thedrifter
12-04-08, 07:27 AM
Marine mother, of Hanson, collects gifts for children
Continues work done by Marine son killed in Iraq
By Sydney Schwartz
GateHouse News Service
Posted Dec 03, 2008 @ 10:42 PM
MARSHFIELD —
Marine Staff Sgt. William J. Callahan drove nearly 15 hours to come home for Christmas in 2006. After a few hours of sleep, Callahan got into his Marine uniform and headed to the Toys for Tots warehouse, as he had when he was home for the previous nine years.
That was Callahan’s last Christmas. The 28-year-old graduate of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School was killed in Iraq in April 2007.
To honor his sacrifice and service, Callahan’s mother, Mary Ellen Callahan of Hanson, has continued to help the Marines’ Toys for Tots program.
Last year, only months after losing her son, she collected 3,000 toys in her son’s memory. This year, she hopes to double that and collect supermarket gift cards to provide holiday dinners for veterans.
But this year, Callahan said, she has seen few donations. Last year at this time she had already made several trips to drop off gifts at the Toys for Tots warehouse. This year, she has yet to make one. She says Toys for Tots is “in dire straits.”
“It’s overwhelming. I will not stop,” she said. “It’s what he loved, and no matter how overwhelmed he was and how busy he was, he found the time and he did it.”
On Friday, Callahan will host the second annual Sgt. Bill Callahan Christmas Party at the Venus II in Brant Rock. The event will be held at 8 p.m. There will be live music.
Callahan asks that guests bring new, unwrapped toys or supermarket gift cards. She is hoping for about 200 attendees. Gifts can also be dropped off at the Norwell fire station, Bridgewater Savings Bank, Rockland Trust, Whitman-Hanson High School or the Venus II, Callahan said.
Ellie
Continues work done by Marine son killed in Iraq
By Sydney Schwartz
GateHouse News Service
Posted Dec 03, 2008 @ 10:42 PM
MARSHFIELD —
Marine Staff Sgt. William J. Callahan drove nearly 15 hours to come home for Christmas in 2006. After a few hours of sleep, Callahan got into his Marine uniform and headed to the Toys for Tots warehouse, as he had when he was home for the previous nine years.
That was Callahan’s last Christmas. The 28-year-old graduate of Whitman-Hanson Regional High School was killed in Iraq in April 2007.
To honor his sacrifice and service, Callahan’s mother, Mary Ellen Callahan of Hanson, has continued to help the Marines’ Toys for Tots program.
Last year, only months after losing her son, she collected 3,000 toys in her son’s memory. This year, she hopes to double that and collect supermarket gift cards to provide holiday dinners for veterans.
But this year, Callahan said, she has seen few donations. Last year at this time she had already made several trips to drop off gifts at the Toys for Tots warehouse. This year, she has yet to make one. She says Toys for Tots is “in dire straits.”
“It’s overwhelming. I will not stop,” she said. “It’s what he loved, and no matter how overwhelmed he was and how busy he was, he found the time and he did it.”
On Friday, Callahan will host the second annual Sgt. Bill Callahan Christmas Party at the Venus II in Brant Rock. The event will be held at 8 p.m. There will be live music.
Callahan asks that guests bring new, unwrapped toys or supermarket gift cards. She is hoping for about 200 attendees. Gifts can also be dropped off at the Norwell fire station, Bridgewater Savings Bank, Rockland Trust, Whitman-Hanson High School or the Venus II, Callahan said.
Ellie