“We can’t pick and choose where or when we go, but with you behind us, we can stand a little taller wherever we are.”

These and similar words of gratitude are regularly sent to a Scottsville woman who has made it her mission to write American troops facing combat in the Middle East.

Heather Harris of Scottsville has adopted a number of soldiers as pen pals via soldiersangels.org—a website that represents hundreds of volunteers who provide aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

Members of the site have the option to adopt a soldier, as Harris has done, and there are other opportunities, as well. “You can work on sewing projects and give baby showers.” There is a call for angel bakers and pals who can send blankets of belief, too. Soldiers Angels can provide outreach to stateside families if they like.

When she adopts a soldier as a pen pal, Harris commits to sending one letter or card each week and one to two care packages per month.

“I send cookies or brownies, sometimes shampoo … one (soldier) requested foot powder,” she says.

Harris’ pen pals have ranged from a female lance corporal, whose fiancée was killed during the attacks on 9/11, to an army medic whose wife and children await his return to the states.

In her letters to the troops, Harris talks about life with her mom, dad and her dog, Bitsy. “I tell them about Scottsville, too. They like hearing about normal stuff.” A letter received from Adam, the medic, states, “[Normalcy] reminds me of what it’s like to have a normal life back home and that I have a normal life back home.”

“It’s sweet and sad at the same time,” says Harris. “Sometimes, it almost makes me want to cry. He’s seen horrific stuff.” Because of this, Adam shares no details, “He doesn’t want to scare me with what he’s seen, but it helps him to talk about” what he can.

He and other soldiers have taken the time to reciprocate for the comfort of the young lady’s contact by sending thanks in the form of greeting cards and photographs. Chelsea, the lance corporal, sent Harris one of her battalion T-shirts and these kinds words: “It is American citizens like that who make me love my job in the military even more.”

One pen pal sent a flag that was flown from his helicopter with a certificate of authenticity as thanks for all of her kindness. Harris put it in the back window of her family’s antique car and proudly drove through the town of Scottsville during this year’s Fourth of July Parade.

These gifts are deeply appreciated, yet they are of small comparison to the beauty of each friendship created by mail.

“There is a trust that you build,” Harris says. “You go through so much with [the soldiers].” She recalls a letter received after her breakup with a boyfriend, “Here they are saying ‘stay strong.’ I’m supposed to be moral support!”

Harris believes she will continue to write to troops assigned to her through the website “until they all come home.”