The Women of Fort Campbell

"Hello, my name is Jenny Koprowski and I saw the piece on Drew Barrymore's spade pendant in People Magazine and just knew that I had to write to you." The email reached Alex Woo one morning in early September and immediately touched her. As the wife of a soldier, Jenny knew how difficult it was going to be to say goodbye when her husband of the legendary US 506 was deployed to Iraq, and so she took it upon herself to lift the spirits of the women around her. Knowing the 506th is symbolized by a spade, Jenny thought, “The minute I saw the necklace I just knew it would be the perfect thing for me to wear during the deployment."

She went on to tell us, “The soldiers wear a spade on their helmets to distinguish them from other units. Unit insignias help tighten the bonds among soldiers. Wearing the spade does the same thing; I feel closer to my husband, and when I wear it around other spouses, we feel closer to each other because we're sharing the common experience of having husbands who serve our country.” Word spread fast and soon the inspired women of Fort Campbell had come together through this seemingly small piece of jewelry in one immensely powerful expression of love and support.

Feeling the strength of this connection, Angela Campbell wrote, “Our soldiers wear the spade proudly everyday as they serve our country. To wear the spade with our fellow spouses is an unspoken connection that we all share. We are all waiting back at home for our loved ones, and are always looking out for one another. So when you're out running errands or standing in line at the post office, you just look and feel warm inside. You see your spade looking right back at you.”

Despite the strain of separation, the women of Fort Campbell bravely maintain their lives and homes back in the U.S., soldiers and wives gaining strength through eachother, through a bond of courage and devotion. Wife and mother Rita Dowell, winner of last month’s essay contest wrote, “This year without [my husband] will be hard and the temptation will be there to wallow in self-pity and resentment, especially when my little boys cry for their Daddy. As a reminder that our sacrifice is not in vain, and to remind me of the pride my husband and his brothers have in what they are doing, I wear the unit's symbol on a chain around my neck, close to my heart. Though it was doubtlessly not intended for this purpose, Alex Woo designed the perfect piece of jewelry for the wives, mothers, sisters and daughters of these soldiers…" (Read the winning essay)

In spite of separation and sacrifice, these women have come together to give the ultimate gift of love, support, and strength. Through this holiday season’s sparkling tornado of wrapping paper, pie, and mistletoe, we should all look for the spirit and heart that truly makes this the season of giving.