A Special Holiday for Service Members

HOWARD COUNTY - Since August, American Legion Post 135 located in Cresco has been actively collecting donations to support the Iowa National Guard members deployed to the Middle East, and their efforts are making a significant impact. According to Dodd Franklin, a representative from the Legion, “The support from local businesses and community members has been much more than we expected.”

   At the time of this writing, Post 135 has successfully mailed 34 flat-rate boxes filled with various donations to deployed service members. As part of this initiative, the Legion also purchased 30 wool blankets at a cost of $300, which were sent to members in Task Force Armadillo, Badger and Wolverines: incurring an additional $300 in postage.

   As the holiday season approaches, the need for mailing supplies has become increasingly urgent, especially given the United States Postal Service’s holiday rate increase that runs from October 5, 2025, to January 18, 2025. This temporary price hike is a response to heightened demand during the holiday shipping season, aimed at covering extra handling costs and aligning prices with competitive practices.