thedrifter
01-06-07, 08:01 AM
Local Marines Send Medical Supplies To Iraq
January 5, 2007
GRAND RAPIDS — More than two hundred boxes filled the auditorium of the Marine Reserve Center of Grand Rapids today.
Each box was filled with the most basic medical supplies that no hospital should be without. That is why they are sending them overseas to a hospital in Iraq that is in desperate need.
"It's amazing the shortage of medical supplies that this hospital has to try and go day to day and things they go without... that we take for granted," said LtCol. Joe Rossi.
The call for help came from Major Dan Whisnant, the commanding officer of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, who works at Stryker in Kalamazoo when he is off duty. So when he arrived in Iraq, he knew the hospitals were in desperate need.
"He is a marine's marine who knows very well how to accomplish the mission in Iraq .... and he recognizes that part of that is building a relationship with the community they operate in," said Rossi.
So, the Marine Corp League of Michigan stepped in, collecting donations from families, churches, and businesses all over west michigan.
But the most expensive part of the mission was the shipping. The ten thousand dollar price tag was completely covered by generous donors.
"The benefit outweighs the costs because the person who donated the money obviously thought that way too," said volunteer coordinator Sue Szymanski.
"I think it's giving the Iraqi people the idea that we all care," she said.
Ellie
January 5, 2007
GRAND RAPIDS — More than two hundred boxes filled the auditorium of the Marine Reserve Center of Grand Rapids today.
Each box was filled with the most basic medical supplies that no hospital should be without. That is why they are sending them overseas to a hospital in Iraq that is in desperate need.
"It's amazing the shortage of medical supplies that this hospital has to try and go day to day and things they go without... that we take for granted," said LtCol. Joe Rossi.
The call for help came from Major Dan Whisnant, the commanding officer of Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 24th Marines, who works at Stryker in Kalamazoo when he is off duty. So when he arrived in Iraq, he knew the hospitals were in desperate need.
"He is a marine's marine who knows very well how to accomplish the mission in Iraq .... and he recognizes that part of that is building a relationship with the community they operate in," said Rossi.
So, the Marine Corp League of Michigan stepped in, collecting donations from families, churches, and businesses all over west michigan.
But the most expensive part of the mission was the shipping. The ten thousand dollar price tag was completely covered by generous donors.
"The benefit outweighs the costs because the person who donated the money obviously thought that way too," said volunteer coordinator Sue Szymanski.
"I think it's giving the Iraqi people the idea that we all care," she said.
Ellie