We can do this, cigar lovers of the United States of America!
Operation: Cigars for Warriors (OP: CFW) sends premium cigars and accessories to service members in combat around the world. And Boveda donates its product to protect those cigars as they charge into some of the most severe conditions on Earth. In the desert. At high sea. Amid war zones.
Now it’s time to do your part. Send cigars to the troops.
“We have some true American warfighters here who, if given the order, would storm the gates of hell with water guns to keep the American way of life the way it is.”
– Recipient of OP: CFW cigar care package, U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3, David Lanoue
Holding the top left corner of the flag, David Lanoue is pictured with his cigar-smoking Army buddies.
BY INDEPENDENCE DAY, HELP GET THAT 1 MILLIONTH CIGAR TO THE TROOPS
“Wow. Think of it, 1 million cigars donated and sent, by request only, to our Deployed Troops, and all done by 100% volunteers and in only 7 years!!!!!” posted Storm Boen, OP: CFW Chairman of the Board.
“Let’s make this happen for Our Deployed Troops!”
– Storm Boen, OP: CFW Chairman of the Board
Donate now to send service members cigars
HELP OP: CFW EXCEED 1 MILLION CIGAR GOAL! Get out your credit or debit card to give to OP: CFW, so the nonprofit can buy and ship premium cigars right away. OP: CFW is a 501 (c) (3) charity, so your donation is tax deductible.
More ways to fill OP: CFW cigar care packages:
- Drop off cigars at any of 200 OP: CFW’s donation sites. Many are in smoke shops, where you can also buy a box and just leave it there.
- Share sticks from your humidor and send those cigars directly to OP: CFW.
MEET AN ARMY PILOT IN NEED OF A GOOD CIGAR
For more than 16 years, David Lanoue (pictured in foreground) has served in the military. Currently, this U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO 3), is a Battalion Aviation Maintenance Officer in an overseas Task Force.
He advanced from servicing aircraft to piloting them. And was eventually re-deployed as an AH-64D mission pilot/test pilot in support of Iraqi Freedom.
“I was able to get the AH-64D as my aircraft to fly out of primary flight school. Having been the guy on the ground working on them, reloading all the ammo and seeing them fly off on missions, it was a great feeling to be the one flying off to support the guys outside of the wire.”
“We stayed extremely busy on missions and test flights during that time frame, but our great crew chiefs always had cigars waiting for us.”
Smoking and joking, Army style
“I’ve been flying the hawks as a test pilot going on five years now and still enjoy my job. The Army, like any job, can have its moments, but being able to serve with these great guys and gals is worth it.”
“The ability to sit down after the long missions or long days with a great cigar from CFW makes it even that much better.”
WHO GOT YOU INTO CIGARS?
“My intro in the cigar world was from a good friend of mine named Tim. Tim was another AH-64 pilot with me who loved Backwoods Cigars and got them in every care package it seemed. He got me hooked on those (which still are great to me) and then I slowly graduated to the adult size cigars and have been smoking them ever since.”
HOW TO GET CIGARS WHEN YOU’RE DEPLOYED
Lanoue said he was on his way out of the country for deployment when he overheard some other service members talking about a place that donated cigars to soldiers.
“OP: CFW is amazing. I quickly got on the website and couldn’t believe there was a place that donated cigars to the war fighters overseas.”
“I quickly put my request in and received a care package full of great cigars. I’ve been passing them out to all the folks here and have had some great conversations with everyone while sitting back and relaxing on a good cigar.”
Good morale builds steady, strong resiliency when you’re away from home
“No matter what your job is here and other deployed sites, everyone needs to have a time and place to just chill and have a good cigar,” Lanoue said.
“The laughter from hearing people’s stories from back home or the silent comfort from sitting there with them so they know everyone is in this together is (to me) what cigar smoking is all about.”
Lanoue is a mild/medium cigar enthusiast, but every once and awhile he goes for a full-bodied cigar. “I’d have to go with anything from Drew Estate, especially the KUBA KUBA. I’m always trying new cigars, but to date the KUBA KUBA is my fall back cigar.”
BTW, DREW ESTATE IS A HUGE SUPPORTER OF OP: CFW
Drew Estate was the first company that partnered up with the group that sends cigars into active combat zones. Jonathan Drew (J.D.) ensures OP: CFW has a presence at almost every cigar festival that Drew Estate participates in, including its Barn Smokers.
HERE’S HOW YOUR DONATION HELPS CIGAR-LOVING SERVICE MEMBERS
- Troops serving in active combat zones request a OP: CFW cigar care package.
- Boveda fans donate premium cigars or money to the nonprofit.
- OP: CFW packs up the donated premium cigars with Boveda and sends them overseas to the awaiting cigar lovers. LET’S DONATE 1M CIGARS BY THE 4TH.
