No one knows exactly when it began, or even why, but it’s grown into something that many will surely carry on.

By best accounts, it all started sometime around the beginning of Operation Desert Shield or Desert Storm. Some how, a letter simply addressed to "Soldier in a far away land" made its way to an Aerospace Ground Equipment ranger.

It was a letter from Mrs. Carolyn Stewart of Stone Mountain, Georgia. It’s uncertain exactly what she wrote, but the AGE ranger wrote back and ever since Mrs. Stewart’s kept in touch with her "AGE Flight," as she refers to them. But she’s not just Mrs. Stewart anymore; she’s become like one of the family, affectionately known throughout the 363d Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight as "AGE Mom."

"She’s adopted us and we’ve adopted her," said Chief Master Sgt. Darryl W. Clark, AGE flight chief. "We’re now approaching our 10th anniversary in Southwest Asia and have received nothing but unyielding support from what may be a one-person crusade to make the AGE folk’s tour of duty something special, just knowing someone back home truly does care.

Age Mom keeps in touch year-round, every week sending cards and letters, the sports section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and special packages during holiday time. Sometimes she writes about the weather conditions or topics in the national news and sometimes she offers a gentle spiritual reminder that someone’s watching. Always closing with that familiar phrase "All of you take care in the far land. God Bless Everyone."

As soon as her letters arrive, they’re routed through the flight for everyone to read. And for many they’ve become the highlight of the day.

"They may not get mail from home every week, but they can surely count on hearing from Mom every week," said Chief Master Sgt. Mack M. Williams, 363d Expeditionary Maintenance Squadron maintenance superintendent.

"I think a lot of people could learn a lesson from her," said Senior Airman Jayson E. Moats, AGE Flight production support specialist. "It’s good to know that someone back home thinks of us and remembers we’re here."

Mom’s campaign to keep in touch has surprised some at the AGE flight who find it rare that a complete stranger would write so faithfully.

"I found it quite extraordinary," said Senior Airman Martin W. Adriance-Exner, AGE Flight mechanic. "Back in the States, our mission here isn’t a front page thing. I was surprised to see that she took the time and cared enough to write. I was here during Christmas and it was great to get her package," he said. "She even sent us a fruit cake."

Mom’s gotten letters and packages from her AGE Flight as well, including group photos, plaques and small souvenirs from the area. Most recently, they honored AGE Mom with unit coins from the AGE Flight and 363d Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron along with certificates of appreciation, which she’s expected to receive soon. The two coins were flown on an Irish Warrior Reconnaissance sortie aboard a U-2 over the skies of Iraq in support of Operation Southern Watch. The U-2 pilot and the unit commander signed the accompanying certificates.

"She has never asked for anything in return," said Master Sgt. George Michaeli, AGE production superintendent. "All she wants the guys over here to know is that there’s someone in the world that truly appreciates what they’re doing to keep world peace. This lady is one-in-a-million."

AGE flight members say they’ll keep looking forward to those weekly letters and they’ll make sure to let the next AEF know that they too will probably be hearing from Mom.