magneticpeace.com

This Letter to the Editor appeared in the, “The Portland News” on March 10, 2005, as, “True support for the troops overseas.”

What have you done to support our troops today?

Portland, TX. Local Portland veteran asks himself that question every day, “What have you done to support our troops today?” He asks that whenever he sees a yellow car ribbon, decal or sign outside a local shop. “There is a fine line between saying you support our troops and then actually doing something about it. While we all support our troops overseas, not many of us are actually doing anything about it.” If placing a car ribbon or decal bought at the local gas station would do anything for our troops is very debatable, since most of the sales go directly to the shop owner or the vendor.
Tom at MagneticPeace.com created a different yellow car ribbon design and had it manufactured to put his beliefs into action. Sixty five days after his website was created, he is averaging 5.3 magnets per day, sold all over America, via his website. A portion of the sales of each magnet is being donated directly to private groups supporting our troops overseas. OperationWeCare.com, a group which sends care packages and essentials to our troops, FisherHouse.org, a group which provides rehabilitation services and support for troops injured in battle, Gold Star Families for Peace, GSFP.org, a group of families that have lost a son or daughter in war and VeteransforPeace.org, a group who believes that all our troops need to come home. The remaining profits from sales of the magnets go to production, packaging and shipping costs. Tom says that if this small home based venture is successful he hopes to expand the base of operations to increase sales and donate more to support our troops.
It can be hard not to be too political during these times when most Americans are sensitive about the war effort, but this is just one persons way of doing something for our troops. For more information, suggestions or more support groups that you are aware of that may need donations, please go to the MagneticPeace.com, website and leave your own message on how we can support our troops today.

Thank you and Peace be with you,

November 12th, 2005 -- South Texans For Peace News Report
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This Article appears in "South Texas Catholic " on November 18th, 2005 as, "Magnetic Peace Sticks to the Point..."

By Amelia Eudy
South Texas Catholic, Associate Editor
From November 18, 2005 Edition

Magnetic Peace sticks to the point: Faith spurs Portland man's efforts to help troops, their families

   They're everywhere. Attached to the back bumpers of Toyotas, Fords and Chevys, colorful magnets have become the most popular car accessory since the invention of the bumper sticker. They stand for all kinds of issues: breast cancer awareness, the humane treatment of animals and remembering the POW.
    Some of the most popular, however, are the yellow ribbons that read, Support Our Troops in remembrance of the military serving overseas. But one Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Portland) parishioner is taking this one step further. He's helping to spread peace through his business, Magnetic Peace, which specializes in car magnets promoting a more peaceful world.
   "I'm inspired by the late Pope John Paul II who asked us all to end the cycle of violence by respecting the sanctity of life", Tom Watson, a seven-year resident of South Texas said. "The cycle of violence has to stop within us, our homes, in the United States and in the world."
    Watson is celebrating the one-year anniversary of his business that began when he asked himself the question, What do you do for our troops?
   "I love our service men and women and wanted to do something to support them directly", he said. "There is a fine line between saying you support our troops and then actually doing something about it."
   Seeing the money being pocketed by private companies due to the sale of these popular magnets, Watson decided to donate a portion of the proceeds of the magnets, which sell for five dollars a piece, to advocacy organizations such as Hero Bracelets, Gold Star Families for Peace, Veterans for Peace, Fisher House and Operation We Care. The remaining money goes toward operations, production and shipping.
   Two of Watson's three adult sons helped start-up the venture. His son, Corey, 20, of Portland, Texas, designed the artwork for the magnets and his son, Chris, 26, of Pennsylvania, created the website, www.magneticpeace.com.
   In one year, they have sold 1,400 magnets, not including the ones that Watson has given away as promotion. His sales average about 4 magnets per day from orders placed all across the United States.
   It can be hard not to be too political during these times when most Americans are sensitive about the war effort, but this is just one person's way of doing something for our troops, Watson noted.
   I feel very deeply the personal sacrifice that our men and women in the military give every day to our country. I see it in their faces, their uniforms and in our flag. We want to honor them by selling these magnetic peace signs as a fundraiser to help support some web-based support groups that stand behind our troops and their families.
He not only gives his full support to these individuals, he was once one of them. A former U.S. Navy, Vietnam-era submariner and a current Navy civil servant, much of Watson's life has revolved around the military. He and his wife of 35 years, Maureen, moved to South Texas after the closure of Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA. He now works as a Shipbuilding Specialist, providing government oversight for the contracts to repair U.S. Navy ships stationed at Naval Station Ingleside.
   With the recent decision to close NSI, Watson will be forced to choose between moving to keep a job with the Department of Defense and relocate to another area, get out of federal service and find a local job, or retire. The base is scheduled to close within the next six years.
   His Catholic faith has also played a large role in Watson's efforts to spread peace, and he follows the books and teachings of Jesuit Father John Dear, who teaches the inner journey toward personal peace and public work for world peace.
Watson is a Eucharistic minister, lector and electrician at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Portland. He is also inspired by the national Catholic peace group Pax Christi and is a member of Veterans for Peace and has connections to the South Texans for Peace.
I want our government to be accountable to our people and our troops, he added and plans to continue his business as long as we have a need for peace in our lives.
The peace magnets measure four inches wide by seven inches tall , the stickers are 2 ¾” by 4 ¾” and are UV coated to prevent fading. Magnets and Stickers can be ordered from the website, www.magneticpeace.com