WOW!

Do y'all remember a while back I posted THIS about a young man turning 21 while in Iraq? Well, he recieved about 800 pieces of mail! Full story below.

From The Metrowest Daily News
Banks: A soldier's birthday surpriseBy Elizabeth Banks/Daily News staff Tuesday, April 03, 2007 - Updated: 11:25 PM EDT

When I last talked to George and Mary Ann Stein in January, George said he hoped his son, Aaron, received "an outrageous number of cards" for his 21st birthday.

Aaron, a Marlborough High School graduate, is now in the Army. Since October, he's been stationed in Iraq where he serves as a legal specialist. And it was in Iraq where he celebrated his 21st birthday on March 10.

Starting in January, George and Mary Ann sent out notices asking people to send Aaron a birthday card. Many of you who read my column in January not only sent cards and packages, but have been calling to see if Aaron was surprised and to find out the final tally.

So, here it is. In an e-mail to his parents, Aaron said he received separate deliveries of 597 cards, 20 "big envelopes" that included a total of 200-plus cards (most of these envelopes, Aaron said, came from schools and churches), and about 16 packages "with stuff" in them.
In all, Aaron got approximately 800 cards.

And was he surprised? Absolutely.

From Aaron: "It was awesome, very exciting and interesting." Aaron has sent thank-you notes to people who sent packages with "stuff" in them. Framingham resident Toni Burrill called last week to say she received a note from Aaron. Toni said she sent brownies, birthday candles and candy.

Aaron also wrote to say that he'd eventually like to thank everyone who took the time to wish him a happy birthday.

State Sen. Karen Spilka, D-Ashland, sent a card with a note inviting Aaron to the State House, where they would toast his birthday on the State House floor. State Rep. Steve LeDuc, D-Marlborough, state Sen. Pam Resor, D-Acton, and U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-3rd, sent a Massachusetts tourism package.

"They also wrote a very nice letter with the seal and all that," Aaron wrote.

"Aaron's looking forward to being a Massachusetts tourist," George joked. George and Mary Ann Stein were also surprised and a little overwhelmed.

"The kindness of so many people. That's what blew my mind," Mary Ann said."People would stop in front of the house and ask if Aaron 'got my card,' " George said. "It's just amazing that people you never knew and now you have some attachment to them."

One unexpected new acquaintance is a woman in Connecticut who read my column online. She said her son was in Aaron's unit and it was also his birthday. George and Mary Ann e-mailed Aaron who looked up the son. It turns out Aaron spent time with him in Australia on another assignment. The two wished each other happy birthday.

"I would like to thank all the 800-plus people who sent something," George said. "It is very comforting that people who don't know Aaron took the time to send something."

Aaron is scheduled for vacation time and hopes to return home to Marlborough in May. With a little luck, he can then meet some of the people who sent him cards and packages.