Greetings!

The time since August, 11, 2006 when Andrew was killed in Afghanistan has flown by. It is hard to believe that he died over three years ago, some days it still feels like yesterday. The one thing that helps is knowing that there are Canadians who care enough to give tangible support so that our troops on the ground can continue doing what Andrew and other soldiers recognized as so important. "Send me good things for the kids Mom, because they have nothing" said Andrew in one of his phone calls home.

So, over these past three years that's what we've done. Thousands of hand-knit Boomer Caps have been sent, over 82,590 to date. $278,000 has been raised and given to the Assistance to Afghanistan Fund, a distribution fund set up by the Department of Defense in Kandahar that soldiers can access when they identify an area of need.

And the 'good things' that we're sending are no longer just for the kids. Boomers Legacy has helped purchase much needed medical supplies, and we have funded lifesaving surgeries, bringing unimaginable relief to families who would otherwise continue to suffer. The fund has enabled our soldiers to replace an Afghan farmer's sheep blown up by an IED, and given them the means to teach new skills to Afghan people so they can more effectively support themselves. Through Boomer's Legacy, soldiers have purchased shoes for children in an orphanage who were facing another cold winter barefoot; and much more.

It is our goal that when our soldiers on the ground see causes that deserve attention, Boomer's Legacy funds will be available so that they can help. Imagine the lasting impact this will have on the people of Afghanistan.

Imagine as well, amidst all the horrors and despair that our soldiers encounter, what a difference that memory of a child's smile or a mothers tears of relief, a fathers embrace or a village's appreciation will make for that soldier. Andrew wrote home about those smiles from children, saying that for him, they were the most important thing about his tour.

Though his tour was over, he volunteered to go on one last mission, which he died on. Because he volunteered, it made me feel like he was saying 'I volunteered to do my part, now mom it's your turn to do yours'.


Thank you for helping us to help our soldiers.

Thank you for being part of Boomer's Legacy.

Sincerely,

Maureen