Christmas Surprise
St. Ignace Rallies To Send Gifts to Soldiers in Iraq
By Paul Gingras

Liz Piippo and her father John Elliott, both of St. Ignace, pose next to a collection of gifts for soldiers stationed in Iraq Tuesday, December 5. The large pile of boxed gifts was produced by a donation drive, initiated by Mrs. Piippo, to send to her husband’s company in Ramadi.

Shortly before Christmas, United States Army soldiers stationed in Ramadi, Iraq, will receive a pleasant surprise when 27 boxes of donations arrive from the St. Ignace community. For even distribution among the Bravo Company 1-36 Infantry, half of the boxes will be delivered to Sergeant Jesse Piippo of St. Ignace, the other half to First Sergeant Louis Barnum.

The gifts were sent Tuesday, December 5, from the St. Ignace Post Office by Liz Piippo, wife of Sergeant Piippo, and her father, John Elliott.

The boxes were filled with candy, toiletries, crackers, and canned food, as well as letters, pictures, and stuffed animals. Some of these items are also available at the company’s store in Iraq, but the soldiers are usually too busy to buy them, Mrs. Piippo explained.

Mrs. Piippo struck upon the idea to send the gifts when her husband told her that some soldiers in his company were receiving regular letters and gifts from family members, while others were not. To help fill the gap for them, she organized the donation drive in St. Ignace.

Collection boxes were set up at Central Savings Bank, the St. Ignace Veterans of Foreign Wars hall, Glen’s Market, St. Ignace elementary and middle schools, and Holiday Station Store. Customers at the Rock Bottom Tavern in Moran filled out Christmas cards for the soldiers.

Students in kindergarten through seventh grade at St. Ignace Area Schools collected items for the soldiers, drew pictures, and wrote letters, under the direction of teachers Kari Visnaw and Helena Shepard.

The boxes also included stuffed animals dressed in Army uniforms, created by Lynne Piippo of St. Ignace, Sgt. Piippo’s mother. This is the second time she has done this. They were a hit among the soldiers once, and when their uniforms were re-designed late in 2005, Mrs. Piippo decided to do it again.

Mrs. Piippo’s mother, Shelly Elliott, an employee of Central Savings Bank, arranged for a room at the bank to be made available to prepare the donations for shipping.

“I want to tell them so bad,” Mrs. Piippo said of the soldiers who will receive the unexpected donation. “They have no idea this is coming. I am very excited [the troops] will feel the support of an entire community.”