The scrapbooks are beautiful and touching – filled with military photos, poems and special messages, and images of patriotism. Each one represents the memories of a Soldier’s life and sacrifice in the Global War on Terrorism.

During the past year and a half, Terry Smith of Madison and Pam Adcock of Hazel Green, the vice president and president, respectively, of Alabama Marine Moms/Military Moms, have worked to present scrapbooks to the families of Alabama’s fallen Soldiers. When passed into the hands of a Soldier’s family, it is hoped that the scrapbook will become a lifelong comfort, a personal gift that forever memorializes one of the nation’s heroes.

“We feel so good about being able to do these scrapbooks,” said Smith, whose son, Staff Sgt. Christopher Roy, is a senior drill sergeant with the Marines and whose daughter, Jessica Wright, graduated from Bob Jones High in May and joined the Navy last week.

“We ‘high five’ each other and cry a few tears when we get one done because we know it is for the moms and families of a fallen Soldier, and it will probably be one of the greatest gifts they’ll ever receive.”

The scrapbooks are compiled by members of Alabama Marine Moms/Military Moms, an organization that was on a two-woman mission until recently, when Smith and Adcock began recruiting others to help with the effort. There is now a third member who is helping with the scrapbooks, and about 10 new members who are supporting the organization’s efforts in various ways. Additional help is always needed because, though they have currently completed 22 scrapbooks and are near completion on five more, they have nearly 40 more scrapbooks that need to be done.

Alabama Marine Moms/Military Moms has also begun seeking donations for their growing expenses, which can cost as much as $300 for each scrapbook and include items such as transportation costs to travel to the Soldiers’ families and the purchase of Angel Tags for the Soldier’s family members. They raised money from a recent Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s in Madison and received a sizable donation from the North Alabama Veterans and Fraternal Organizations Coalition.

“After we finished Mrs. Conley’s book (in honor of fallen Marine Cpl. Matthew Conley) we had no supplies, we had no money, and we just cried,” Smith recalled. “We didn’t want anyone but the families to know what we were doing because it’s so private and personal, and we didn’t want thanks. God has always provided for the next book and he always will. But, we also knew we had to do some things to get help and financial support to continue our work.”

Marine Moms is a national organization that supports Marines wherever they are serving. Though Smith and Adcock volunteer under the auspices of Alabama Marine Moms, they have also grown to become Alabama Military Moms, providing support to all Alabama servicemembers and their families, regardless of branch.

“At first, we only did Marines because we are Marine moms,” Smith said. “But, then we teamed up with the Coalition, the American Legion and the Marine Corps League in Huntsville and Birmingham. Since the Coalition is made up of all branches, they gave us a donation and asked us to pick up all the fallen of Alabama. We were glad to do that. It’s the least we can do. Look what they’ve done for us.”

Among those they’ve honored with scrapbooks are CIA agent Mike Spann, Army Sgt. Carlos Pernell, Army 1^st Lt. Scott Love and Marine Capt. Adam Fales.

“When we lose someone, there is a DoD posting, and the Marine Moms Online will help us get information about the Soldier,” Smith said.

“If there is a Marine Mom organization in the state that Marine is from they will pick up their listing and support the family. But, not all states have a Marine Moms and some states aren’t as active as others. We’ve picked up seven Marines from Georgia, one from Mississippi and one from Tennessee.”

Smith and Adcock met online at Marine Moms Online. When Smith found out about Adcock’s scrapbook project (she had completed two at the time), she jumped right in to help and they quickly completed a scrapbook for the family of Marine Lance Cpl. Jonathan Smith.

“We got that scrapbook done in a day and presented it to his mom at the viewing,” Smith said. “Things don’t usually happen that quickly. We make the scrapbooks and then somehow we know when to deliver them. If we call and can’t get in touch with the family, then we wait for them to contact us because they will contact us when they are ready. We delivered Capt. Fales’ scrapbook to his mother on the day before Mother’s Day.”

With each delivery, Smith and Adcock renew their commitment to their work.

“None of the moms know we are putting the scrapbook together for their fallen Soldier,” Smith said. “When we deliver it, we see the mamas rub the pages with their hands and we see the tears fall. We cry with them and we laugh with them.”

The group also works to be present at the funerals of fallen Alabama Soldiers. They often lend support to the family side-by-side with the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of veteran motorcycle riders who line the streets along the route to the cemetery in support of the family.

“This is a passion for us,” Smith said. “What we’re doing for these fallen families is so important. We have to take care of these mamas and these families.”

While the scrapbooks are their main focus, members of Alabama Marine Moms/Military Moms also support deployed Soldiers by sending them care packages filled with food, toys, games and other items that they can get donated or they can purchase at very small costs.

“I found a bunch of lipstick tubes that pop out to be fans that I sent to some Marines,” Smith said, laughing.

“We’ve sent Soldiers soccer balls, Nerf balls, McDonald’s Glory Beanie Babies, Burger King Star Wars characters and all kinds of stuff. If we can make those kids smile or laugh for five minutes we have done our job in the war zone.”

Alabama Marine Moms/Military Moms will send up to 10 boxes brimming with various items to a Soldier to share with his or her unit during the course of their deployment. All they need is the name of a Soldier and an address.

The group also supports Soldier events during the year, such as hosting Marines at Thanksgiving and Father’s Day, with the help of various donors such as Atlanta Bread Company and Apple Lane Farms. Recently, the group was involved in a barbecue hosted for the Marine Detachment at Redstone Arsenal by Huntsville Christian Church.

Both Smith and Adcock have full-time jobs, but they view Alabama Marine Moms/Military Moms as their life’s work.

“We really feel supporting our Soldiers is our mission in life,” Smith said. “Our children and what we are doing for our Soldiers is what’s important to us.”

Though never a Soldier herself, Smith has been the daughter, wife, sister, aunt and now a mother of Marines, and the aunt of two Soldiers.

“When Christopher said he was joining the Marines, I said ‘No way!’ But, he said ‘Its tradition, mom,’” Smith recalled.

“My daughter saw the Navy as a way to do something with her life. She said ‘What better way to get my education and figure out what I really want to do?’ I agreed that serving her country was a good thing. But, I told her ‘Don’t think about not being called up and being deployed.’ She said ‘I’m ready if they train me.’”

Smith’s children and Adcock’s son, who served in the Marines, are an inspiration to the two moms.

“To serve is a great thing because we wouldn’t be sitting here if it wasn’t for our Soldiers,” she said. “I’m so proud of my children and everyone in the service.”

To contact Alabama Marine Moms/Military Moms, call Smith at 658-0594. For information on Marine Moms, visit its web site at http://www.marinemomsonline.net. Donations to Alabama Marine Moms/Military Moms can be made directly to the organization’s bank account at any Wachovia Bank.