Blue Star Mothers preparing ‘Stockings 4 Our Troops’

Marina Vance and the Blue Star Mothers of Henderson and Boulder City hustled to get stocking stuffers ready Monday to send to troops who will be overseas for the holidays.

While there are still 25 days until Christmas, they need to get more than 1,300 packages of candy, beef jerky, Granola bars, lip balm, foot powder, toothpaste, shampoo and other hygiene items in the mail this week so they'll arrive on time at locations in Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world.

They need volunteers to help, addresses to send to service members and donations "no matter how small" to cover the $15.90 to ship a box with two stockings, according to the group's announcement.

Vance is a Gold Star mother, meaning her son, Army Spc. Ignacio "Nacho" Ramirez, of Henderson, died serving his country. He was killed when a bomb exploded Aug. 9, 2006, in Ramadi, Iraq.

Like in past years since she lost her son, she is helping the nonprofit group of Blue Star Mothers — those whose sons and daughters who are serving now or have served — prepare for the seventh annual "Stockings 4 Our Troops."

"It means a lot to me. It's like sending a little piece of my son, a little piece of my heart," Vance said, adding that troops who go overseas are part of a brotherhood.

"I love them and I want them to come home safe," she said.

Chere' Pedersen, vice president of Blue Star's "Chapter NV4," said the chapter so far has raised $12,000 in donations to cover postage for the holiday packages but needs addresses from Nevada military families to send to their loved ones in the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserve components.

The event, which runs today through Thursday, is at Henderson Convention Center, 200 S. Water St.

"Anyone that has a family member or friend who is currently deployed, please come down and pack the box yourself. We have the items. We have the money to ship it. We'd love to see you here. We need your help," Pedersen said.

Contact Keith Rogers at krogers@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0308. Find him on Twitter: @KeithRogers2