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12/23/04: News 8 Austin OI® Transcript

Austin, TX - This holiday season we should remember the American soldiers that aren't able to be home.

12/21/04: Effort to send armor to soldiers may be misguided

Houston, TX - American troops in Iraq scrounge for scrap metal to fortify their Humvees, but you could be driving to the grocery store in an armored Camry.

12/21/04: TV Worldwide Features Live Webcast to Support Care Packages for US Troops

Chantilly, VA - TVWorldwide.com (www.tvworldwide.com ), a fast-growing web-based global TV network, announced that in cooperation with Operation Interdependence®, it will webcast live over the Internet, a program to raise awareness of Operation Interdependence's® "civilian-to-military delivery system®."

12/21/04: Merry Mission

Troy, MI - PRC-DeSoto, the aerospace unit of PPG Industries, was able to help lift holiday spirits this year by supplying its TRANSSEAL(R) temporary protective coating to the aircraft that was deployed by Operation Interdependence to support the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.

12/18/04: Where there's military sacrifice, a Church helps

Fallbrook, CA - For two days this week, Fallbrook Presbyterian Church near Camp Pendleton became a busy Christmas shopping center for military families, many with one parent stationed in Iraq.

12/14/04: George Washington Students Bring Gifts for Troops

Marion, OH - Students at George Washington Elementary School hope to make Christmas a little brighter for Marines serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Cuba this year through Operation Interdependence.

12/13/04: Marine veterans finding new way to serve at home

Fort Wayne, IN - They stand side-by-side in silence as a chaplain offers a prayer. Then they sit down and the clang of a small bell rings in remembrance of two fallen comrades.

12/13/04: Civilian Program Deploys 'Care Packages' Overseas to US Troops

Tupelo, MS - A project to help supply troops fighting the war on terror with "care packages" from home is gaining momentum. California-based Operation Interdependence is a civilian-to-military delivery system that allows U.S. residents to send care package shipments to platoons of up to 50 service members.

12/08/04: Firefighters collect for soldiers

Austin, TX - The Austin Firefighters Association asks the public to join them in donating needed items to U.S. soldiers overseas.

12/07/04: 'Winter Wonderland' Friday and Saturday

Jersey City, NJ - The Bergen Point Merchants Association will ring in the new year with its second annual "Winter Wonderland" festival Friday and Saturday.

12/04/04: Goody bags brighten day for wounded Marines

Camp Pendleton, CA - It's just a little bag of goodies. But maybe it's the way Jessica Hartmann hands it to the wounded Marines at the Camp Pendleton Naval Hospital that makes them sit up a little higher in bed.

12/03/04: Cross embarks on tour

Brainerd, MN - While her classmates at Mississippi Horizons will be hard at work studying math and English, Caitlin Cross will be jet-setting across the country polishing her public speaking skills and promoting youth volunteerism.

12/02/04: Aid and Comfort

El Cajon, CA - To a squared-away Marine Corps officer, there's nothing worse than waste. But that's exactly what Albert Renteria saw while serving during Operation Desert Storm. His job then: "Moving beans and bullets," catchy shorthand for transport of the tons of provisions and materiel that flow from the states to the trenches during wartime.

12/01/04: Troops receiving care packages from home

Houston, TX - It was 9 a.m., two days before Thanksgiving, and Vicki Nixon was up to her elbows in stuffed quart-sized closable baggies.

11/30/04: Western sends care packages to troops in Iraq

Blaine, WA - Twelve Western staff members began sending care packages to troops in Iraq approximately 12 years ago and they continue the tradition today.

11/23/04: More 'C-Rats' and Faster

Oceanside, CA - A former devil dog looking for a better way to get care packages to leather­ necks of 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, two years ago now is moving tons of 'c-rats' - civilian rations - to service members in all four branches.

11/16/04: A Soldier's Visit

Bayonne, NJ - Dressed in his camouflage uniform and his tilted black beret, Army Specialist Josh Velez stood in front of the gym as the students of St. Andrews School silently prayed for the soldiers past and present who valiantly served their country.

11/14/04: Reaching Out to Heroes

Logansport, IN - It's tough over there, and soldiers are often homesick. But a Rochester woman is determined to ease the emotional pain of war.

