After 10 years of packing and shipping care packages to Nevada County troops deployed in combat zones, the Friends of Nevada County Military is preparing to put their operation into hibernation for a while. Co-founder of the group Fred Buhler says the truth of the matter is, there aren’t that may troops from Nevada County currently in combat zones.

click here to listen to Fred Buhler

Buehler says the American Legion Auxiliary has been kind to step up and will send out the four or so packages a month to deployed Nevada County military. If combat heats up again Buehler says Friends of Nevada County Military is ready to step into action.

click here to listen to Fred Buhler

Buehler says Friends of Nevada County Military was formed in September of 2004 after he had just completed an assignment in Iraq and was impressed with the work our military were doing over there. Once home again in Nevada County he was contacted by a local resident, Gina Gipner who was trying to get some quilts signed and sent to our local troops.

click here to listen to Fred Buhler

Patrick McTye was in the Army for 4 years of active duty and remembers getting the care packages from Friends of Nevada County Military.

click here to listen to Patrick McTye

Tim McCallum also remembers waiting for those care packages from home to arrive.

click here to listen to Tim McCallum

Over the 10 years Friends of Nevada County Military has sent over 6,500 care packages to our troops in combat zones. Buehler says it would not have been possible without the donations from the community.

click here to listen to Fred Buhler

Friends of Nevada County Military also assisted five families in the county who had lost a loved one in combat,  from organizing a reception or honor guards along the procession route, and in one case securing a donation of airline tickets to make it possible for family members to attend a funeral service.