Brookfield police officer Rafael Alvarado, home on leave from a year-long tour of military duty in Afghanistan, will be on hand at the Nov. 23 village board meeting where trustees will pass a resolution "adopting" his platoon.
Alvarado, an officer in Brookfield since 2007, shipped out to central Asia this summer after being recalled for duty as a member of the 447th Military Police Company. He is the only Brookfield police officer to serve in the military since the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq began.
Michelle Robbins, human resources director for the village of Brookfield, is leading the charge to adopt Alvarado's unit. She and other employees are donating items to send to members of Alvarado's 33-man platoon and are encouraging others in the village - residents, business, service clubs and charitable organizations to do the same.
Alvarado's father, Rafael Sr., said he was blown away by the village's gesture and appreciates the support for his son and his fellow soldiers.
"I was really overwhelmed when I got the call from Michelle," Rafael Sr. said. "It shows that you're not alone. There are really people out there who care about your son as much as you do."
Alvarado's been in Afghanistan since August, but his dad keeps in regular contact through cellphone calls and text messages. While he knows his son is in harm's way, Rafael Sr. said he tries not to dwell on that part of the mission.
"I try not to think about my son being in harm's way," he said. "I just need to be supportive of him. I'm very proud of him."
People can drop off items in a box being kept in the office of the Brookfield Recreation Department, which is located on the lower level of the village hall, 8820 Brookfield Ave.
A four-page list of items most in demand by soldiers can be found on the village's Web site (www.brookfieldil.gov). They include such things as prepared foods, toothbrushes and other toiletries, pre-paid international phone cards, AA batteries, socks and pre-sweetened flavored drink mixes.
The village is sending items to the troops in Alvarado's platoon through the America Supporting Americans Adopt-A-Unit program. Robbins found the organization on the Internet and was moved to act on the idea for a couple of reasons.
Her 20-year-old son, Kyle Robbins, shipped out for Afghanistan just last month as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps. The 2008 Proviso West graduate and Westchester resident enlisted in the Marines during his junior year in high school.
In that sense, "it's therapy for me," said Robbins of the decision to adopt Alvarado's unit.
In addition, Robbins noted that soldiers don't get the kinds of things that people send in their care packages to soldiers, things that remind them of home that the Army doesn't provide.
Employees of the village were also interested in doing something to show their appreciation for Alvarado's service in the military, but didn't know what to do.
The Brookfield Recreation Department is also getting into the spirit, having art class students decorate the boxes being sent to the platoon. At the village holiday celebration event on Saturday, Dec. 5 the Recreation Department will be collecting Christmas cards for the soldiers and will have paper and art supplies available so people can make cards for the troops if they like.
