WAR, not if, but when …
By A. Thomas Homer
Thursday March 20, 2003
As the deadline passed, Wednesday evening for Saddam Hussein to leave Iraq, U.S. forces in the Middle East were waiting for orders from their Commander and Chief, President Bush. The question is 'no longer if the United 'States will go to war against Iraq, but when?
On the home front, most went about their daily routines with little change. And while the debate continues over US. involvement in Iraq, one group of women who could be most effected, gathered in Auburn in support of their sons..
A local organizational meeting of Operation MOM attracted a small group of mothers, girl friends, grandmothers and family members who have sons and daughters in the military in Iraq. Helping get the program started is Alta resident Bobbi Park.
"Supporting our troops isn't a new idea," Park said, "But most support groups are based on one branch of the military. Operation MOM supports sons and daughters in every branch of the military and is open not only to mothers, but other family members as well. That is what got my attention."
Park's son, Marine Lance Corporal Keith Pratt is on the front lines in Iraq along with several other recent Colfax High School graduates.
"What we want to do is begin compiling a list of servicemen and women from this area," she said. "That way we can begin to send them care packages, letters and our support. We also plan on placing donation boxes and get the word out as to what they need. "It's amazing to find out how many families are affected with a son or daughter in the military."
"I want people to know that we are moms, we're parents. We don't want a war or our children there, but I respect them and the job they are doing. We support them."
War news from the front as well as anti-war protests at home floods the television news. "The hardest part is watching all the anti-war demonstrations she said. "I respect their opinion, but my son is over there protecting their rights to be against the action our President is taking. Emotionally it is not healthy for me to focus on someone else's opinion that I don't agree with."
Also attending the meeting was Lcpl. Pratt's girlfriend Leann Shehan. "He called Sunday morning and said he was fine. He told me he was safe and not to worry", she said.
Pratt's stepfather Steve Park is a Placer County Sheriff's Deputy. Several PCSO Deputies have sons in the military in the Iraq area. Deputies Dan Hall, Rocky Warren and Jeff Brown all have sons in the war zone.
For additional information on Operation MOM, they can be reached at: www.operationmom.org
School launches global awareness effort, fundraiser
By: Gloria Beverage, Colfax Record Editor
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Students at Colfax's Camptonville Academy are being encouraged to think globally.
One of the school's goals this year is to connect the 220 kindergarten through high school age students with the community - both locally and globally, explained Sandy Shea, area coordinator for C.O.R.E. at Camptonville Academy.
Students have already been reaching out to military personnel serving overseas. They have collected enough snacks, socks and toiletry items to fill four boxes to be mailed overseas by Operation Mom, Shea continued.
However, their primary focus will be raise awareness and funds to support a school in Pakistan or Afghanistan.
Inspired by Greg Mortenson's "Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace," students and staff have made the commitment to join the A+ Foundation's mission to support one school in Pakistan or Afghanistan over the next five years.
Mortenson advocates girls' education as the top priority to promote economic development, peace and prosperity. According to his Web site, Mortenson says, "you can drop bombs, hand out condoms, build roads, or put in electricity, but until the girls are educated a society won't change."
Just before the winter break, school staff launched its own Pennies for Peace drive. According to the Pennies for Peace Web site, the drive "teaches children the rewards of sharing and working together to bring hope and educational opportunities to children in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
A penny in the United States is virtually worthless, but in Pakistan and Afghanistan a penny buys a pencil and opens the door to literacy." "We have raised about $50 so far," Shea explained. "We are going to see how much we can raise by the middle of April. "
The school is also partnering with Forest Charter School in Nevada City to host a large fundraiser in the summer or fall.
"By participating in this fundraiser," Shea said, "we are providing an opportunity for students to learn about global issues while raising money to support efforts for global peace. Through his struggle to provide schools in communities that have been affected by terrorism, Greg Mortenson teaches us the value of persistence and selflessness.
"His mission is to work with communities to meet their needs, which truly connects to our mission as a personalized learning charter school - to meet the needs of our community," Shea continued. "I feel like we are working towards the same mission in many ways, connecting us globally through the value of education."
High schools students will be reading and discussing Mortenson's book over the next few months. The Leadership Class from Forest Charter will facilitate those discussions, Shea said.
Finally, the community is being invited to join in a discussion of Mortenson's bestseller. The first in a series of meetings will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 29 at the Colfax Center, 225 So. Railroad Avenue. "People can learn more about what they can do," Shea concluded.
For more information about the projects, call 346-8340.
http://www.colfaxrecord.com/articles/2008/01/17/news/top_stories
