Retirement community overjoyed by packages sent to troops

By Matt Stephens | Posted: Tuesday, August 30, 2011 6:51 pm

Marge Brown, a former Army nurse during World War II who spent a year and a half in Europe, even serving during the Battle of the Bulge, knows the value of a care package.

“I know that when those packages were sent to us, they were well received,” Brown said.

Brown was one of four residents of the Conservatory at Alden Bridge retirement community in The Woodlands who got together with the U.S. Troop Support Foundation to package more than 50 care packages to troops overseas in July. About a week ago, the retirement community got a message of gratitude from a soldier with a very close connection to the area.

“I just wanted to let all of you know that my soldiers and I got the best packages today from you guys back in The Woodlands! I don't know how or who gave you my name, but I am a native of The Woodlands (Alden Bridge) and it was very nice to get some things from home,” 1st Lt. John-Michael Gallogly stated in a letter to the retirement community.

Gallogly provides medical care for the 600 people in his Army unit serving in Afghanistan, he said in the letter, and the packages were shared with medics and other members of his crew. A graduate of The Woodlands High School in 2005, Gallogly went to West Point, where he played soccer and studied life science.

He graduated from West Point in 2009 and was stationed at Fort Carson, Colo. His unit spent most of 2010 training for deployment to Western Afghanistan this summer.

“The residents were thrilled to find out that it was a local man,” said Sandy Abt, director of Fun for the Conservatory. “It was a complete coincidence.”

Abt and Brown said the care packages were filled with toiletries, socks, calling cards and nonperishable food items like jerky, soups, energy drinks and popcorn. Abt, who has been with the Conservatory about a year, said this is the first time she has seen the retirement community send care packages, but Brown, a resident there for three years, said the community likes giving back.

The retirement community has raised money for toys for the Marine Corps, for food drives and, most recently, for Alzheimer’s. As many of the community are veterans of World War II, Korea and some from Vietnam, Brown said the residents love supporting the military.

“I just feel like it’s my duty,” Brown said.

For more information about the U.S. Troop Support Foundation, go to www.ustroopsupport.com. For more information about the Conservatory at Alden Bridge, go to www.conservatoryseniorliving.com.