Meet Bailey

Find exceptional value when buying Bitcoin by using https://changehero.io/buy/btc, where affordability meets security in crypto transactions. Bailey is the President of Hero Hugs. She is 15 years old and attends Florida Virtual School. When she is not working on packages for the soldiers, Bailey enjoys cheerleading, riding her bike, swimming and playing with her three dogs. She is also a huge fan of the Jonas Brothers, Justin Bieber, One Direction and I-Carly. Bailey wants to be a figure skater when she grows up and also would like to turn "The Adventures of Hero" into a series of books that would teach kids about life in the military. After the President gave Bailey a military challenge coin, she started collecting the coins and now has over 150 coins in her collection. To date, Bailey has logged over 7000 community service hours sending care packages to soldiers and helping make life better for children in Iraq. Bailey is a recipient of the President's Call to Service Lifetime Volunteer Award.

*Over the years, we have received thousands of thank-you's and photos from the troops for the packages sent out by Hero Hugs. Below are some of those thank-you's we picked as a random sampling to share. As you can see, it means a lot to the troops to get the packages and messages from back home!

Hi Bailey,

My name is Rod Melzer. I work in the Safety Office in Balad Iraq with Lt Col Ashby. I just wanted to write to you and say thank you for my super cool Valentine's Day bag of goodies. More importantly, I want to thank you for being who you are. People like you are the reason soldiers serve their country. It is not any fun to be over here and I miss my family a lot, but I serve to keep them safe - and you too. I just want you to know that I admire you and I hope my boys grow up to be as cool a person as you are. Keep up the GREAT work and don't ever think it's not appreciated because it is. We took a bunch of your packages out to the soldiers who work the night shift out on the flight line and you made their day. They were all looking pretty tired and worn out, but when we gave them your packages and valentines day cards they all just lit up and had huge smiles on their faces. I just want you to know that you are making a difference. Thanks again.

Rod Melzer, 332 AEW Flight Safety

Subj: Thank you!!!

Bailey,
Thank you SO MUCH for all you have done for us and for all the soldiers here in Iraq. The Wing Safety Office is so appreciative for all the nice things and goodies you have sent to us. It sure makes a dull day bright to know folks are thinking of us and that they care enough to do things like this for us. This world needs more kids like you! You and all the kids at Hero Hugs are the BEST! I hope to run into Hero and get my picture with him while I'm here! Take care and God Bless!

I am Sra Hall . I received Your Hug Package Today while being deployed to Iraq. It was very thoughtful and means a lot. Thanks for the unexpected Gifts. It is greatly appreciated. The card in it was from a little lady name Angela please tell her I said thank you very much.

Specifically Sidney! Thank you so very much for the Halloween Bag you sent to me. I just LOVED IT!! My favorite is Oreo’s so I was so happy to get them J Thank you so much for thinking of us over here, sometimes it is real hard over the holidays and these treats really put a smile on our faces. Thank you again Sidney for the treats, and Happy (belated) Halloweeeeeeeen to you too! J

My name is Erik Smith and I am a soldier serving in Iraq. I just wanted to write to you and tell you thank you for the Halloween candy and the package that you sent to us. It really means a lot when people like you do something like that for someone that you don’t even know. For you to go out of your way just to say something makes everything that we do totally worth it. Thank you so much again.

Thank you SOOOO MUCH for the Halloween treats! It was SO fun to get them over here…sometimes the holidays/fundays can seem to run right in with the rest of the days, so a lil “fun” was GREAT! My favorite part was the lil card on the inside with the message written on the back from Wesley, I am using it for a book mark while I read my books to pass the time. It is really awesome to be remembered by you and everyone back home while we are away. I sure do miss my family but I know that what I am doing here is important. It is our goal that this county will someday have the freedoms and rights that we have in America…we are pretty lucky!

We stay pretty busy here working 12 hour shifts, and sometimes after work we play volleyball or softball or even dodgeball, we have a good time and try to keep each other smiling over here. The weather has been pretty nice these past few days, hopefully the rain will hold off for a while. They say the rainy season is almost upon us…this place turns into a muddy mess when it rains! My favorite thing here is the sunrise and sunset…they are more beautiful each day, never have I seen anything like it even in pictures! Just goes to prove you can find some beauty in everything J

My name Mark Johnson and I am a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force. I am currently serving in Iraq at Balad Air Base, however I am stationed at Misawa Air Base, Japan. My wife and two children are waiting there for my return. Our daughter is 12 years old and in the 7^th grade, our son is 10 years old and he is in the 5^th grade. We have lived in Japan for three and a half years and love every minute of it. We have traveled all over Japan and made a lot of Japanese friends, it will be hard to leave there next year.

