Published: June 10, 2009 11:33 pm      

Blue Star Mothers to ‘Lift High the Flag’ with July packing event

EDMOND — Churches across the city are joining with the Edmond North Oklahoma City Blue Star Mothers for its Fourth of July, Freedom Box, packing event.

To date, members of nine churches and two Cub Scout Packs will be filling the Freedom Boxes to be shipped to deployed American troops across the world.

Sherry Stensrud, president of the local Blue Star Mothers chapter, said so far members of Peace Lutheran, First Methodist, First Christian, United Covenant Methodist, Lighthouse Lutheran, Holy Trinity Lutheran, Memorial Road Church of Christ, Calvary Baptist, Santa Fe Presbyterian Cub Scout No. 94 and Deer Creek Cub Scouts Pack No. 348 will participate in the new style packing event.

The theme for this program is, “Lift High the Flag.”

“Members of the churches are encouraging everyone in the congregations to get one or more special postal rate Freedom Boxes to be made available at each church along with lists of needed and desired items,” Stensrud said.

Filled boxes are to be delivered to Peace Lutheran between 9 a.m. and noon on June 13, the day before Flag Day.

“Members of the BSM, and volunteers, will prepare the Freedom Boxes for shipments to reach our troops by the Fourth of July,” Stensrud said. “It is not necessary to be a member of the BSM to produce filled boxes and provide names and addresses of deployed military.”

Postage costs have escalated to $10.95 for each filled Freedom Box. Persons wishing to make a tax-free donation can contribute to: Blue Star Mothers, Chapter 8, Box 30875, Edmond, OK 73003, or call 532-8113 to obtain more Freedom Boxes or to arrange for the delivery of a contribution.

BSM, Chapter 8, is a mission of Peace Lutheran Church, 2600 E. Danforth Road.