
  • Providers
  • Wallbangers
  • Easy Riders
  • Battle Cats
  • Wolfpack
  • Scorpions
  • Wildcards

Come Home Safely, We'll Keep The Light On For You

In honor of our military

All proceeds from the sale of this T-Shirt will be donated to the Navy For Moms Holiday Project 2010. It will be used to buy Christmas goodies or it will help to defray postage costs. Thank You!

Come home safely shirt
Come home safely by stargazer00
More Military T-Shirts

Navy for Moms completes Holiday project!

Goodies for Carrier Strike Group 11

Navy For Moms have completed their project of sending a stocking or goody bag to each sailor in Carrier Strike Group 11. We sent out more than 6500 stockings and goody bags. Most of the packages will be mailed by this week. (week of November 16) Thousands of cards, many of them handmade by school children, have been sent. It was a huge project and we completed it in a relatively short time. We sincerely hope that it brings smiles to faces of our sailors!

We have decided to make this an annual project, sending Christmas cheer to a carrier strike group that is deployed for Christmas. Our Nimitz sailors will be stateside next Christmas but another group will be deployed overseas.

A huge thank you to all the moms who participated, some of whom did not even have a sailor in Carrier Strike Group 11. Also a big thank you to all who donated time, money or goods to help us achieve this goal!

Moms send gifts to deployed Strike Group Sailors


The Nimitz gets a delivery of 34,400 pounds of mail on Christmas Eve 2009.
Moms Send Holiday Gifts to Deployed Strike Group Sailors
ABOARD USS NIMITZ, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors deployed on board the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68) received 6,000 boxes filled with holiday gifts from mothers of service members on Christmas Day.

Deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, members of Nimitz' chief's mess organized the distribution of the gift boxes donated from members of Navyformoms.com to the entire Nimitz Strike Group.

7000 Hugs for the USS Nimitz

One of our members, ThanksMom sent 7000 cards to the Carrier Strike Group. She gave this cool patch to all of her helpers! ThanksMom You Rock!

From the Public Affairs Officer on the Nimitz

I'm sure his office is swamped with boxes of holiday goodies!

Message from the Nimitz' PAO

Sent: 11/24/2009 10:45:01 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: RE: mail

We have a great plan in place to ensure that each package is distributed. It is actually good that it is coming in waves to ensure that we can catalog the gifts.

This is a very cool project, and we are all thankful to have such a great nation to defend.

V/R Jason

A Note from the Command Master Chief USS Chosin

Part of Carrier Strike Group 11

The Command Master Chief from the USS Chosin sent this nice note to our project coordinator:

Sent: 11/25/2009 10:27:23 A.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: Navy for Moms

Ms. xxxxxxxx,

We were lucky enough to have a big replenishment of stores. Among that was a lot of mail. I received a grand total of 14 boxes today. Some were labeled "USS NIMITZ Holiday Project"; some had "Navy for Moms" on them; a couple did not have anything labeled on them and were not from anyone that I recognized as family of crew members. It came at a great opportunity as we have our Thanksgiving here tomorrow and this will be a great way to spread some joy to our crew here.

I appreciate the support of the organization and the thoughts supporting us and my shipmates out here during the holidays away from our families.

Warm Regards,
CMDCM(SW) xxxx xxxxxx
Command Master Chief
USS CHOSIN (CG 65)

Another email from the USS Chosin

Part of Carrier Strike Group 11

Mrs. XXXXXX

My name is Neil XXXXXX and I'm an Electronics Technician stationed on the USS Chosin. Thank you for the box of goodies that you sent us. With not much variety in the ships store its really nice to get some new snacks and the holiday ornaments make it feel a little more like the holidays. Being out to sea for four months and having about four more months to go until we get home we kind of lose sight of what is going on back home as far as holidays are concerned. The support we get from family and friends really helps you couldn't even imagine how much it brightens our day when we get a package in the mail. Its almost like being a little kid at Christmas opening a present. We couldn't do our jobs with out the support from everyone back home thank you so much for thinking of us during the holiday season.

Sincerely,

Neil XXXXXX

The USS Chosin Sends Another Thank You Note!

Our project looks like a success!

