Many Americans are often looking for ways to show their support of the troops in Iraq.

Some hold rallies to support them, some send over food packages, clothes and equipment as a show of solidarity, and some even fly over (ala President Bush) and make surprise visits.

Not many Americans, however, could say that their contribution to the troops in Iraq were 3 poker tables. 

Randy Ying, the owner of Rye Park LLC, a gaming supply company based in Tempe, Arizona, decided to make a unique donation of three custom-built poker tables to the troops in Iraq. Ying decided that the servicemen deserved to play one of his favorite games in style, and has organized that the tables be constructed packaged and shipped to the troops. 

Ying said that “it's cool that they risk their lives for us each day. This is just something I can do to make their time a little more enjoyable.” As an extra touch, Ying also commissioned that the image of the Marine Corp’s VMM-162 logo be printed on each table’s felt surface. 

Ying’s company specializes in gaming equipment and accessories. The high-quality tournament-standard poker tables were being hand built at the company’s warehouse in Tempe. They would then be shipped to North Carolina and then onto Iraq. 

Ying has been involved in fund raising efforts and charitable causes before and this is not the first donation of the kind that he has made to security forces and troops. A few months ago, Ying also donated a poker table to a team of helicopter fighter pilots who were based in Odessa Texas. 

Having read about that donation, Capt. Zachary Webb, the family readiness officer of the VMM-162 (Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron) decided that his troops would also benefit from such a donation and contacted Ying. Webb had read Ying’s website, RyeParkPoker, and further inquired about receiving the poker tables as a donation. 

Ying said that he enjoyed getting the tables made and having the logo printed on the table. He added that he got much pleasure seeing the uniqueness of the tables once they had been completed. “It's just a good way for me to do my part and support the troops," he said.