EvanL
06-08-2004, 05:06 PM
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 U.S. 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."
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 U.S. 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."