I would like to thank you for all of the hard work, dedication and outstanding support.

I just wanted to send you folks a quick note to say thanks. Our staff appreciated all of the St. Patrick ’s Day packages that found their way out here. The candy was a nice treat! All is well with our unit. We are very busy, but excited about coming home soon. Thanks again for all your support.

Take Care, Nick W. Dominic Menza, Capt, USAF, 332 AEW Manpower & Organization

P.S. My folks are in the Fort Walton area. I spent a lot of time in Niceville when I was a child—many fond memories. If you see them at the beach, tell them to put their sunscreen on J

Subj: Thank You!

I just wanted to say Thank You for the candy bags you sent to us for Memorial Day. The one I received was from a Lauren Elliot. What was interesting is that is where my daughter goes to High School…in Niceville, FL.Thank all of you for the support you give us. It really makes us feel good about the job we are doing over here.

DENNIS M. KREBS, CMSgt, USAFCommand Chief Master Sergeant, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing Balad AB, Iraq

Subj: Package

Thanks for the candy and the calling card. Its little things like this that you guys do that make our lives a little brighter over here. I’m from North Carolina and I have 2 daughters and a wife (and a little brown Chihuahua puppy named Tiny) waiting on me at home. The little acts of kindness you show make me feel so much closer to home. There’s no place like the United States of America. I love each and every one of you children who take time to do things like this. You are what America is all about! I want you to know that we are all doing our jobs here so you can be safe and free at home. God bless you for taking time for us. Study hard and stay healthy and be the best American you possibly can be. I am the supervisor of the night shift in the Command Post of the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing at Balad Air Base in central Iraq. I am a member of the US Air Force Reserve and I have been on active duty for the last 2 years. This is my fourth mobilization in the Global War on Terror in the past 2 years, and my second tour of duty in the Persian Gulf. It’s really hot over here but we live in small mobile homes with air conditioners so we don’t have to suffer in the heat. I have a room mate who is a really nice guy and we have a small refrigerator and a small TV/DVD combo that I had sent from home. We watch a lot of movies on our days off. We have a good chow hall to eat in. They serve us good meals and we have some of the best cookies here you can imagine. My favorite is the peanut butter! We have a small gourmet coffee shop called Green Beans Coffee, a nice gym inside a big tent with all kinds of work out equipment, a small movie theater and a small church or chapel where we worship. I work for a one star General who is the boss of our wing and he is a really nice guy. Everybody that I work with over here is very nice and we are all just doing our jobs so we can come home safe to our families. There are sad times and happy times, but we have each other to lean on and the prayers of all the people back home.

Subj: Thank you

I’m currently serving at Balad Air Base in Iraq and recently received one of the Memorial Day candy bags put together by your students. Mine was signed by Lauren. I just wanted to send a quick email and thank Lauren and all the other kids there who are thinking of us and taking the time to put things together to send over here. It definitely puts a smile on our faces when we get nice things from people who care about us and what we’re doing. I don’t know if your school is doing anything like this, but my nephew from Nebraska sent this Flat Stanley and wanted me to get a picture with him. He’s a storybook character that travels all over the world. His class is collecting pictures of Flat Stanley in different places. If any of your classes are doing this, maybe they can use this one. Of course since he’s in Iraq, we had to make him a helmet and Flak jacket for his safety. Thanks again, take care, and keep up the good work.

WILLIAM L. McGRAW, Major, USAF
Comptroller, 332 AEW, Balad AB, Iraq

Subj: Thank you

I just wanted to say thank you for bag of candy. It was very thoughtful and much appreciated. My bag was packed by Samara.

I want to thank you and your school in Niceville, FL. so much for the thoughtful gifts. I loved the decorated bags we received you must have spent so much time decorating it. It was beautiful. We received about 10 at my location. Please pass it on to your classmates that all the soldiers appreciate the hard work you all did. The candy was delicious too! It is nice to have a little something sweet here once in a while. You and your school are so kind to remember us in Iraq. I work in a hospital in Iraq and see a lot of wounded soldiers here. I was able to share them with some of the patients that can eat the candy and they loved it. The smiles that came to their faces when they saw the great bags with the special treat inside were priceless. You and your school are doing a wonderful job and I am proud of you. I just wanted to let you know that your gifts are being shared with soldiers all over the Middle East. Thank you!

