Lieutenant Governor Sabina Matos, the RI Blue Star Moms, the RI National Guard, Operation Stand Down RI, the United States Postal Service, the American Red Cross of RI, other community organizations, and dozens of volunteers arrived at the National Guard Armory of Airport Road Sunday morning to assemble and ship 400 care packages for Rhode Island military members stationed away from home at the holidays. As has been the case since Operation Holiday Cheer was started by former Lt. Gov. Charles Fogarty, the boxes contained a number of items that are distinctly Rhode Island, like Del’s Lemonade and cards drawn by local students. This year the RI Blur Star Moms also included a star cut from retired American flags with a message that concludes, “Please carry me as a reminder that you are not forgotten.”  Pictured with one of the boxes are members of the RI Blue Star Moms from left, Mary Grace Marceau, Jen Dyer, Betty Leach who is also the first female commander of the Department of Rhode Island American Legion, Deb Bacon and Tori Jessop-Crowley. (Cranston Herald photo)