Angel of mercy

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December 16, 2009

Military mom encourages letters, packages to soldiers

By ANDY GOODELL

OSKALOOSA — She’s dressed like an angel for a good reason.

Lorrie Ludwick, of Lynnville and formerly of Oskaloosa, is dressed this way in an effort to put a face on U.S. soldiers stationed overseas — in particular, her two sons, Alan and Brad, as well as her daughter-in-law, Taniqua. Alan, 28, is stationed in Iraq, while Brad, 33, and wife Taniqua, 32, are stationed in separate locations in Afghanistan.

Ludwick said now that the Christmas season is in full-swing, it’s hard not to do all she can for her sons and daughter-in-law.

“The closer it’s getting to Christmas time, the more stressed I’m getting,” she said. “I’ve been telling people that I have a little closet in the back of my mind where all the emotions are and the door is closed. It seems as though Christmas time has a way of pushing that closet door open.”

In order for her relatives to get the most letters and packages possible, Ludwick went to the most high-traffic area she could think of to pass out homemade flyers with pictures and overseas mailing addresses for the three on them.

On Monday, Ludwick ventured to the Jordan Creek Mall in West Des Moines, dressed in the angel outfit and equipped with 100 copies of a letter with her military relatives’ overseas addresses. After about half an hour, Ludwick was asked to leave by mall security.

“The angel was evicted,” joked Ludwick.

On Tuesday, she went to the Des Moines area once again, this time taking to the streets of downtown with 400 flyers.

Of course, it is important for all soldiers to get letters and packages from family and friends, said Ludwick. This is her way of giving soldiers one pleasant memory to come home with.

“Alan said he loves getting pictures,” said Ludwick. “So I send him a lot of pictures of our dog Scarlotte.”

Alan has been enlisted since October of 2008 and Brad, an Oskaloosa High School graduate, has been in since February of this year. Taniqua, Alan and Brad are all on their first tours of duty and were each deployed within two weeks of one another this past October. Although they each have tentative homecoming dates, it is hard to say exactly when each of them will come home, said Ludwick.

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Herald City Editor Andy Goodell can be reached at news2@oskyherald.com