It seems the Neosho community is once again embracing the soldiers who are calling Camp Crowder home.

This is evident by several events going on in the community to support the soldiers who are currently training at Camp Crowder before deployment to Kosovo.

As the community did some 60 years ago, and continues to do today, residents have come together in a display of affection for the men and women who have taken on the challenge and honor to defend our country.

It was announced Tuesday that residents will conduct a week-long paperback book drive for the soldiers at Camp Crowder.

The book drive will be held from March 3 to March 7, and paperback books — in good, clean condition without missing pages — can be dropped off for Camp Crowder soldiers at the Neosho-Newton County Library. Please, no hardback or unclean books.

The books may be brought to the library during regular business hours.

Also, local ministers are working together in an attempt to provide Easter church services for the soldiers training at Camp Crowder on Sunday, March 23.

What a wonderful thought, and outreach, to the soldiers at Camp Crowder.

For six decades, Neosho has been supportive of the Camp Crowder mission.

It’s wonderful to see that tradition continue in 2008.

DAILY NEWS