The Reagan Round Up (RRU) was founded by Dawn Gilsdorf in December 2005, when her son and his crew aboard The USS Ronald Reagan were preparing for deployment to Iraq. Dawn's idea for the RRU was to set up a Pen Pal program where she would link up many of her online friends with the members of her son's division, so that no sailor would have to be lonely while they were away. Each sailor would have a touch of home to look forward too as they set across the ocean.
The USS Ronald Reagan set off January 3, 2006, which was their "Maiden" deployment. Just weeks later, on January 20, 2006, the Pen Pal program really took off. At this point, Dawn thought she should give the program a name. So, giving honor to the men and women who assisted with starting the program, and the beautiful Navy ship that allowed Dawn to use the internet area of the ship, it was decided to be called The Reagan Round Up.
Although RRU was started for the Sailors; it has grown for the Marines and the Army, as well as the Air Force. We here at RRU feel that all military men and women should be supported the full time they are deployed, until their job is "finished".