Picture the daughter of a Limestone County soldier receiving a small teddy bear on Christmas morning that plays a message from her daddy, who is a world away in Iraq.

She would probably play the message over and over, just to hear the voice she misses.

You could help make this scene possible for the children of about 60 local and area soldiers. All you have to do is donate a small amount of money to buy a talking teddy bear for a member of the 203rd Military Police Battalion, said Amanda Bailey, FRG chairperson with the 203rd.

About 85 soldiers from Athens, Limestone and other Alabama counties are currently stationed with the 203rd in Basra. They are training the Iraqi police for their eventual takeover in the region. The unit's departure from Athens this summer marked the first time a local guard unit deployed overseas since 1950, when the 1343rd Battalion left for the Korean Conflict.

Whatever you can muster, the 203rd support staff needs your help now so they have time to buy the bears, send the recorders to Iraq — which takes two weeks — and get them back before Christmas.

Each bear costs $3 and includes a recording device that would be sent to Iraq — so a soldier mom or dad could record a message — then returned and reattached to a bear for their children, Bailey said.

With a little more — around $20 — you could buy a ham or turkey for a soldier's family for the holidays, she said.

Those supporting the 203rd also want to raise enough money to buy and fill Christmas stockings for the troops. They could use the old, artificial Christmas tree taking up space in your attic, if you can spare it, so the soldiers have something on which to hang their stockings.

So far, donations have been scarce. Perhaps because of the recession and perhaps because people want to help but forget to do it. You don't have to support the war to give. Just give to support our local soldiers.

In his October newsletter, Lt.Col. Chuck Buxton explained how tough the holidays can be for soldiers.

“Over the last couple of days, a number of our soldiers were given the opportunity to give holiday ‘shout outs” to family and friends at home,” Buxton said. “Some of these became very emotional for our soldiers, as the realism that they would not be home for the holidays hit home. I am asking for your continued support of our soldiers, especially with the holiday season just a few short weeks away. I know that it is a difficult time for the soldiers and their families. For some of you, this may be the first time that you have been separated for the holidays. Our support base needs to remain strong for our soldiers and their families; it is critical for their continued success.”

If you would like to donate to the 203rd, send a check or money order to:

FRG 203rd

28514 Countryside Circle

Ardmore, AL, 35739

For more information about supporting our troops, call Amanda at (256) 604-4366 or send e-mail to frg203rd@yahoo.com.

Any amount you can afford would help make the holidays better for our soldiers overseas.