Knitting for the Troops

Women from Semper Fi Parents knit for our troops at a house party last week in Southeast. Eric Gross Moms throughout the region are supporting our troops overseas by knitting.

Organized by the Semper Fi Parents of the Hudson Valley and Lisa Duggan-Santomero of Brewster, whose son is a Marine, women have been spending the holidays knitting and crocheting helmet liners, scarves, hand warmers, and gaiters.

Last week during a knitting party at the home of Kathy Muentener, a teacher in the Brewster District, friends and colleagues past and present attended and spent several hours creating the needed supplies.

On Black Friday, November 27, the fruits of the moms’ labor were packaged at a mall in Poughkeepsie, along with personal hygiene items and snack foods for the troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, so the parcels would arrive in time for Christmas.

Liz Langlois, who also proudly calls herself a “Marine mom,” thanked the community for supporting the troops: “Being the parent of a serviceman or servicewoman serving overseas can be difficult at times, but we are so proud of our children’s efforts.”

Liz’s son, Jonathan, is a 2007 graduate of Brewster High School.

Kathy Schlobohm, a teacher at the C.V. Starr Intermediate School in Brewster, has a son, Christopher, who, after graduating from BHS and Virginia Tech University, was commissioned in the Navy. The young man has served two tours in Iraq— one in the Persian Gulf and the second in Baghdad.

Other moms who participated in the special knitting party included Barbara Gillette, Eileen Hillman, Cynthia Lockwood, Maddi Cacciotti, and Shannon Riley.

Women from greater Brewster who knit regularly for the troops are Janice Driscol, Leslie Fine, Dianne Star, Elizabeth Higgins, Francis Lang, Kerry Oster, Celia Novak, Lorraine Major, Maureen Vrana, Kathy Ferris, Pam Beadle, Donna McAlpin, Paula Waszmer, Marie Gordon, Jennifer Montesi, and Cheryl Converse.

Since another batch of scarves, helmet liners and gators will be shipped overseas in time to reach our troops by Valentine’s Day, those interested in taking part may contact Duggan- Santomero at 279-6494 or on line at lduggan@mtvernoncd.org.