thedrifter
01-15-08, 06:46 AM
Donation sends a special Aloha to Iraqi children
By Kirk Matthews
The younger generation in Iraq has known nothing but war. But with some help from here in Hawaii, there may be a little joy on the horizon.
Honolulu's Armed Forces committee poses for a picture - but at the center of attention, soccer balls being donated to the Marines.
"We don't normally carry soccer balls in our tool kits, so to speak, but in this case it will be part of the equipment that some of the second battalion, third marines will carry back with them to Iraq on this next tour of duty," said Colonel Mark Dungan, from the U.S. Marines.
Soccer balls, a hundred in all, will be shipped to Iraq. Children there are trying to lead a normal life and it's the hope these soccer balls will help with that. Mayor Mufi Hannemann sees it as a way to build friendships between the military deployed in Iraq and the next generation.
"Military is a very important part of our community. We do a lot with them here at home but we also have to be mindful of those that are serving us overseas and sports is an amazing way to bring people together," said Hannemann.
Mayor Hannemann contacted Outrigger Hotels chief David Carey and asked him to make a donation of the soccer balls.
"And so when the mayor asked us if we could support this program in Iraq, we said sure. David Carey is a former player, I'm a player - his wife Cathy is a coach with the UH women's team so we're all soccer players at Outrigger," said Max Sword, from Outrigger Hotels.
The war is never from the consciousness of everyone, including the children in Iraq. But Max Sword is betting this donation will help the youngsters forget about it - even if it's just for a while.
"You give them hope when you give them something that they know, they love, it's a world game and so we just, hey it's a natural for them to just be able to play the game of soccer," said Sword
"A lot of times, the younger people will get it when the older people don't get it. They don't have the, I guess, the biases against religion or cultures or what have you because children are children no matter where you are," said Colonel Dungan.
Story Updated: Jan 14, 2008 at 6:07 PM HST
Ellie
By Kirk Matthews
The younger generation in Iraq has known nothing but war. But with some help from here in Hawaii, there may be a little joy on the horizon.
Honolulu's Armed Forces committee poses for a picture - but at the center of attention, soccer balls being donated to the Marines.
"We don't normally carry soccer balls in our tool kits, so to speak, but in this case it will be part of the equipment that some of the second battalion, third marines will carry back with them to Iraq on this next tour of duty," said Colonel Mark Dungan, from the U.S. Marines.
Soccer balls, a hundred in all, will be shipped to Iraq. Children there are trying to lead a normal life and it's the hope these soccer balls will help with that. Mayor Mufi Hannemann sees it as a way to build friendships between the military deployed in Iraq and the next generation.
"Military is a very important part of our community. We do a lot with them here at home but we also have to be mindful of those that are serving us overseas and sports is an amazing way to bring people together," said Hannemann.
Mayor Hannemann contacted Outrigger Hotels chief David Carey and asked him to make a donation of the soccer balls.
"And so when the mayor asked us if we could support this program in Iraq, we said sure. David Carey is a former player, I'm a player - his wife Cathy is a coach with the UH women's team so we're all soccer players at Outrigger," said Max Sword, from Outrigger Hotels.
The war is never from the consciousness of everyone, including the children in Iraq. But Max Sword is betting this donation will help the youngsters forget about it - even if it's just for a while.
"You give them hope when you give them something that they know, they love, it's a world game and so we just, hey it's a natural for them to just be able to play the game of soccer," said Sword
"A lot of times, the younger people will get it when the older people don't get it. They don't have the, I guess, the biases against religion or cultures or what have you because children are children no matter where you are," said Colonel Dungan.
Story Updated: Jan 14, 2008 at 6:07 PM HST
Ellie