BY FRANK MULHOLLAND

Shelbyville resident Pat Garlick has managed to really brighten up the day for many military personnel serving in the war zones of Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and ships at sea in that area. Her “Pride Packages” program sends little reminders of home in the form of goodies, reading materials and words of comfort to service people who do not receive many packages from home. Garlick’s slogan for Pride Packages is “Proud to Serve Those who Are Serving Us”.

On Tuesday, January 17th, U. S. Congressman John Shimkus (R-Illinois-19) stopped in Shelbyville to pay a visit to Garlick. Shimkus expressed both gratitude and support for Garlick’s undertakings.

“We really appreciate your effort, and just wanted to stop by and encourage you,” said Shimkus.

Shimkus went on to say that as a West Point graduate, he has a lot of his classmates over in Iraq.

Garlick explained to Shimkus that she was inspired after her own son, Evan, a Marine who served in Iraq, wrote back and told her about fellow Marines who hardly ever received any mail or packages from home. In fact, when Evan came home on leave at Christmas, (he has finished his term of duty in Iraq) he helped fill the packages and get them ready to ship.