Troops from the 172nd Infantry Unit of the Maine Army National Guard were scheduled to begin a training in an Indiana base camp to commence before Christmas. Even though they were given time off for the holidays, none of the soldiers could afford the trip back to their Maine hometown or even the return back to the base camp.
When Operation Community Support — a Bangor-based military assistance nonprofit agency — heard about the situation, they turned to Bangor’s most famous residents for help: Stephen and Tabitha King. The Kings reached into their own pockets, not their foundation, to pay for round-trip travel for the soldiers.
“It was a pretty easy sell. I asked. Steve said yes,” Julie Eugley, the author’s assistant, told the Bangor Daily News. The Kings were glad to cough up funds so that the 150 members of Bravo Company of the 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Unit would be able to spend the holidays with their families. What they did have a problem with was the amount: $13,000.
King was spooked by the number 13. Fearful of its superstitious connotations affecting the troops’ fate, they instead donated $12,999 with their assistant pitching in the extra dollar. It would be the largest donation the organization has ever received.
The press alone is spreading through the small Maine town further helping the cause. Thomas “Skip” Chappelle, who runs the organization, is elated about the attention. He told the paper, “This is the best opportunity we’ve had to get the word out about what we do.”
Photo courtesy of Pinguino, via Flickr