Patriotic key chains remind soldiers of support at home

When members of the National Guard's 1140th Engineer Battalion leave Southeast Missouri for Fort Riley, Kan., Monday for their deployment, they'll have a little piece of home tucked away in bags or pockets.

Two local groups have teamed up to distribute patriotic key chains with personal messages to the 1140th and other troops stationed overseas.

The idea originated with the Eagles Aerie No. 3775 in Cape Girardeau. They want to sell the key chains, distribute them to soldiers and use the profits to pay for postage on care packages being mailed overseas.

The Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross has joined the effort, and so far more than 100 key chains have been sold.

Each of the 2-inch, round key chains costs $5 and comes with a handwritten message from the buyer.

"This will let the service people know there's someone here thinking about them," said George Reutzel, an Eagles member and Naval Reservist who helped organize the fund raiser. "Something like this will remind them of why they're over there."

Eight members of the local Eagles are among those reporting for duty at National Guard armories around the region this weekend.

Reutzel said they hope to sell around 50 more key chains by Saturday, when the 1140th reports for duty in Perryville, Mo. The key chains will be distributed by Eagles members to the battalion at a briefing on Sunday.

Mary Burton, executive director of the local Red Cross, said the key chains will still be available for purchase after the battalion's deployment. Those key chains will be mailed overseas with care packages sent to other Southeast Missouri troops.

"This is an example of the outpouring of love and support that goes with our troops when they're deployed," Burton said.

cclark@semissourian.com

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