http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/TorontoSun/News/2004/06/06/pf-488096.html

Today's troops not forgotten
Mark Bonokoski finds a small Ontario Legion that collected gifts for all who serve abroad

WHILE THE eyes of the free world are again on Normandy this morning -- this being the 60th anniversary of D-Day -- the men and women of Branch 300 of the Royal Canadian Legion in the village of Norwood (Pop:1,300) will lay a wreath at their weathered cenotaph, and then slowly return their thoughts to the Canadian soldiers of today. There is, after all, a job to finish up.

It is a job, in fact, which began around Christmas last year when a woman from the old-age home up the road walked into the Legion of this small town a few kilometres east of Peterborough and placed a collection box near the bar, a flimsy piece of paper taped to its side.

"Support our soldiers," it read.

But it didn't get much attention, at least not at first.

And then Doug Willoughby got to thinking:What if?

LONG SHOT PAYS OFF

What if he wrote to every potential sponsor he could think of, from small local businesses to the national big boys and asked them to buy into his idea?

Would it be possible, he thought, to send a gift box to thank every Canadian soldier now in Afghanistan and Bosnia -- some 3,000 boxes in all -- and get them there by Canada Day?

"It was a long shot," he says. "But it paid off."

Along with then Legion president Randy Webb, Willoughby began writing his letters. He asked Loblaws head office if it might donate 3,000 granola bars and what he got in return was 3,000 boxes of granola bars, with 24 bars in each box.

And it didn't stop there.

Over in Peterborough, Coyle Corrugated Boxes volunteered to supply all the packaging. Harco Industries donated 3,000 frisbees, Casino Rama threw in 3,000 decks of playing cards.

And then, from 40-plus other companies big and small, came juice boxes and chewing gum, razors and shaving cream, tooth brushes and toothpaste, soaps and deodorants, paper and pens, socks and sanitary products -- some 66,000 items in all, with a retail value of more than $89,000.

"And no one asked for anything in return," says Willoughby.

When the campaign first began in mid-January, Willoughby wrote a letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin, who today is in Normandy, and asked him for some moral support.

"Would you kindly write some encouragement in a short note (to the troops) ... one for Afghanistan and one for Bosnia," he wrote. "These much-valued thoughts would, I'm sure, be immensely treasured by the recipients."

A similar letter was written to Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and, when weeks passed without a reply from either leader, Willoughby wrote them both again.

"And I'm still waiting to hear from them," he says.

Last Monday, 882 parcels were delivered to the Canadian military base in nearby Trenton, and are now making their way to Bosnia, where a banner from Branch 300 of the Royal Canadian Legion (Norwood) -- complete with the signatures of virtually everyone in the Norwood area -- is already "proudly" hanging in the mess at Camp Black Bear.

As Bosnia commander, Col. J. K. Tattersall, wrote to Willoughby, "It is a strong reminder to the troops that the people of Canada, and the Legion in particular, are thinking about them. One of the soldiers told me that he was even able to find his in-laws' signatures on the banner."

WAREHOUSE IS FILLED

Adjacent to the fairgrounds in Norwood, there is a warehouse filled with what remains to be packed. Some eight skids are already loaded and marked for Afghanistan, with about a dozen more skids to go.

And, over to the side, three skids containing Canadian-blend coffee await shipment to Haiti, where the last of Canada's available troops were sent to help quell violence there.

"And each skid will carry a Canadian flag," says Willoughby. "And they came courtesy of a local businessman whose bottom line has been seriously hurt by the drop in tourism.

"But he gave to the cause nonetheless."

When the campaign first began in mid-January, Willoughby wrote a letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin, who today is in Normandy, and asked him for some moral support.... "And I'm still waiting to hear from them," he says.

Why am I not surprised?

However, all of the outpourings of support in the past year have really shaken my bitter and jaded viewpoint on the Canadian public's attitude towards us. I attended the Baptism of my Godchild a week ago in uniform. To walk about in Ontario while in uniform would have made me the subject of glares and snubs. But here in Alberta I had several people shake my hand and thank me for my service. I was quite unprepared for it, and found it unsettling.

