Lou Cimaglia: Ready to Welcome Soldiers Home

As a veteran's agent for his town, Lou Cimaglia has seen his share of happy and sad stories as well as examples of the best in people. When Cimaglia first started organizing package drives to send comfort items to local soldiers deployed to war in 2004, there were four people receiving boxes from home. With help from a local attorney, they formed a nonprofit, so they could help even more people. At the height of the war and their care package operation, they were shipping to 240 local servicemen and women stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Now, as the war is winding down in Afghanistan, they are shipping to only eight names and "that's a good thing," says Cimaglia. He's not worried about his job, in fact he's looking forward to welcoming each and every one of the last remaining servicemen and women home and to helping them adjust and find what they need to move on with their lives back at home. The last boxes will packed on November 30th at the Knights of Columbus, where volunteers have gathered before, to spend their time putting TLC into each box they send. In the nine years since starting the effort, it's estimated they've shipped 18,000 packages and spent more than a half a million dollars in shipping supplies and costs to let the local men and women know they're not forgotten by the people in their community. Cimaglia says there won't be a big celebration after the last box is packed, but he will say a few words to thank everyone for their help over the years and then they will start getting ready to welcome their neighbors home from the war. Do you know someone who gets the community together to let those in harm's way know they're not forgotten? Nominate them for next week's AmericanTown's Heroes.