Danny Boemermann
With American soldiers in Iraq and citizens half a world away, in the United States many people do not realize how much of a difference they can make while still in America. However, this semester,a senior started the N.C. State chapter of Carolina Troop Supporters.
James Boicourt, a senior in political science and founder of the NCSU Troop Supporters said, “I always thought it would be good to have a branch of it here, since N.C. State is typically more conservative.”
He said there are two main goals in this organization; first, to provide moral and tangible support to those soldiers that otherwise would not have it, and second, to raise awareness in the community about what soldiers are doing while away from home.
Ashley Weekes, an alumna of UNC-Chapel Hill, started a chapter there and influenced Boicourt to start one here.
“When Ashley started it at UNC it was just her and a few of her friends,” Boicourt said.
The organization’s membership eventually grew a lot stronger, and Boicourt hopes the NCSU chapter will mirror the success of UNC-CH’s program in forthcoming years. However, building this program has not been an easy process.
“I was amazed to see the amount of work [Ashley] was putting into it herself,” Boicourt said.
As a self-proclaimed moderate, Boicourt is testament to the fact that one does not have to be a staunch Republican to be involved in something war-related.
“Some people take anti-war as anti-troop,” he said.
For Boicourt the two do not go hand in hand. He explains that one can have support for the troops even if opposed to the war.
“Everybody has that day that they don’t want to go to work, but [the soldiers] can’t call in sick,” Jennifer MacNab, a sophomore in political science and next year’s president of Carolina Troop Supporters, said.
Like her fellow Carolina Troop Supporters, she said she feels that Americans fail to give soldiers the amount of respect and support that they deserve.
“I think it’s about being a human and being connected to other people,” she said.
While the organization is still in the process of getting up and running, fundraisers are a goal for the future. Some ideas already in place are the Pen Pal Program, where members of Carolina Troop Supporters can keep in contact with a soldier and send them care packages.
“Baby wipes are a really big thing with care packages. If you can’t take a shower in the desert, baby wipes are good way to get clean,” Boicourt said.
Boicourt said they also include other necessities such as toilet paper and other things the soldiers may want, such as books, magazines and DVDs.
The enthusiasm of the organization’s leader encouraged Jason Houghton, a sophomore in public relations, to get involved in the program.
“I think it is important to get involved in this. [The troops] are the reason we are here to be able to get an education,” Abbey Kates, a junior in animal science and prospective secretary for the organization, said. “I feel like people our age do not appreciate that.”
If you want to get involved in Carolina Troop Supporters send an email tocarolinatroopsupporters@gmail.com or contact James Boicourt atjpboicou@ncsu.edu.