Copyright © 2004 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved
News from Cherokee Nation
Copyright © 2004 CNO
TAHLEQUAH, OK - It started with ketchup and mustard and evolved to shampoo, razors and much more. One man’s idea to collect single-serving size packages of condiments to send to troops in Iraq has gathered a lot of support from people in the Cherokee Nation.
Box of donated soap and shampoo to send to Cherokee soldiers. 
“I have a couple of buddies over there,” said Greg Bilby, tribal citizen from Lost City. “They are from my community. I feel that it is my patriotic duty to support them. These guys are our friends, relatives and neighbors. There are a lot of Cherokee soldiers over there.”
Bilby got the idea to collect condiment packages from a website listing ideas on ways to support U.S. troops. He sent e-mails to friends and co-workers asking them to clean out desk drawers and donate those little packages that so many people take for granted. He even presented the idea to the Cherokee Nation Veterans Affairs office.
“The little packages are great,” said Rogan Noble, director of the Cherokee Nation Veterans Affairs office. “It doesn’t cost people anything and it’s easy for a guy to carry in his pocket and may make his meal a lot better.”
The Cherokee Nation Veterans Affairs office agreed to serve as a collection point for donations. What happened next surprised them all.
“It’s been great,” Bilby said. “I got a ton of stuff. I got toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, a little bit of everything.”
Some people even contacted local businesses and restaurants asking them to donate, and the ketchup and mustard came in by the box-full.
“When I got so many donations I thought that my friends would be able to share this stuff with some of their buddies and maybe even the local people,” Bilby said.
Bilby’s friends, relatives and co-workers at the Cherokee Nation donated a lot more than just condiment packages.
“This one guy brought in rolls of duct tape and I thought, ‘what a great idea,’” Bilby said.
“Sometimes people think that the government is going to give them everything they need and they don’t,” Noble said. “We are going to keep on doing this as long as they’re over there.”
Bilby has received so many donations that he is not only going to send them to the six soldiers that he knows personally, but also to some that he has chosen at random.
“The American Indian Chamber of Commerce, OK has a web site that has a list of American Indian soldiers that are serving in Iraq,” Bilby said. “I’m just going to pick a couple that are Cherokee and surprise them.”
If you are interested in donating items to be sent to Cherokee soldiers, you may drop them off at the Cherokee Nation Veterans Affairs office in Tahlequah, located in room 138 of the Tsa-La-Gi office complex. If you have questions or need a list of items that are acceptable to send contact Greg Bilby, phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2381) or by e-mail.
| Related contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |