Summit Supports Our Troops was founded by the mother
of a young soldier, Christine Truhe, PsyD, as her son, Michael
Aros-Truhe,
received
his orders for his first deployment to Iraq. As a loving mother
and psychologist she felt and understood the tremendous impact
his imminent deployment would have on Mike, his wife, herself
and the rest of the people who knew and loved him. Chris quickly
recognized several factors that motivated her to launch a major
community wide effort.
On May 31, 2004, Summit Supports Our Troops was introduced to
the community at the town Memorial Day observance. Since that
day individuals, families, and businesses of the town and surrounding
areas have signed up to volunteer and to contribute items and
financial
resources to Summit Supports Our Troops to serve the Troops.
The next step was taken when Chris Truhe made contact with Ft.
Benning, where Mike was stationed, to determine how
best to work with the Army. To her surprise she found the military
to welcome her discussions andbe encouraging of her mission. In
particular Colonel Scott Spellmon and Mrs. Sharise Spellmon began
a relationship of mutual support with Chris that has continued
through the growth and success of SSOT till today.
In just a few months after its inception, the community provided
enough resources to enable Summit Supports Our Troops to provide
their first major shipment of 500 Freedom Boxes to the 3rd Brigade
Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division at Ft. Benning,
Georgia. At which, Colonel Scott Spellmon awarded Christine Truhe,
the "Patriotic Civilian Award" from the Department
of the Army.
Summit Supports Our Troops has since developed relationships with
members of all branches of the military who have educated and encouraged
Summit Supports Our Troops toward continued service and success.
* Factors which
provided motivation to develop SSOT.
1. People of a community should recognize and appreciate
their neighbors who are serving them and all Americans.
2. The military is a family, an extended family of any Troop. Therefore,
the men and women of a unit deserve to be cared for as one’s own.
3. People want to be active citizens, to “do something”, to serve
the country and to appreciate the troops in their families, especially in times
of crisis. They also want to teach their children to be caring and active citizens.
*
how best to work with the Army : This established
the “community/command support model”. A tactical
approach which requires that donations are specific to the
needs of the Troop and/or his/her command.
