When 1st Sgt. Patrick Shaughnessy wrote his mother-in-law asking for basic toiletry items for himself and 13 other soldiers, she was blown away.

“They were items we take for granted every. Items like soap, shampoo, toothbrushes,” said Deborah Williams, Shaughnessy’s mother-in-law.

Shaughnessy is currently fighting in Afghanistan under the Operation Enduring Freedom.

“The e-mail ended by saying that the soldiers always like to hear their name at mail call. It is very sad for them not to get anything. Mail of any kind brightens their day and lifts their spirits,” Williams said.

Williams turned to her sister, Jenny Fuller, for help and Fuller turned to her own church members who helped meet the needs of the soldiers.

Bethesda Baptist Church in Plainville pulled together to purchase the toiletries, along with international phone cards and packed them up to ship them more than 7,000 miles to Afghanistan.

“Soldiers need to know that we care and that we support them, and that what they are doing is not in vain,” said Bethesda Pastor Robert Carson Jr.

As a result of the churches benevolence, the 14 soldiers received so many items; they were shared among other soldiers. Williams said that the 14 phone cards shipped were passed around and used by 28 soldiers.

But it was what happened after the care packages had been received that would have a powerful and lasting affect on Williams and the church that had rallied to support her son-in-law. On Aug. 29 Williams received a package from Shaughnessy a flag that had been flown over Afghanistan on July 4, 2009. Shaughnessy asked that she share the flag with congregation of Bethesda Baptist Church.

Carson, who is himself a retired soldier, described Shaughnessy’s gesture as moving.

“It was breathtaking,” said Carson. “It was overwhelming to see that flag and I appreciated that they took the time to do something of that magnitude for our church.”

The flag was accompanied by a letter from Shaughnessy.

“Fly the flag proudly for it is something I do believe in deeply,” Shaughnessy said in his letter.

Shaughnessy’s aunt, Cindy Boggs, was present at the church that Sunday, said that the flag was a reminder of the ongoing efforts overseas.

“We tend to forget there is a war. We get so caught up in the economy and in our own lives it is easy to forget,” said Boggs.