1^st Lt. Mark William Hanson
43^rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs

Senior Airman Natalie Sanchez never imagined a care package she received last year while deployed to Iraq would be lead to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Airman Sanchez, 23^rd Maintenance Squadron who was deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, received a surprise in the mail when a care package arrived from a lady in Hilton Head, S.C., previously unknown to her, she said.

After finishing the goodies, Senior Airman Sanchez decided to write a thank-you letter to Jeanette Cram, who baked the cookies. The woman is known throughout the military community as “The Cookie Lady,” for her charitable postings of homemade cookies to Airmen, Soldiers, Marines and Seamen serving overseas in support of the War on Terror. Little did Airman Sanchez know that this letter would gain national attention.

            During a segment of the Martha show Friday, Martha Stewart featured Ms. Cram after learning about her “Treat the Troops” program.

Airman Sanchez was just one of many recipients of goodies prepared by Jeanette Cram, who has baked more than 116,000 cookies for deployed military service members since 1990, according to Cram. She got the idea when she heard President George H.W. Bush read a letter from a Soldier asking for letters and cookies from home.  She looked to her husband and said she could bake for the troops.

            On Friday’s Martha show, Ms. Cram was invited to bake cookies with Martha Stewart. She was also given a one-year supply of M&Ms candy specially made for Ms. Cram’s “Treat the Troops” cookies which proclaimed “American Hero” and “Thank you.”

            Toward the end of the show, Martha Stewart read a letter from one of the “Soldiers” who received cookies from Ms. Cram. After telling national television that she has “seven albums full of thanks yous,” Martha Stewart welcomed Airman Sanchez on stage.

The Airman was the surprise hinted at earlier in the program. Airman Sanchez was invited onto the Martha show to thank Ms. Cram on behalf of all servicemembers serving overseas.

            “I would like to thank you on behalf of all the troops for your support and generosity,” Airman Sanchez said to The Cookie Lady. “It really does make a difference. It has a positive impact on all of our actions.”

            She then presented Ms. Cram with a token of her appreciation, an American flag which had been flown over Baghdad International Airport.

             Airman Sanchez was contacted by a representative from Martha last summer after the show learned of her letter to Ms. Cram. Travel and accommodations for Airman Sanchez and her mother were arranged by the show so she could attend the filming in New York.

            “It was very exciting to go to New York and thank (Ms. Cram) for what she did.  She does so much for us and brought a smile to my face when I needed it,” said Airman Sanchez.

            For more information about Treat the Troops, visit www.treatthetroops.org.