Supporting troops that are deployed is easy. Once you realize that they have no choice in the decision as to if they are going to go there or not. Supporting your troops does not mean that you support the war. I don't support this stupid war but my husband is about to be deployed to fight it. We will support him by keeping all chaos away from him.

While he is gone, the kids know to only speak to him about positve things and they will be sending him regular care packages if possible.

If you don't know anyone over there but want to contribute or show your support then here is a website of many opportunities to do so. (http://troopssupport.com/) As an Army wife, I just want to thank you for supporting the members of our military who are about to be deployed and the ones over there. I know that they miss their families and pray to get home soon. Having people like you supporting them (even in the smallest way) makes it easier for them to keep focused on their jobs there. And as long as they are focused and not worrying about home i feel they are safer.

Well, I think supporting the soldiers deployed to the Middle East and supporting/not supporting the war are two separate things. My support of the soldiers who risk their lives in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Middle Eastern countries every day is rather simple. My thoughts are with them and their families, because I know that likely the vast majority of those deployed today had no intention of ever going voluntarily to war and if they had any say in the matter at all they would not be there at all. The media oftentimes makes our soldiers out as great heroes (which of course they are) who jumped at the chance to go to war against an enemy that potentially threatens our nation. While all this enthusiasm is commendable, it is simply not the truth. My husband has served in the military over 13 years and has been deployed 4 times to different parts of the world. Although 3 out of the 4 deployments were not to war, I can tell you first-hand that he never once was happy to leave nor was he excited to be staying in another country for extended periods of time by himself with only his fellow soldiers. On the contrary, he sounded very sad and almost depressed every time I talked to him on the phone. And he wasn’t the only one who felt that way. I think from his entire company (and from all the other soldiers at all our duty stations that I have every talked to) the ones who were truly looking forward to deployment you could probably count off one hand. Being aware of the misery and sadness that many soldiers go through due to being away from their families for months or even a year at a time, I truly do support the soldiers and all their efforts that they make or have to make while at war. However, I have never been (not since it started in 2003) nor will I ever be a supporter of the war in the Middle East. I personally just do not see the purpose of having thousands of soldiers deployed still after over 6 years of ongoing combat and many thousands of lives lost for nothing. My husband and I have lost a few friends in the war as well, mainly friends who found themselves deployed multiple times to Iraq. But I am also happy to say that the majority of his former fellow soldiers who were deployed recently have returned safely throughout the course of this year, and for this we are thankful. But many soldiers continue to deploy even as we speak and an end is unfortunately nowhere in sight. Even if promises of pulling out our troops by 2011 hold true, that is still way too far in the future in my opinion.
As far as showing your support goes, you can contact the USO to donate to and support soldiers deployed to war by creating care packages, writing letters of gratitude (even your children, if you have any, can engage in this activity), or even getting in contact with a soldier who has nobody else and offering emotional support by phone or via Internet. I remember when my husband was deployed he said there was no more exciting time each day than when they handed out the mail and he received letters from people who cared, even if they were not from his own family (and I sent out a letter laden with new pictures and paintings from my son almost every other day) he was still happy to have contact with people from his home country. He loved receiving little care packages with toiletries and snacks inside and he said one of the best packages he was ever given came from an elementary school class and contained letters from 4th and 5th grade students who voiced their appreciation and sent drawings, arts and crafts, and other homemade goodies to the soldiers.