Never mind those glitzy gift bags the stars get at the Oscars and Emmys.

The Hawai'i chapter of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, with the help of local businesses and volunteers, is whipping up something special of its own for Schofield Barracks soldiers returning from Iraq.

Some 7,000 packages are being assembled and distributed to the soldiers as they arrive at Wheeler Army Airfield, waiting to be processed and preparing to see family members again for the first time. The first of the gift bags were distributed to soldiers Sunday.

It's just a small way for businesses and regular folks in the community to show their appreciation to those returning from the war, said Ben Acohido, a member of the VFW's national Military Assistance Program.

The bags include discounts and game credits from Dave & Buster's, a DVD from Tricare, the military's medical system, explaining to the soldiers how they can get medical services now that they're home, and musical greeting cards from the Hallmark Corp.

"There are also small things from different companies — trinkets, letter openers," Acohido said, adding that he asked the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i to put out the word among its members for donations.

The bags themselves are being donated by Wal-Mart with the slogan "America Supports You the Military Men and Women."

A Vietnam War veteran, Acohido said it's important for military personnel returning from the battlefront to feel appreciated.

"We did not have the public support that these troops do today," Acohido said of his return from Vietnam. "The American public today is supporting our troops regardless of the politics of it."

Jennifer James, of the Family Readiness Group at Schofield, was among the volunteers who helped assemble the packages last Sunday.

The wife of Staff Sgt. Michael James, who is with a mortar platoon that's part of the 2-35th Infantry Battalion, 3rd Brigade, Headquarters and Headquarters Co. and who is returning from Iraq this month, said she was moved by the mixture of people who made up the estimated 60 volunteers who helped last Sunday.

"It kind of made my heart swell," she said.

James said it was her husband's unit that lost 10 soldiers in the crash of a Black Hawk helicopter last month. "The community supported us through things like that," she said.

"So it was great to see the community not only support us when we definitely needed it but to be there to help us celebrate their return as well. And I think the soldiers are very, very appreciative of it."

James noted that military policy bars the families of armed services personnel from asking for contributions.

She said she's most looking forward to visiting Dave & Buster's with their 9-year-old son, Bradley.

"They've given us incentive to go," she said of the gift card in the gift bags.

Reach Gordon Y.K. Pang at gpang@honoluluadvertiser.com.