Marilyn Ballmann is an adopted mother to 20 men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to her e-mail signature. She wears three pins: an Army flag, an Afghanistan pin and an Operation Enduring Freedom pin that her son gave her. Her one bedroom apartment is filled with boxes she will send overseas, she says. In short, Ballmann is an Army mom, and the soldiers-including her son-are her children.
“Because my son serves my country, our country, me giving back means so much to me. It means more than anything else. It’s unconditional love,” Ballmann says.
Ballmann, a Sinclair Community College student, says that when she tells people what she does, some ask how they can help. She encourages people to talk with schools, churches and organizations who send care packages to soldiers. She also states that her contributions are not to bring her praise, but to bring attention to soldiers serving overseas.
“Remember it is not about me but about our Troops,” she says.
Ballmann has been sending care packages to soldiers serving overseas since 2005. Her care packages are filled with everything from pretzels and chips to toiletries and sugar and Nieman Marcus cookies she bakes herself. Ballmann also sends Swedish Fish, a candy that the soldiers enjoy because it withstands the heat, she says.
Ballmann tries to send a box to her soldiers at least every other week. She estimates that last year she spent about $4000 on postage in just six months.
“It’s a wonderful feeling when I go to the post office,” Ballmann says.
Ballmann often receives letters from her adopted soldiers. One soldier tore a page out of a log book in order to request writing paper, which Ballmann promptly sent. She showed a handwritten letter, a thank you card, five emails and two flower cards she had been sent recently. The letter, written on International Security Assistance Force letterhead, thanks Ballmann for a package that was recently sent.
“When I walk back from the mail room with one of your packages everyone always gets all excited because they know your boxes are always filled with the best stuff!” the letter says. It is signed “Your Army daughter.”
Ballmann says it is hard not to know what’s going on overseas. For the soldiers, she says, just knowing someone cares means a lot. For her, she says, it’s priceless.
“Life is about giving. You can’t be selfish,” Ballmann says.