ESA receives heartfelt thanks from soldiers abroad

In appreciation for all that Epsilon Sigma Alpha does for our heroes abroad, Sergeant First Class, Steve Toth, wrote a heartfelt thank you to ESA members that participated in Hope for Heroes, addressing the letter to his "Heroes at home": "I want to thank each and every one of you, your families, friends, various businesses and organizations who have supported us during this deployment. Our heartfelt thanks is beyond words for the cards, e-mails, letters and packages y'all sent us. You have taken the time and made the effort to support us during our mission to defend freedom of not only America, but the freedoms of our neighbors all over the world -- as we are doing here in Afghanistan."

Well done everyone, this is what it's all about!

Virginia Tech takes Relay for Life prize

Epsilon Sigma Alpha members of Omega Psi, Chapter of Virgina Tech and Blacksburg, VA, won "Best Looking Campsite" at Virginia Tech's Relay for Life for the second year in a row! According to member Kristin May, the relay went well -- with Omega Psi raising a total of about $3,500 with almost every member in attendance. Congrats and great work!

Teaming up with Dollar Tree to support heroes

Members of Alpha Chi Chapter of Olympia, WA, teamed up with Dollar Tree for a Hope for Heroes/Veteran's Day event. Dollar Tree runs a program called "Make a Soldier Smile," in which they have an agreement with Joint Base Lewis McChord to pick up purchased items for distribution to active military personnel in Afghanistan. Alpha Chi members developed flyers with the Hope for Heroes and Epsilon Sigma Alpha names. The flyer included a list of requested items by service men and women. They set up their table on Veteran's Day in front of the local Dollar Tree store for three hours and introduced the program to shoppers as they entered the store. During that time the store reported more than 170 items sold! One customer commented that it was like a scavenger hunt.

A thank you note from Afghanistan

Hello all. This is Chief Eric Purcell of NMCB 4 in Afghanistan. I would like
to thank you for your time and effort of support for the troops and thank
you for the box. I am sharing right now. Appreciate this a lot. I sent Diane
Hammes a Facebook message as well.

We appreciate the support! Thank you.

Very Respectfully,
ITC(SW) Eric Purcell

Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Four
S-6 ISSM/Information Dominance
ISM BS/Security Plus
COMM:(805) 982-3495
DSN:(312) 551-3495
Roshan: 0795798544

Sigma Phi participates in for Relay for Life

Members of Sigma Phi Chapter of Columbia, SC, and South Carolina University, participated in Relay for Life on April 18th. Epsilon Sigma Alpha members helped raise $84,000 to fight cancer. “I think that this is a good way to get a lot of people together to fight for those who can’t do it themselves,” said Megan Johnson, an ESA member. “It’s very important to us because we have a few cancer survivors in our sorority.” For more information on the event, visit the article here.

ESA member wins Yellow Ribbon award

BJ Voll, member of Delta Zeta Chapter of Jasper, IN, was given the Yellow Ribbon award by the Indiana National Guard for her leadership in support of guard members and families through the Hope for Heroes: an Epsilon Sigma Alpha National Event project. "We got to see and hug on all the soldiers from the Bloomington Unit. I met our 'Christmas family' ... they had a full opening ceremony and the soldiers marching into the room...I had God pumps the whole time," said BJ of the event. Great work, this is what we love to see!

Thank you, ESA!

Members of ESA receieved a thank you e-mail from Iraq:


To the members of Epsilon Sigma Alpha,

I am 1SG Joseph Martinez of Charlie Company, 52D Infantry Regiment, and I would like say to thank you to each and every one of you for your support. We really appreciate you folks in taking the time to send us care packages and letters. This why the Armed Forces are motivated and willing to do what it takes to defend our freedom and our way of life.

Feel free to check our Company pictures on www.strykernews.com . Click on the photo tab at the top of the page, then look for C Co. 52D IN REGT.

Very Respectfully,
1SG Joseph Martinez
C Co. 52D IN REGT, 3-2 SBCT
FOB Warhorse, IZ
APO AE 09336

Photo from strykernews.com.