So many of us wonder
how we can support the brave men and women of the
military who are deployed to overseas locations
like Iraq and Afghanistan.
The people of Southwest
Florida have found one way to express their
support. Operation Open Arms makes it possible in
a unique way. Our goal is to make a difference
in the lives of our troops and their families.
Visit the
Contributors page to locate the offers that have been given by
local businesses and individuals.
Because of the sacrifices made by
Our Troops, effective January 1, 2007 Operation
Open Arms is seeking sponsors willing to make
the ultimate sacrifice and provide benefits
Free of Charge for Our Troops. OOA has
enjoyed a remarkable success over the last two
years. If the bar is going to be raised for Our
Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the bar will be
raised for all who Support Our Troops via
tangible acts of kindness. Operation
Open Arms is a self administering program. It is
not an entitlement program. The responsibility
of making all hotel, golf, fishing, restaurant,
and other reservations rests solely with the
individual military participant or their
immediate family. The founders of the program
work to find contributors and to post the offers
on the website - they are not actively involved
when it comes to detailed arrangements. Contact
information is posted with each offer and
military personnel and/or their families are
expected to use that information to make their
arrangements. The only way to take advantage of
the offers is by contacting the contributors
directly. Offers by contributors are always
subject to availability. For example,
professional fishing guides will work around
their scheduled charters as best as they can -
lodging accommodations are based on availability
at the time of the request. Gift certificates
are sometimes limited to a fixed number each
month. |
On April 19, 2005, SPC.
Travis Downes, a U.S. Army forward scout, was home
on a two-week leave from his duty station in Iraq.