11/10/04: Supplies help troops' families

St. Cloud, MN - Operation Interdependence, a group that helps collect donations for military troops, is looking for donations. Some of the items most needed in Minnesota include quart-sized plastic bags and boxes. If you are willing to donate, contact area coordinator Ron Chaffee at (760) 468-4919.

11/01/04: Kids' thank-yous offer morale boost to soldiers overseas

Pontotoc, MS - Children in Pontotoc County have been working to show their support to our troops in Iraq in a tangible way.

10/31/04: NACS Magazine Feature
Las Vegas, NV - Click on a photograph to read the article.

10/27/04: 8 area volunteers to be honored

Brainerd, MN - Eight Brainerd lakes area residents will be honored for their volunteerism and service to community Thursday at the sixth annual Distinguished Service Awards Banquet at Madden's Resort Town Hall in East Gull Lake.

10/26/04: NACS Show 2004 Reached New Heights

Alexandria, VA - Although final attendance figures for the NACS Show 2004 will not be available until mid-November, preliminary figures show that the event attracted a record number of retailer attendees and was the largest exposition ever.

10/18/04: Patriotism & Parallels

Las Vegas, NV - A rousing chorus of "Let Freedom Ring," along with a reverential international slideshow, set the tone for the opening general session of NACS Show 2004, the National Association of Convenience Stores' annual trade show and convention, taking place just 15 days before the close and contentious presidential election.

10/12/04: Proud of her Heritage

Sun City, CA - Marsha Timberlake is proud of her paternal ancestors, Benjamin and Paul Hayward.

10/08/04: Volunteers send goodies overseas

Tupelo, MS- Council members Heavner and Smith haven't found new careers. They've become volunteers with Operation Interdependence, an organization that sends goodwill packages overseas to soldiers fighting in Iraq.

09/29/04: ADAM MARSHALL TO KICK OFF OI EVENT: 'CELEBRATING AMERICA'

McAllen, TX - Former Marine turned country singer, Adam Marshall, will help kick off an Operation Interdependence® event called ‘Celebrating America’ this weekend in McAllen, TX. Operation Interdependence is an organization that ensures civilian rations® (care packages) are put together and sent to our military personnel while they are away.

09/28/04: Schultz pupils craft home-grown support

Houston, TX - Pupils and teachers at Schultz Elementary School in the Klein school district are working to benefit Operation Interdependence.

09/28/04: Bayonne family's gift bags for soldiers earn recognition from the Pentagon

Jersey City, NJ - The Pentagon recently paid tribute to a Bayonne family who has volunteered countless hours coordinating the shipment of letters and basic supplies to American troops serving overseas.

09/18/04: Rally today will collect items to be sent to troops

Louisville, KY - Lynn Romans routinely packed up boxes of treats, toiletries and games to send her son, Sgt. Darrin Potter of Louisville, while he was serving in Iraq.

09/07/04: You can send 'comforts of home' to troops

Pontotoc, MS - The men with the 155th have officially left town, but their journey is just beginning. Shortly after we welcome in the new year, the troops will be overseas in the danger zone. Back at home, there are people who want to make sure that the men get the "comforts of home" even though they will be struggling against wind, sun, and fighting.

09/05/04: No letup in support of deployed Marines and sailors

North County San Diego, CA - Banners, balloons and tears have marked the arrivals of Camp Pendleton Marines returning from Iraq, with images of happy homecomings gracing the pages of local newspapers and television screens.

09/01/04: Show Spotlight: Charity Begins When The National Association of Convenience Stores Show Ends

Alexandria, VA - Have you ever wondered what is done with all of the surplus candy, cookies, packaged snacks and other goodies when the NACS Show expo ends? Each year, NACS Show exhibitors donate thousands of pounds of food and nonfood products to community food banks and other charities--and this year will be no exception.

08/31/04: Care for our troops overseas

Morgan Hill, CA - Morgan Hill will soon be a center to transfer small care packages to U.S. troops deployed around the world. As a part of his crusade to improve mail service to the troops, Albert Renteria, created Operation Interdependence.

08/26/04: Thousands of troops, families benefit from Newman's Own largesse

Washington, DC - Wounded and deployed troops and their families are among thousands who will benefit from $57,000 in grants to private organizations that serve the military community.

