Silly String Finally on its Way to Troops

[thedrifter]

Silly String Finally on its Way to Troops
Associated Press | October 15, 2007

TRENTON, New Jersey - A children's toy that has been refashioned by some U.S. soldiers as a bomb detector will be shipped by the thousands to troops in Iraq, the mother of a soldier behind the effort said.

Soldiers can shoot Silly String, which travels up to 12 feet (3.6 meters), across a room before entering. If the foamy string hangs in the air, that indicates a possible trip wire.

The effort to ship the Silly String has taken months because its aerosol can is considered a hazardous material, and only certain companies can ship it.

After months of frustration, Marcelle Shriver has found someone to ship about 80,000 cans.

"I'm just thrilled," she said. "I couldn't sleep too well this whole weekend thinking about it."

Thom Campbell, one of the founders of Capacity LLC, a New Jersey-based shipping company experienced in hazardous materials, heard about Shriver's effort and decided to help.

"It seemed like the right thing to do," Campbell said. "We're quite lucky to have an opportunity to help her."

The boxes of Silly String were to be picked up Monday, inspected by the company and then delivered to the United States Postal Service for transport with other letters and packages bound for Iraq.

Shriver's Silly String campaign began after her son, Todd, a soldier in Ramadi scheduled to leave Iraq in November, asked his parents to send cans of the product.

Ellie

[thedrifter]

Soldier's mom finds Silly String shipper
By REBECCA SANTANA
Associated Press Writer

DEPTFORD TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) -- After months of frustration, a mother of a soldier in Iraq has found someone to ship about 80,000 cans of Silly String to the troops, who use the foamy substance to detect trip wires on bombs.

"I am so happy right now, I am shaking. I just think it's awesome that it's finally going," said the woman, Marcelle Shriver, as boxes were loaded into a truck Monday afternoon.

The thousands of cans of Silly String are boxed and addressed to individual servicemen and servicewomen in Iraq. But since the string comes in an aerosol can, it is considered a hazardous material, and only certain companies can ship it.

Thom Campbell, one of the founders of Capacity LLC, a New Jersey-based shipping company experienced in hazardous materials, heard about Shriver's problem and decided to help out.

Shriver and Campbell communicated for weeks over the telephone and e-mail but met for the first time Monday when the boxes were picked up. Each praised the other for making the shipment a reality.

"The determination that she's shown over a year ... deserves to be honored," Campbell said. "Mine is not a glamorous industry nor is it the kind of industry you get a lot of opportunities to do something like this."

Shriver had been storing the boxes in this community across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. They will be inspected by the company and then delivered to the United States Postal Service for transport with other letters and packages bound for Iraq.

Shriver's Silly String campaign began late last year after her son, Todd, a soldier in Ramadi slated to leave Iraq in November, asked his parents to send cans of the product.

Soldiers can shoot the substance, which travels about 10-12 feet, across a room before entering. If it hangs in the air, that indicates a possible trip wire.

Shriver, 58, got one shipment of 40,000 cans out in January through the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove in Pennsylvania but officials told Shriver they didn't know when they'd have more flights headed to Iraq and didn't have space to store the boxes. McGuire Air Force Base declined to take the shipment.

Despite her frustrations, Shriver said the Silly String campaign was worth it.

"If this saves one life, I'm happy," Shriver said.

Ellie