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Labor Day Party To Raise Postage Money For Troop Care Packages

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By TONY MARRERO

Published: August 30, 2008

MASARYKTOWN - The partying at this Labor Day weekend event will help send more comforts from home to U.S. troops serving in the Middle East.

The Masaryktown Labor Day celebration, slated for 3 p.m. this Sunday at the Masaryktown Community Center at 539 Lincoln Ave., offers a lineup of at least seven musicians, bratwurst and beer to raise money for Lea's Prayers and Postage.

Lea's Prayers and Postage is a nonprofit organization founded by Dee Mills of Masaryktown. Mills' son, Marine Sgt. Lea Mills, was killed April 28, 2006 in Iraq while serving with the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion.

The Masaryktown Activities Committee is putting on Sunday's event to help Dee Mills pay for more postage.

"We wanted to do something for the troops," said Niki Levesque, treasurer of the committee. As postmistress of the Masaryktown Post Office, Levesque has handled many of the packages paid for by Lea's Prayers and Postage.

"Some people have forgotten what they're doing over there," she said. "We haven't forgotten."

The headliner for Sunday's headliner is George Marshall, "The Saltwater Rockin' Cowboy," a Spring Hill country music act.

Among the other acts are country vocalist Brian Chytka; gospel act Southern Harmony; and So Fine, a cover group whose repertoire spans five decades.

The bill includes a host of young talent, including 12-year-old Steffani Renae and year-old Matthew Romeo.

There is a suggested $5 donation for adults.

There will be a 50/50 drawing and a Chinese auction including original art and a guitar autographed by Brad Paisley .

Dee Mills said she's touched by the effort that she said will help her continue her cause, which so far has raised $54,000 for care package postage.

She gets letters and e-mails all the time from troops who say "it makes our job a lot easier when the American people appreciate what we're doing."

"This is how we can show them we do," she said.

If you go

WHAT: Masaryktown Labor Day Celebration.

WHEN: 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 31.

WHERE: Masaryktown Community Center, 539 Lincoln Ave.

ADMISSION: Suggested $5 for adults.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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