08/24/04: DoD Announces Newman's Own Grant Recipients

Washington, DC - The Department of Defense announced today the presentation of $50,000 in grants by the Fisher House Foundation to 16 volunteer organizations for their innovative programs to improve military quality of life.

08/24/04: Volunteer Groups Earn Newman's Own Awards for Military Support

Washington, DC - Sixteen volunteer organizations operating on military installations took home between $1,000 and $10,000 today for presenting an "innovative plan to improve the quality of life for their military community" in the fifth annual Newman's Own Awards competition.

08/18/04: Runner welcomes support for troops

Sacramento, CA - Assemblywoman Sharon Runner offered her thanks Monday to her constituents in the Antelope and Victor valleys for their overwhelming support for American troops.

08/18/04: It's important to show support for local soldiers

Cloquet Pine Knot, MN - It seems one of the single biggest frustrations in dealing with the Iraq war on a personal level is knowing how we can best support the morale of our deployed troops.

08/15/04: Grocers' donation powers feel-good home run

Bend, OR - The 25 Oregon National Guard Youth Challenge cadets helping sort tons of donated food and other products in a warm, dim warehouse east of Bend last Friday weren't helping themselves to any of the many boxes of goodies. But they were helping themselves - and others - in a way that made them smile and feel pretty good about themselves

08/14/04: Disneyland Cast Members Charity Fund donates $5,000 to Operation Interdependence® on stage at MARC SEAL Galaxy Theatre Concert

Santa Ana, CA - Virtuoso "Progressive Rock" Guitarist Marc Seal - Marc recently performed at the Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitarfest in Dallas Texas and when he returned he wanted to give back to the men and women in uniform and their families with a free concert.

08/07/04: Imagine-It-Concepts Donates FocaLite To Operation Interdependence® in Support of A Special Letters from Home Dinner Held in San Diego

Huntington Beach, CA, - Imagine-It-Concepts Inc., a leading manufacturer of innovative portable light and lamp control products, has donated 320 of its FocaLiteTM Sport multi-function flashlights, valued close to $8,000, in support of a special Letters from Home Dinner event held August 7th in San Diego, California.

07/30/04: Parents of Marines Gather in Indy for Conference

Indianapolis, IN - Families of Marines serving in Iraq are gathering in Indianapolis for the first-ever U.S. Marine Corps Parents Conference.

07/04/04: An interdependent day reigns

Newport Beach, CA - From tots crawling gleefully at Mariners Park to boats parading around Newport Harbor, the Fourth of July turns out as festive as ever.

06/14/04: Lake Stevens supports Marines

Lake Stevens, WA - Donations and letters of support are being collected for a battalion of U.S. Marines who served in Iraq with PFC Cody Calavan.

06/10/04: Island gives major warm reception

East Manatee, FL - When Maj. Rick Ely was stationed in Iraq, more than 100 Anna Maria Island students sent cards and letters to him and the troops who worked with him.

06/07/04: Operation Interdependence

Phoenix, AZ - These two words signify one of the best care-packages delivery systems for our men and women in the military not just fighting in Iraq, but throughout the world. And, basically, this is an efficient civilian-to-military delivery system that relieves the military from spending precious manpower to deliver much-needed treats for troops.

05/29/04: Bayonne family collects care items for U.S. troops

Bayonne, NJ - A Bayonne family is taking a volunteer effort to send care packages to American troops overseas to a higher level.

05/28/04: Beans, Bullets, and mail

Bayonne, NJ - An old military slogan says troops need three things to successfully wage war: beans, bullets and mail.

05/28/04: Showing she cares

Brainerd, MN - Caitlin Cross was just a first-grader when she and her older sister, Rachel, then in third grade, spearheaded a project at Baxter Elementary School that sent three truckloads of donated school supplies to a Grand Forks, N.D., area elementary school during the 1997 flood.

05/27/04: CalCity Group Sends Packages to Troops

California City, CA - Sandy Nieses, program assistant with the California City Parks and Recreation Department, is coordinating volunteers for the Operation Independence Delivers program, which sends small items and short personal messages to service personnel overseas.

05/26/04: Operation Interdependence

Chatham, MI - When one talks to Al Renteria, Gulf War veteran and founder of Operation Interdependence, he or she not only wants to salute our colors, but carry them into war. An ex-Marine, whose unbridled passion for patriotism, liberty, freedom and sacrifice, he is a modern day knight-errant of a call to social consciousness to do not only the right thing, but the only thing. "Real people serving real care packages to real heroes" stands as both a motto and challenge nurtured by a need born by service to his country.