From: xxxxxx@cg65.navy.mil
To: NavyMomxxxxxxxx@aol.com
Sent: 12/2/2009 1:43:51 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

Ms. xxxxxx,

We received another mail run the day before yesterday. In that delivery, there were 18 more boxes from the organization. I can not tell you how happy and surprised the crew was to see these still coming in and the care from folks back home supporting us out here.

Again, my hat is off to you and the organization for making this come together during the holidays!

W/R,

CMDCM(SW) xxxx xxxxxx

From the Command Master Chief of the USS Rentz

One of the ships in Carrier Strke Group 11

From: xxxxxx@.navy.mil
To: NavyMom@xxxxxxx
Sent: 12/10/2009 3:06:39 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

xxxxxxx,

Thank very much! Today we received packages and I distributed them throughout the ship during dinner. Have a happy holiday season and we are thankful for all you have been doing to support our Sailors.

VR/
CMC xxxxxxxx

Notes from Carrier Strike Group 11 Sailors

We love to hear from you!

Hello Mr. and Mrs. xxxxxxx,

My name is Cedric xxxxxx, and I'm the lucky sailor who got your card and gift bag, just want to let you guys know I really appreciate it, something so small means soooo much, especially when you're out to sea. Thanks for caring enough to do such a thing; it really feels good to know you people out there appreciate what we do as well. Don't be afraid to write back, in fact I'll be expecting to hear from you guys.

Your new sailor friend,

Cedric x. xxxxx ; )

_________________________

Good morning! My name is Dan XXXXX and I am attached to CCSG11 onboard USS Nimitz. I just wanted to say thank you for the gifts, the cookies were delicious! I am in charge of a department of 13 and they all were so happy when they received there little baggies. Thank you again and if you want to keep in touch, please feel free to email me back! Merry Christmas and I hope you have a Happy New Year!

Dan

Thanks from the Nimitz

Dear XXXXX,

Myself and the personnel in Quality Assurance Office onboard the USS Nimitz here in the XXXXXXXXXX would like to express our sincere thanks for the care packages you sent us. In a time when all of us would rather be home with our families, your care packages have brought smiles to our faces and a little bit of warmth to our hearts. Thank you so very much and we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sincerely,

Eric XXXXXXXXX

HTC(SW/AW)ERIC XXXXXXXX
USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)
COMMMAND NDT EXAMINER

_________________________________

Thank you so much for your note and the candies sent to us here on the USS NIMITZ. We are very grateful to do the job we do, for wonderful people like you. For your thoughts of us at the holidays it makes it just that much more special, so for the young man that signed my card John B. (I can't read the rest) please tell him that I hope he has a very good Holiday Season, and a terrific New Year. Again, I appreciate your thoughts during this time I must be away from my own little girl and the rest of my family, YOU MAKE IT WORTH IT!!!!!! For that I know my Daughter is proud of me for good reason, and home safe with wonderful people such as you, not alone in any way, shape, or form.

Best of Wishes to your Family,

HM1(SW/AW/FMF) Angela xxxxxxxxx

USS NIMITZ CVN 68

Health Service Department

Senior Surgical Tech

More notes from the Nimitz!

xxx & xxxxxx,

Thank you very much for your time and energy to send us the candy. It has been a long deployment and my command has just told me that we may be extended 2 more months even though we already were extended earlier in the year. It makes me and my shipmates days a lot better to know that some one appreciates the time that we are spending out here thank you.

Very Respectfully,

LSSN xxxxxxxx

_____________________

Hello,

I am IT1(SW) XXXX, Jason A of the U.S. Navy and just received today your Christmas package. I can't express enough gratitude nor can I tell how well timed this gift is! As you can imagine It gets a bit stressful being out here fighting the way we do and being away from our families as long as we are. It's this type of sentiment that really lifts our spirits and helps us carry on. I am originally from Pennsylvania myself, the northern cambria area and it's a great feeling knowing someone from my home state is doing something this magnificent for us out here, thank you so very much this really meant the world to me and brothers and sisters in arms.

Very respectfully,

IT1(SW) XXXX, Jason A

Thanks from the Nimitz

You are in our hearts

Dear Navy Mom, Terry

Thank you for the Christmas card and bag of goodies. I truly
appreciate the time that you put into not only the baggy but the hand
written note. We know that you support us but when the Home front lets
us know that we are in their hearts it makes a world of difference on
all of us. Thank you Terry not only from me but from the rest of the
crew and my mom too because I know she would appreciate you making my
day a little brighter.

