News

A Peace of Home this Easter

By Scott Wagar

03/27/2012

Four area soldiers who are presently in combat zones will be receiving Easter cookies from women in the local area, who baked the cookies not only with love, but with honor and gratitude for those fighting to protect our home and nation from terrorism.

This past week, members of the Peace of Home organization in Bottineau, along with a number of individuals of all ages, baked cookies which were placed in 39 coffee cans for the area soldiers.

“The spring mailing is smaller than our fall holiday mailing,” said ElRita Nelson, founder of the Peace of Home organization. “This year, containers of home baked cookies, Easter candy and other items will be shipped on March 26. We do this because we want our soldiers to know their community remembers them and the sacrifices they are making.”

The women who participated in baking cookies included the Peace of Home organization, Kramer’s Zion Lutheran Church Ladies Aide group, Bottineau’s First Lutheran Church Circle group and the Stitch and Study Homemakers.

Three high school students from Bottineau High School, Brianna Berg, Maighdlin Berg and Amanda Monson, also baked 192 cookies, or eight coffee containers for the local soldiers.

“We started doing this four years ago and we have done it ever since,” Maighdlin Berg said. “We (Brianna and Maighdlin) get together with our friends, we bake cookies, have fun and we do it for a good cause.”
The four soldiers who will receive the Easter spring mailing include Trevor Brudwick, Albin Lutes, Kenneth Schwalbe and Joseph Stevenson.

Nelson stated the Peace of Home project would not happen if it wasn’t for the generosity of the local folks of the area.

“The Peace of Home committee would like to thank all those who baked items, or helped provide funds for the postage for our spring mailing,” Nelson said.
The Peace of Home project started in 2004 granting the area’s military personal with holiday treats and commodities and sent to them with a deep seeded love for those laying their lives on the line in battle zones for our country’s freedom.

“It was a means to send baked goods and other personal items to local soldiers presently serving in combat area,” said Nelson, who added that if area soldiers are serving during this year’s Christmas season, Peace of Home will be there for them. “If we have local soldiers serving in combat area next November, we will proceed with the larger mailing so each soldier can share their gifts with members of their respective units, making a happier holiday season for so many.”