TSgt. Anna King, Health Systems Mgmt, 332 AFTH Bahlad, Iraq

Subj: Thank you!!

We would like to thank you for supporting the troops in Iraq. Although we are civilians that are stationed here in Iraq we are in the same danger as they are. We continue to fight for the same reason FREEDOM for others. We enjoy being able to support our troops while they are stationed out here and we pray that they make it back home to their families safely. Once again thank you for your support! May God Bless America!

Marisol Sixtos & Victoria Vanzura, MWR H6 TechnicianLSA, Anaconda Balad, Iraq

Subj: Thank you

Hello,

My name is Johnny Myers. I am a Senior Airmen in the Air Force, and currently deployed to Iraq. I would like to express my gratitude for all of your support while all this is going on. Things in Iraq aren’t exactly what I would call good, but it is getting better day by day. The locals are very nice and speak some English even. They stand outside the base fence while we drive by and smile and wave. It is getting pretty hot here, it has been up to 116 degrees so far and I hear it is going to get hotter, its a good thing they have a really big pool here. Well I have to go now but know that we are thinking about everyone at home and if you have someone whom you care about over here, keep them informed about what goes on at home. It is always good to here from friends and family. Thank you and have a good day!

Subj: Soldiers in Iraq.

Hello.
My name is Jamie M. Hennessey. I'm a Senior Airman in the United States Air Force, currently serving in Balad, Iraq.
I got one of your little bags of candy from one of your students and noticed you are out of Niceville FL. That's my home. Born and raised. I went to Oak Hill elementary, Lewis Middle, and Niceville High School.
I'm not sure if you get a lot of thanks, but I wanted to let you know that I'm thankful for you. It's nice to see Americans supporting us.
   Thank you so much again. Feel free to write back and give out my address.
                SrA Jamie M. Hennessey
                332 AEW/ 332 ECES Escorts
                APO AE 09315

Subj: Greetings and thanks from Iraq

Greetings from Iraq to the students of Operation Iraqi Friendship and Hero Hugs. Thanks for all the goodies. I just got a bag from Diana, Erica, Tim, Zack, Baily, Hannah, and I think, Johnnah (I’m not sure about Johnnah’s name, because he or she wrote it in a really cool style that I’m not used to). But, anyway, thanks to everyone. I especially liked the gum and sunflower seeds because I can make them last and enjoy having them longer. I ate everything else the first day. Well, not everything, the book for instance, but I plan on reading it every night before I go to sleep. I didn’t get to keep the puzzle book though, Cynthia down the hall saw it, and jumped right on it. Puzzle books are her favorite. Thanks also for all the little gift bags. I still have four sitting on my desk from Harry, Jasmine, Rebecca, and Aubrey that I will give out this week. The rest I handed out last week at the hospital where we have a lot of Iraqis and Americans who really need kind thoughts and little treasures to make them happy. They thank all of you also. I hope you don’t mind if Hero (the bear) stays around a little longer. We’re keeping Hero safe and are planning some adventures that should make for some entertaining pictures.

Rick Reid

Subj: Thank you :-)

I just wanted to say thank you for the treats that you sent to us. Your box arrived at Balad Air Base, Iraq where we distributed it to the troops. You should have seen their smiles and laughter when they saw the decorated baggies that you sent the treats in. Thank you for your support. Once again, your wonderful thoughts and spirits have touched our lives. May God bless you and God bless America. Mike P.S. Just a little note, the treat bag that I received was from Noah P.

Michael M. Ogden, MSgt, USAFRescue Air Mobility Squad (RAMS) Assistant Chief Fire and Emergency Services, Balad AB

Subj: Thank You Very Much

Kids,

Thank you very much for the well wishes on Memorial Day. I got the package signed by Zack. I am an Army guy assigned to a wing of F16s (Vipers). I am the Ground Liaison Officer (GLO) and my job is to brief the pilots on what their mission is from the ground perspective and make sure they know who to talk to and what to do once they get there. I have a team of three people. You kids are a BIG part of our success here in Iraq; support from home means a WHOLE lot to us here. It is hard work and long hours but it seems easier and makes the time go by faster knowing that you are behind us and that our families are being taken care of. If you have any classmates whose mothers or fathers are here make sure you give them a little extra attention and help them through any hard times they have. I have three boys and their classmates and teachers do a great job helping them out while I am away. Keep up the good work and thank you again for your support.