05/22/04: Gov visits Bend, helps fill packages for troops

Bend, OR - Sure, he’s the governor and all, but on Friday, Ted Kulongoski was, at times, happily lost in a sea of sight and sound in a packed Bend River Mall storefront – signing umpteen autographs, posing for umpteen photos and twice making his way down the line of candy, lotion, Band-Aids and other items, filling a plastic bag, destined for troops in Iraq.

05/19/04: Helping those who serve

Prineville, OR -- As Memorial Day fast approaches, thoughts of those who are serving overseas with our armed forces naturally come to mind.

05/18/04: Program mails taste of home

Parris Islands, SC -- Fifteen members of the Delayed Entry Program in Tupelo, Miss., helped Operation Interdependence put together more than 2,000 care packages for deployed troops May 18.

05/17/04: Gov to help prepare packages for troops

Bend, OR - Operation Interdependence, in Bend and currently supporting 500 deployed troops with monthly care packages, recently agreed to support wounded troops with monthly care and comfort packages while they recuperate in an Iraqi hospital.

05/10/04: CHECK IT OUT: Supporting the troops in Iraq

Maui, HI -- “The human resources director at a major Kaanapali resort has asked Check It Out how her staff could adopt a U.S. military platoon in Iraq in order to mail care packages to the unit.

05/03/04: Help sought in 'Military Appreciation Month'

Bend, OR -- “It may be laid down as a primary position, and the basis of our system, that every Citizen who enjoys the protection of a Free Government, owes not only a proportion of his property, but even of his personal services to the defense of it.”

04/26/04: Soldier visits Tupelo to say thank you

Tupelo, MS -- Since the Iraq War began, citizens have sent care packages to the troops serving overseas to show their appreciation and gratitude.

03/26/04: Mail drop challenge made by Vistan

Vista, CA -- Vista's Nancy Rivera has a challenge for all North County residents that should make a lot of servicemen and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan very happy: send more letters and packages from home.

03/23/04: Bend crowd lights candles, honors fallen heroes

Bend, OR -- March 23 - Name, age, hometown. Name, age, hometown. Over and over and over, as the candles flickered and the melting wax trickled down onto the paper holders held in dozens of hands. So many names to read aloud, of so many lives cut short.

03/19/04: Youngsters get view of war, ask tough questions

Newbury Park, CA -- On March 20, 2003, the day war with Iraq started, Lt. Cmdr. Terry Moran, a Navy reservist, was flown from Kuwait to Iraq, where he led a team in launching drones that dropped metallic slivers that raised havoc with Iraqi radar.

03/19/04: In Bayonne, troops are not forgotten

Bayonne, NJ -- A 4-year-old child might not be able to point to Iraq on a map, but they most certainly know what is happening there.

03/15/04: War not over, so local support effort carries on

Bend, OR -- After a year, just about anything can become routine, even packing up a mix of goodies and necessities for local folks who are fighting a war halfway around the world.

03/08/04: Area students send notes, treats to deployed troops

CLEAR LAKE, MI -- What do drag racers, students and overseas troops have in common?.

02/16/04: Man uses car to drive support for U.S. troops

CLEAR LAKE, M I-- As the Pentagon mobilizes troops, Ron Chaffee mobilizes well-wishers.

01/16/04: Race car drives awareness of Operation Interdependence®

SHERBURNE COUNTY, IL -- Ron Chaffee painted his drag racing car red, white and blue because his patriotic spirit runs deep. He supports a group connecting civilians with American troops overseas for the same reason.

01/10/04: Gallegly presents medals to 2 Ventura

THOUSAND OAKS, CA -- Congressional Award Medals were presented last week to Jessica Geiser, 17, of Ojai and Mathew Morgan, 18, of Camarillo, during a ceremony held at U.S. Rep. Elton Gallegly's office in Thousand Oaks.

01/09/04: Natick company rallies its troops

NATICK, MA -- Hearing of the freeze-dried, nutrient-questionable food American soldiers are gulping down in Iraq, employees at the Natick company Betafoods mobilized its own operation, donating over 200,000 packets of its high-protein version of M&Ms, called Power Bites.