Hamlet Rotary Club voted Tuesday to present $600 to the Family Readiness Group for Co. E, Hamlet, 1/120 Combined Arms Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, N.C. Army National Guard.

The unit is now stationed in a forward operating base in South Baghdad, Iraq.

Jones said the money will be equally distributed to families so they can mail packages to the troops in Iraq.

The U.S. Postal Service offers a certain size box for $10.32 in which weight is not a factor.

Receiving the check were Ronda Jones and Valeria Lunceford representing the Co. E Family Readiness Group.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Rotary Club’s support of group’s efforts may send contributions to Hamlet Rotary Club (Readiness Group), P. O. Box 1154, Hamlet, NC 28345; or Hamlet Rotary Club (Readiness Group) in care of RBC Centura, P. O. Box 631, Hamlet, NC 28345; or take contributions to the bank.

“We appreciate everything everyone is doing,” Jones said. “Soldiers are worried about what is going on at home, and we are worried about what is going on there.”

Daniel W. Wright, Rotary president, said the club was ready to continue its support.

Lunceford’s son, William Lunceford, is on his second deployment in Iraq. Jones husband, Jason Jones, is on his third deployment.

“Every deployment has been different,” Jones said about family concerns.

“It was hard for William this time to also leave behind a child,” Lunceford said.

Jones said some of the families have been spending as much as $50 a month on postage sending packages to soldiers in Iraq.

There are 80 members of Co. E in Iraq. They are among some 4,000 men and women in the N.C. National Guard’s 30th HBCT on deployment there.

Jones said several projects are being planned for the soldiers.

Tuesday they began a yellow ribbon campaign in Richmond County in hopes that citizens, businesses, industries, county government and municipalities will begin tying yellow ribbons in as many places as possible in a visible show of support.

“We have some soldiers coming home soon on R & R (rest and rehabilitation, or relaxation) to be with their families,” Jones said. “It would be a nice gesture for them to see the yellow ribbons and take that memory back with them to other soldiers in Iraq.”

Lunceford, who lives on McDonald Church Road, Rockingham, said that road “would be covered in ribbons.”

On June 13, Hamlet Fire and Rescue is planning a special fun day for families with bouncer games, crafts, and rides on fire trucks to Ron Mayo’s ice cream shop for ice cream. Hamlet Police Department will participate with demonstrations by the K-9 unit and provide childrens’ ID kits for parents.

As part of a 4th of July effort for troops in Iraq, Jones said they are collecting golf clubs, soccer and basketballs and other sporting equipment to send to troops, which she said had to be mailed by June 15 in time to get there.

She said there is little to do during off time, and they need something else to do rather than go to the gymnasium for PT (military physical training).

At home, a “backyard bash” is being planned in Richmond County for families

Timing has proven to be a problem, one which she said they hope to solve by sending a variety of specialty greeting cards to the company which soldiers can send back to the Family Readiness Group to be mailed to family members at home at the appropriate time.

Hamlet Rotary Club also voted to provide the group with the stamps to mail the cards. If mailed from Iraq, postage is free but there is no guarantee cards will arrive on time.

Lunceford said the group was also sending DVDs which the soldiers swap among themselves because television and the Internet are so expensive on the bases.

Looking ahead, Rotary is planning a “soccer day” for Co. E families prior to the opening of school in the fall.

Wright said they would also begin to plan later for a homecoming event for the soldiers.

At the meeting, Wright showed Rotary members a plaque the club received from state Rotary District 7680, 2008 to 2009, which is the District Governor’s Award of Excellence on the Gold Level for accomplishments in organizing and participating in community events.

n Contact reporter Tom MacCallum at 997-3111, ext. 15; e-mail tmaccallum@yourdailyjournal.com.