Bringing the holiday cheer to troops

IMPERIAL, Calif. (KYMA, KSWT, KECY)- Veteran Tracy Rascoe, recalls the first Christmas card he received from a stranger.

"I mean I remember the moment I got my box and my shipmates did. It's something that'll go with me for the rest of my life. That Ill always value."

Rascoe knows how hard the holidays can be for service members who are far from home.

"It made us more family.  Even though we see each other every single day on that destroyer. IT gave us something to appreciate from home. It uplifted our spirits," added Rascoe.

That's, why's the chamber of commerce in the city of Imperial, is sending over 600 Christmas cards from the community to troops. Thanking them for their sacrifice.

Susan Paradis of the Imperial Chamber of Commerce said, "It isn't about the presents. While they're nice and everyone loves them. Sometimes that gets lost in the shuffle. So this is our way of showing Imperial Valley loves our military."

While teaching our children the true meaning of Christmas.

"It's a cruel world and these are the little things to teach them to love, to care, to be kind. I think it's important to their future."

Residents have until tomorrow to drop off Christmas cards at the Imperial Chamber of Commerce where they'll send it to the USO in San Diego.