A tragedy in Iraq, with a Bakersfield connection

Last month I told you about Pam Binns, commercial and operations manager for Walter Mortenson Insurance, who every Christmas strong arms her friends and colleagues to contribute to care packages for U.S. soldiers in Iraq. It started when Pam's son was serving overseas but has continued even after his tour has ended. She's done it at great personal expense, only because she believes in the sacrifice our young men and women are making and feels some responsibility to show her support. Now comes news from Pam (her photo was taken during a happier occasion) that four of the young men who enjoyed those care packages died in the recent crashes of two helicopters. Pam's email:

"I am sad to report that 4 of our brave servicemen that we supported for Christmas have paid the ultimate sacrifice for our freedoms. 2 helicopters went down recently and 4 of them perished...

Our prayers are with their unit, families, and friends as they try to come to terms with this terrible tragedy.

Once again, we love and support our troops !


Pam says she will continue with her annual gift giving as long as our troops are there.

Care packages for our troops overseas

There's a lot of good that goes on in this community that never makes the paper or local TV. Folks making the right decisions, sacrificing for others and doing it all without an ounce of press. Consider Pam Binns, commercial and operations manager with the local Walter Mortensen Insurance office, who has been sending care packages to our troops (Army Company C, Alpha Company)in Iraq the past couple of years. She does it all out of her living room through donations from dozens of friends. She emailed this picture of some of those goodies (black beanies for the cold, pistachios, Christmas stockings shown with a smiling helicopter airman.