Photo By Spc. Daniel Turner | 1st Sgt. Jonathan White, 66th Engineer Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th...... read more read more
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By Spc. Daniel Turner
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A Soldier from Multi-National Division – Baghdad and a famous U.S. actress joined forces recently to invest in the future of Iraq – its children.
Actress Leah Remini, better known for her role as Carrie Heffernan on the CBS sitcom The King of Queens, received an e-mail from 1st Sgt. Jonathan White, 66th Engineer Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, who hails from San Francisco, with a request – please help with these kids.
"I decided to do this, because Mr. White asked for help to provide for the children of Iraq," Remini said. "Mr. White asked me to donate school supplies and soccer balls to handout to the Iraqi children. I found this to be amazingly selfless.
"By reaching out to me for help to ease the suffering of the children of this war, I was honored to be able to serve them," she added.
The all-girls school in Saab al Bour reaped the benefits of the donation and was supplied with notebooks, pencils, pens and other school supplies
The supplies, which were bought by Remini and delivered by White and his Soldiers, brought smiles to the children of the school north of Baghdad and raised the morale of the Soldiers who distributed the supplies. In addition, Remini has sent hundreds of soccer balls to the children and is now rallying others to do the same.
"To be able to do something like we did today is incredible, because it breaks the routine and it brings a face to what we do," said White. "It's the effort of individuals like Ms. Remini that continues to amaze me and other people who continue to donate.
"People who are selfless in their giving and willing to help out these children of Iraq by their donations and for children they have never even met before is incredible," added White. "It's incredible what she's done, by adopting us, by adopting the Soldiers and supporting these children."
Not only did this instance bring joy to the children at the all-girls school in Saab al Bour, Soldiers of the unit have also benefited from Remini's goodwill.
Remini has funded numerous care packages, DVDs, CDs and a Wii game system for the Soldiers of the company. In addition, she now advocates the adoption of all Soldiers on her website.
"She coordinated an effort to send us a huge banner signed by hundreds of people supporting our Soldiers," added White. "She sent Chapstick and playing cards with "Sappers Lead the Way" logos on them and sunscreen from some Hollywood Boutique. After numerous conversations, she now advocates the anysoldier.com web site in support of all of our Soldiers. Almost every donation has been paid for by her.
"In recognition, we had a plaque made for her and we have also sent her a Certificate of Appreciation with a flag flown here in Iraq," he added. "Her generosity has impacted hundreds of children and directly impacted the morale of our Soldiers."
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2008 09:13 |
| Story ID: | 27575 |
| Location: | TAJI, IQ |
| Web Views: | 357 |
| Downloads: | 260 |
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