Thompson Cigar Gives #1 Requested Item to Our Troops Overseas

TAMPA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Thompson Cigar announces the donation of over 300,000 cigars to American Troops. Five years into the Iraq war American troops are still deployed across the globe. Far from home is a tough place to be, but there are some people and companies stateside that try to make deployment a little easier.

300,000 Cigars & Counting

Take Thompson Cigar for example. Since 2002 Thompson Cigar has donated over 300,000 cigars to troops in combat areas of Afghanistan and Iraq, plus Korea, the Horn of Africa and three Navy aircraft carrier battle groups through a local Tampa, Florida effort called Support Our Troops (www.supportourtroops.com).

"The #1 requested item by the troops is cigars, with coffee being a close #2. Every week I send out 68lb. boxes to 250 different units in the U.S. military and every single week, every one of those boxes includes a supply of Thompson Cigars. Besides being relaxing, cigar smoke keeps the bugs away, and in Iraq that's a definite plus!" said Bob Williams founder of Support Our Troops.

Cigars and more

Of course, Thompson Cigar hasn't just sent cigars. Over the past several years they've donated items like coffee pots, linens and pillows through their affiliated companies. But their care and concern hasn't stopped there. Recently Bob Franzblau, the owner of Thompson Cigar, requested his purchasing department look into buying Swiss Army Knives for the troops because they are in such demand and hard to come by.

"When it comes to troop donations, Mr. Franzblau's generosity is awesome. I've been doing this for 20 years and I've never met anyone as generous and patriotic as he is," commented Bob Williams. "I could never do what I do without the folks at Thompson Cigar."

Two for the Troops

Last year Thompson introduced its Two for the Troops promotion in which anyone purchasing a special offer from Thompson Cigar could automatically donate two cigars for our troops overseas. Public support of this program has been tremendous. ThompsonCigar.com reported that not only were people donating their two cigars with purchase, people were mailing in additional cigars to be forwarded on to the troops.

"The folks at Thompson Cigar go the extra mile to let our troops know they are behind them," said Bob Williams of Support Our Troops. "Sometimes a cigar and a cup of coffee just mean the world to someone who is far from home."

Of course, Thompson Cigar is not encouraging anyone to take up smoking. But when soldiers are requesting cigars, coffee pots, pillows and sheets, it really makes a difference to them that someone stateside cares enough to fulfill their wishes.

About Thompson Cigar

Thompson Cigar has the distinction of being the oldest mail order cigar company in the United States. Founded in Key West Florida in 1915, Thompson Cigar has devoted over 90 years to delivering cigar smokers everywhere the very best in national cigar brands, boutique cigars, humidors, cigar cutters and a wide variety of quality smoking accessories. To view Thompson Cigar's selection of cigars and cigar accessories, go to www.thompsoncigar.com.