I have the upmost respect for our Canadian brothers i have been there several times(Winsor) and i always wear a hat that says U.S. Paratrooper on it and they always welcome me  a Big Hooah For them ,I am glad their people support them

Paracowboy ,i am proud to know you even if it is only on the internet maybe one day we will meet and it will be a day to remember

Drive On

In a similar vein:

http://www.canoe.ca/NewsStand/Columnists/Edmonton/Scott_Haskins/2004/06/08/pf-489839.html

Tue, June 8, 2004

Radio personality Chris Scheetz gathering letters for the troops overseas

By Scott Haskins

First, in the fall of 2002, there was the tractor-thon to raise money for Alberta's drought-stricken farmers. Then, there was "Beefstock," last summer's Mad Dash For The Border in support of Alberta's mad-cow-ravaged beef industry. "I guess," says CISN radio personality Chris Scheetz, "I just can't mind my own business."

Which makes Edmonton a better place.

Today, Scheetz will be at it again with his latest do-good, feel-good project, Letters From Home. "I can't help myself," he says. Inspired by the John Michael Montgomery song of the same name, Scheetz will be at Namao school at 9 a.m. to begin collecting letters from children for Canadian men and women serving as peacekeepers in places like Haiti, Bosnia and Afghanistan. Joining him will be two soldiers from CFB Edmonton in an armoured vehicle, along with Marley Leger, the widow of Sgt. Marc Leger, one of four Canadians killed by friendly fire while on a training mission in Afghanistan in April 2002. Then it's on to Morinville ... and beyond.

Scheetz's idea was to get a few schools on board. The plan has blossomed to the point where upwards of 8,000 letters will be collected over the next three weeks for distribution. "I think we're close to 300 schools now," Scheetz says. "We have a school in the Yukon and a couple in Saskatoon. We have Sunday schools and playschools involved, too." Already, a huge pile of letters has been dropped off at the station:

Keifer: "Dear noble soldier, how is it going over there?"

Brandon: "Thank you for saving us."

Jason: "You won't believe who's winning the playoffs."

The kids will tell the soldiers they care. In some cases, they will also tell them a joke.

Mark: "What time is it when an elephant sits on a park bench? Time to fix the bench. I hope this makes you feel better."

Andrea Hokanson helped organize the letter-writing campaign at Namao school. "I heard the song on the radio and started crying," she says. "I knew right then that this would be a great opportunity for the kids to feel an attachment to our soldiers." The timing, so close to the D-Day landing, is perfect. "God does that sometimes," says Scheetz.

Jennifer: "I wish there were no more wars so you wouldn't have anything to do."

Like his last two projects, Scheetz says this one has overwhelmed him. He might have come up with the initial idea, but he is quick to credit others for running with it. Whether it's 1944 or 2004, it's about saying thank you. "It's easy to forget when you're sitting in our comfortable world, where high gas prices are our prime concern," he says. "These people have a dangerous job to do. We take freedom for granted." He pauses for a few seconds before continuing. "Imagine jumping out of a landing craft and running up on to the beach in Normandy ..." Scheetz is a lot of things, but he is no publicity hound. He is not doing this for himself. "Sure, it feels good," he says. "Our people in harm's way deserve our respect and our gratitude. There are guys over there who don't hear from anybody. They must wonder if anybody cares."

Billy cares. "My great-grampa fought the bad guys and now it is your turn. Thank you very much. I'm happy to be free and proud to be a Canadian."

There are currently 1,500 Canadians serving abroad. The original idea from the base was to wait until 600 men and women shipped out from CFB Edmonton to Afghanistan late next month. But this isn't about being from Edmonton or Calgary or Quebec City. It's about being from Canada. Petra Smith is the public affairs officer of the First Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group and Scott Lundy holds the same position with Land Force Western Area. More than 8,000 letters will pose some logistical problems, but nothing that can't be overcome. It could take months for all letters to be distributed, but they will reach the intended audience.

"It's exciting to be a part of," says Lundy. "It will be a wonderful diversion." Not every letter will receive a response, but as many as possible will. "I have been in Bosnia myself," says Smith. "The kids there were taking mine-awareness classes. To have kids the same age writing to our soldiers, I know they will be very appreciative. Chris came up with a wonderful idea."

Ripcord, my brother, everybody I meet for the first time says it's a day they'll always remember. Sadly for me, I seldom remember those days, myself.

But my wife never lets me forget them.

http://www.thewhig.com/webapp/sitepages/printable.asp?paper=www.thewhig.com&contentID=69522