V/R
MA2 (SW/AW) Jacqueline xxxxxx
USS Nimitz CVN -68
___________________________
I wanted to say Thank-you for sending those wonderful packages to us
for Christmas. They have certainly cheered up a bunch of us. One of
the girls started clapping her hands, bouncing up and down and cheered
"Christmas! Christmas! It's Christmas!" Which definitely cheered me
up a lot! Thanks again for the card, candy, popcorn and the cinnamon
pinecones! I've been a bit blue lately and everything cheered me.
From one mom to another, Thank-you! Shen

Notes from the Warhawks Squadron

A word from the Warhawks

On behalf of the Warhawks I just want to thank all of you for what your doing for the squadron. It's the few of you that do make a difference and it shows the appreciation that you have for us. Believe me when you see the Sailors eyes light up when they get these care packages. Again thank you for all your time and effort.

CMC Rick xxxx
___________________
xxxxxx,

I'll reiterate the Command Master Chief's thanks. As you well know, long stretches away from home are tough on our Sailors (young and old), and they are even tougher over the holiday season. We will do what we can to help our Sailors connect with their families during the holidays, but our resources are limited. Please know that your efforts do make a big difference! Thanks again.

CDR Bill xxxxx
Executive Officer
Strike Fighter Squadron NINE SEVEN

Thoughts from the Nimitz

Thoughts about Christmas on the Nimitz

From: xxxxxxr, Samuel LT
To:xxxxxxxxxxx@aol.com
Sent: Fri, Dec 25, 2009 7:51 pm
Subject: Merry Christmas from 12k miles away!

Thanks so much for the package and warm wishes. It's business out here
even today on Christmas flying strikes into Afghanistan. Theres a
plane at full power right now just over my head taking off making the
whole room shake. So far, our cruise out here on USS Nimitz has been
pretty standard, except for it being 8 months longL Little things like
getting a package from somebody you don't know, but who you know is
thinking about you makes a big difference. Usually, somebody in the
shop or squadron gets a package, and the instant it's opened, friends
and shipmates reach in and help themselves to whatever Mom sent and we
all share a little love%u2026 but on Christmas, thanks to the love of people
like you, everybody has their own package.

There are a lot of different jobs out here on the Carrier, but mine is
actually to launch airplanes. I'm a "Shooter", and it's my job to
signal for the actual firing of the catapult. It's a lot of fun, even
as serious and dangerous as it is. We never forget the danger%u2026 it's
easy to walk up there in the morning (just like another day at the
office), lose focus for just a second and wind up down in medical.
I've got a shipmate missing ½" of his fingertip right now because he
looked the other way at the wrong time. We've got some good nicknames
for him now though!

They just announced over the intercom system that dinner is being
served. I saw the menu, and it's just like we'd have back home%u2026
turkey, ham, stuffing, green-beans. I miss my Mom's gourmet mac&cheese
casserole, and she still hasn't given the recipe to my wife which
forces us to go to their place for holidays%u2026 but at least if I can't be
home, I can be surrounded by friends.

Thanks for everything,
LT Sam xxxxxx
USS Nimitz

A teacher hears from the USS Chosin

The kids are thrilled

I am SOOOO thrilled to say that Petty Officer Kevin XXXX replied to a letter that one of my student's wrote!!! He also wrote me a letter and we received them today. He also sent both of us a coin from the ship. Well, I made an announcement at the faculty meeting today and the staff was in "awwww". Plus the class was in AWWWWW to know the USS Chosin fought pirates and that Petty Office XXXX has saved lives!
This was my 'science' lesson today....sharing this news and discussions with the class. Thank you again for introducing this opportunity to me so I could share with my students. What a perfect "lesson" that can't be picked up from a textbook!

