TAKE A SOLDIER TO THE MOVIES FOR MEMORIAL, INDEPENDENCE DAYS
WISCONSIN FAMILY MARCHES ONWARD TO ENTERTAIN US TROOPS WITH THEATER EXPERIENCE IN A POPCORN BOX
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Milwaukee, WI (May 9, 2005) - Last September Bernie and Kathy Hintzke, a Milwaukee-area couple with a 22-year old son in the U.S. Army in Iraq, launched a national campaign to send movie theater “experiences” to soldiers serving overseas. Since then, more than 5,000 movie experiences have been delivered from families across the country to the delight of US troops in the war zones of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Encouraged by the tremendous public response to their idea, the Hintzke family is redoubling their efforts to collect more DVDs, powdered drink mix, popcorn, candy and letters of thanks and support to send to service members overseas in time for the Memorial Day and Independence Day holidays. As with all good movie sequels, the new round of “OPERATION: Take a Soldier to the Movies” aims to reach as many as 10,000 more troops. With the national holidays approaching, Bernie Hintzke hopes that “people will take the opportunity to honor brave soldiers past and present by donating and adding a letter of thanks. Not only can we show our support, but also try and show them a good time away from the ones who love them. We want people who care about fellow Americans serving overseas to ‘take a soldier to the movies,’” Hintzke said.
Each “OPERATION: Take a Soldier to the Movies” experience comes in a special patriotic red, white and blue popcorn box housing a new or used DVD movie, two packets of pre-sweetened drink mix, two packets of microwave popcorn, an assortment of movie theater-style candy, as well as a letter of thanks from the person or family contributing the contents. Those interested in donating a movie experience package containing these items or making a $35 donation to purchase a complete package may visit www.soldiertomovies.org.
Many in uniform have written Bernie and Kathy to express their appreciation for the movies and letters of support, as well as the popcorn and sweet drink mix. Responses praise the novelty of sending movies to occupy the long hours of idle time that soldiers often face before missions. Many commanding officers have also sent letters of commendation for the program, noting how well the movies boost morale on the bases.
Operation: Take a Soldier to the Movies
One of the most encouraging letters of support has come from the Commander-in-Chief himself, President George W. Bush: “Thank you for supporting these brave individuals who are willing to sacrifice for a cause greater than self,” the President wrote to the Hintzkes in December 2004. The program has also been officially recognized by The Army Museum as a historically significant part of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Activities by “OPERATION: Take a Soldier to the Movies” are being recorded so that future generations can look back on the love and support given by the American people to troops serving overseas.
“Many Americans appreciate the sacrifice our young men and women serving in the military are making to protect and insure freedom,” said Hintzke. “But, we little understand the harsh conditions in the desert as well as the monotony that many soldiers face between missions. We’re rededicating ourselves to ‘Operation: Take a Soldier to the Movies’ as our small way of bringing Saturday night out in America as a token of thanks for all they do,” Hintzke said.
The program continues to attract church groups, school teachers and students, service organizations and businesses that collect movie package items and send them across the world by the caseloads.
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TWO THOUSAND ONE, NINE ELEVEN (2001-911) | Close |
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Two thousand one, nine eleven
Three thousand plus arrive in heaven
As they pass through the gate,
Thousands more appear in wait
A bearded man with stovepipe hat
Steps forward saying, "Lets sit, lets chat"
They settle down in seats of clouds
A man named Martin shouts out proud
"I have a dream!" and once he did
The Newcomer said, "Your dream still lives."
Groups of soldiers in blue and gray
Others in khaki, and green then say
"We're from Bull Run, Yorktown, the
Maine"
The Newcomer said, "You died not in vain."
From a man on sticks one could hear
"The only thing we have to fear.
The Newcomer said, "We know the rest,
Trust us sir, we've passed that test."
"Courage doesn't hide in caves
You can't bury freedom, in a grave,"
The Newcomers had heard this voice before
A distinct Yankees twang from Hyannisport shores
A silence fell within the mist
Somehow the Newcomer knew that this
Meant time had come for her to say
What was in the hearts of the five thousand
plus that day
"Back on Earth, we wrote reports,
Watched our children play in sports
Worked our gardens, sang our songs
Went to church and clipped coupons
We smiled, we laughed,
! we cried, we fought
Unlike you, great we're not"
The tall man in the stovepipe hat
Stood and said, "Don't talk like that!
Look at your country, look and see
You died for freedom, just like me"
Then, before them all appeared a scene
Of rubbled streets and twisted beams
Death, destruction, smoke and dust
And people working just 'cause they must
Hauling ash, lifting stones,
Knee deep in hell, but not alone
"Look! Blackman, Whiteman, Brownman, Yellowman
Side by side helping their fellow man!"
So said Martin, as he watched the scene
"Even from nightmares, can be born a dream."
Down below three firemen raised
The colors high into ashen haze
The soldiers above had seen it before
On
Iwo Jima back in '45
The man on sticks studied everything closely
Then shared his perceptions on what he saw mostly
"I see pain, I see tears,
I see sorrow -- but I don't see fear."
"You left behind husbands and wives
Daughters and sons and so many lives
Are suffering now because of this wrong
But look very closely. You're not really gone.
All of those people, even those who've never met you
All of their lives, they'll never forget you
Don't you see what has happened?
Don't you see what you've done?
You've brought them together, together as one.
With that the man in the stovepipe hat said
"Take my hand," and from there he led
Three thousand plus heroes, Newcomers to heaven
On this day, two thousand one, nine eleven
Author UNKNOWN |
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