Shipping event honors fallen Arlington Heights marine

  • Katie Stack hugs her 8-year-old daughter, Mikayla, during a performance of the national anthem Sunday as Help USA Troops held an event at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling to ship 700 or more boxes containing comfort and care items to deployed troops. Help USA Troops was founded in memory of Stack's husband, James, a U.S. Marine from Arlington Heights killed in 2010 while serving in Afghanistan.

      Katie Stack hugs her 8-year-old daughter, Mikayla, during a performance of the national anthem Sunday as Help USA Troops held an event at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling to ship 700 or more boxes containing comfort and care items to deployed troops. Help USA Troops was founded in memory of Stack's husband, James, a U.S. Marine from Arlington Heights killed in 2010 while serving in Afghanistan. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

  • Katie Stack and her 8-year-old daughter, Mikayla, pack the first box as Help USA Troops held a shipping party Sunday at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling. The organization plans to ship 700 or more boxes containing comfort and care items to be deployed to troops. Help USA Troops was founded in memory of Stack's husband, James, a U.S. Marine from Arlington Heights killed while serving in Afghanistan.

      Katie Stack and her 8-year-old daughter, Mikayla, pack the first box as Help USA Troops held a shipping party Sunday at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling. The organization plans to ship 700 or more boxes containing comfort and care items to be deployed to troops. Help USA Troops was founded in memory of Stack's husband, James, a U.S. Marine from Arlington Heights killed while serving in Afghanistan. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

  • Marine Lance Cpl. James Stack with his daughter then 1-year-old daughter, Mikayla, at Camp Pendleton beach in California. Stack was killed in Afghanistan in 2010.

    Marine Lance Cpl. James Stack with his daughter then 1-year-old daughter, Mikayla, at Camp Pendleton beach in California. Stack was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. Courtesy of Stack Family

  • Kathi Inorio, left, and her daughter Grace, both of Mount Prospect, fill boxes as Help USA Troops held a shipping party Sunday at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling.

      Kathi Inorio, left, and her daughter Grace, both of Mount Prospect, fill boxes as Help USA Troops held a shipping party Sunday at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

  • The Arlington Heights VFW Post 981 color guard presented the colors during the national anthem Sunday as Help USA Troops held a shipping party at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling.

      The Arlington Heights VFW Post 981 color guard presented the colors during the national anthem Sunday as Help USA Troops held a shipping party at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

  • Volunteers place addresses on boxes containing comfort packages Sunday, as Help USA Troops held a shipping party at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling.

      Volunteers place addresses on boxes containing comfort packages Sunday, as Help USA Troops held a shipping party at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

  • Volunteers line up to fill boxes Sunday as Help USA Troops held a shipping party at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling. The goal of the day was to ship 700 or more boxes containing comfort and care items to deployed troops.

      Volunteers line up to fill boxes Sunday as Help USA Troops held a shipping party at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling. The goal of the day was to ship 700 or more boxes containing comfort and care items to deployed troops. Steve Lundy | Staff Photographer

 
 
 
Updated 4/29/2018 9:28 PM

Katie Stack hugged her eight-year-old daughter Mikayla on Sunday during the ceremony for Help USA Troops shipping day event, when dozens of volunteers gathered in Wheeling to prepare boxes filled with comfort packages for troops serving their country.

The organization was founded in memory of Stack's husband, James, a U.S. Marine from Arlington Heights who was killed in 2010 while serving in Afghanistan.

 

"This gives me the realization that although my husband did give the ultimate sacrifice, I still have people supporting walking with me though this heartbreaking journey," Stack said.

Sunday's event marked eighth year the organization has packed boxes with comfort and care supplies for troops. About 100 volunteers participated at AMVETS Post 66 in Wheeling.

The goal was to pack and ship over 700 boxes. They included personal hygiene items, pocket-size food and snacks, candy and gum, powdered drinks and more.

"Everyone coming out to support and give back means the utmost respect to the men and women who serve on a daily basis and to ones who have given the ultimate sacrifice," Stack said.

To find out more about Help USA Troops, visit www.helpusatroops.com.

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