Miss Smith

Feedback from the Moms

Moms hearing from their kids

glidersHeard from james. He hasn't gotten his yet, but he said there are packages from Navy for Moms all over the ship. I said, yup, we did that and he said Cool!
______________
Tim said thanks to whoever sent popcorn, candy, & chocolate to the Weapons Dept. He said there were 3 different bags they could choose from and he picked the one with chocolate.
______________
My son said reactor dept got goodies from Laura. He said to tell her thanks from Reactor Mechanical and Reactor Electrical. So Thanks Laura!
______________
Word from my son that packages are hitting their destination and they are a huge hit. My son said there are glider planes flying all over his shop. So ladies we did great and they are all very happy to have a little love from home.
______________
My son and his dept. sound like a bunch of kids on Christmas day, and that is what we all wanted. They told me to thank all of you ladies for what you have done and clearly stated to me "Mission Accomplished." They have had glider airplanes flying for 2 days.

Thanks from Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

MCPON West

Navy for Mom's w/ MCPON West & CNO/Admiral Roughead at the Army-Navy game. The MCPON was aware of our Holiday project and thanked us all for supporting his shipmates:-)

The Nimitz will be stateside for Christmas 2010, but another Carrier Strike Group will be deployed at Christmas time. Navy for Moms is already planning for our Christmas 2010 project to send goodies to whichever group is at sea for Christmas.

Want to give a shout out to the Carrier Strike Group 11 sailors?

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Take this opportunity to send your holiday wishes to the sailors of Carrier Strike Group 11.

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  • Reply
    standardproject Mar 11, 2010 @ 5:29 pm | delete
    Excellent lens. Most informative about Merry Christmas. Your added picture nice to see.

    Thanks for sharing a nice lens.
  • Reply
    lisadh Jan 4, 2010 @ 8:08 pm | delete
    Great lens on a great project. 34k pounds of mail? I'd say the project was a success!!
  • Reply
    JenOfChicago Dec 23, 2009 @ 11:35 am | delete
    Wonderful project - Merry Christmas!
  • Reply
    Wednesday_Elf Dec 22, 2009 @ 4:15 pm | delete
    A very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the sailors of Carrier Strike Group 11 and all the Navy for Moms who banded together to give these sailors a holiday treat. I'd be pleased to know how I can help next year. My dad was in the Navy in WWII and I've been a member of a local Navy League in the past, welcoming visiting ships and sailors to port.
  • Reply
    pkmcr Dec 14, 2009 @ 3:52 pm | delete
    Super lens! Blessed by a Squid Angel :-)
  • Reply
    spirituality Nov 27, 2009 @ 1:47 pm | delete
    great way to honour the sailors :) blessed
  • Reply
    dagsmith Nov 10, 2009 @ 5:16 pm | delete
    Great lens. A case where I really wished my angel powers could do more than just recognize your lens!
  • Reply
    WindyWinters Oct 28, 2009 @ 2:45 pm | delete
    Wonderful Lens. Merry Christmas & thanks to everyone on the Carrier Strike Group 11. :)
  • Reply
    boutiqueshops Oct 26, 2009 @ 7:23 pm | delete
    Without the brave efforts of all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines and their families, this Nation, along with our allies around the world, would not stand so boldly, shine so brightly and live so freely. Lane Evans

    God Bless Carrier Strike Group 11, Safe passage!

    Sailor's Paraphrase of the 23rd Psalm
    The Lord is my pilot, I shall not drift.
    He lighteth me across the dark waters.
    He steereth me in the deep channels.
    He keepeth my log.
    He guideth me beneath stars of his holiness for his name's sake.
    Yea, though I sail 'mid the thunders and tempest of life,
    I shall dread no anger, for thou art with me;
    Thy love and thy care, they shelter me.
    Thou preparest a harbour for me in the homeland of eternity.
    Thou anointest the waves with oil
    My ship rideth calmly.
    Surely sunlight and starlight shall favour me on the voyage I take,
    And I will rest in the port of God forever.

    sylvia

    lensrolled to my USS Lexington, Blue Ghost & Soldier's Angel Project Valour-IT lenses!
  • Reply
    gwen Oct 25, 2009 @ 11:56 am | delete
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year's to all our sailors of Carrier Strike Group 11. We all appreciate everything you are doing and scarificing for our freedom.
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The Navy, the Nimitz and Care Packages

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stargazer00

Hello and welcome! I am a wife and the mother of three sons, one of who is in the navy and serving on the USS Nimitz. He is the one that makes me a Proud... more »

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