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thedrifter
08-01-09, 06:05 AM
Give a big ‘Ooh-Rah’ for Marines

Published: Saturday, August 1, 2009 3:07 AM CDT
By Holly Johns
hjohns@beloitdailynews.com

AFTON — One military mom knows how important it is for soldiers to receive gifts from home while serving overseas.

Linn Krafjack, mother of U.S. Marine Cpl. Henry J. Pulcine, has organized the fundraising event “Operation Ooh-Rah” for the second year to help send packages to those far from home.

“I’m really trying to make the public more aware that our men and women over there need this stuff,” she said. “A little piece of home makes them feel good and I’m the Marine mom that’s going to give it to them.”

Operation Ooh-Rah will be held at the Afton Pub and Park from 2-10 p.m. Aug. 8.

The event raised $5,200 last year and gave Krafjack the opportunity to send care packages to the 2D LADD Battalion U.S. Marine Unit that her son was a part of in Iraq.

“They were blown away,” she said. “We sent over a thousand pounds of goodies to them.”

Goodies in the packages include beef jerky, unscented deodorant, razors, shaving cream, shampoo, DVDs, footballs and more.

Most of the money raised goes to purchasing the goodies listed above, however, Krafjack said one of the biggest expenses is the shipping.

“It costs the benefit almost $1,200 to ship,” she said of the packages last year. “I tried my darndest to find a way to get it there without the huge expense, but there was no way around it. So there is a need for monetary donations as well.”

Operation Ooh-Rah raises money through admission to the music show and through the purchase of raffle tickets.

Music entertainment for the evening will include The Jamie Campbell Band, who just returned from competing in the Nashville Star television show; Pistol Pete with guest musicians “New York” Don Collins on harmonica, Zach Johns on drums, Bill Brewster and Bobby Ryghe and the band Ape S*** Holiday.

The “Tight as a Toad” raffle will feature a variety of gift certificates from various restaurants and bars nearing a total of $600. Two big items include tickets to a Creed concert on Aug. 30 as well as tickets and a bus ride to Madison International Speedway.

The raffle also includes a Kutter Harley Davidson package worth $400 and other specific packages designed for men, women, children, sports and more. The men’s packages includes a five-hour guided fishing trip with Wisconsin’s TBF State Champion Jim Dix and a guided pheasant hunt trip for two.

“The packages just went over so good last year that we decided to keep doing it,” Krafjack said.

The raffle packages are one ticket for $5 or five for $20.

New event T-shirts will be available at the event for $19 each. Money for the shirts will go towards the care packages also.

Cash donations can also be made to the Operation Ooh-Rah account at any Associated Bank.

Krafjack said there also will be a collection box for guests to donate items to be shipped to the soldiers.

The evening also will include a biker rodeo, a watermelon eating contest, a dunk tank and the Stateline Christian Clowns making balloon animals and painting faces.

The dunk tank will include a few celebrities including Lucy Anderson of Kutter Harley Davidson and Rick “The Destroyer” Bloyer kick boxer.

While the pub is rocking, the event also will offer food catered in by Friendly Village Catering and Miller Beer products will be on tap. Mike’s Hard Cranberry and Lemonade also will be available.

New this year will be recruiters from all branches of the military on hand to meet, greet and answer questions about enlisting. Because Krafjack’s son is not currently overseas, the recruiters also will be helping to locate units to send the care packages to.

While this is only the second year of a fundraising music show, Krafjack is no stranger to raising money for her son’s battalion. The first time Pulcine was deployed, she sponsored a book drive and the second time she held a golf play-day. Krafjack doesn’t plan on stopping the care packages even though her son is not overseas.

“We’re going to continue to do this as long as we can,” she said.

Admission to the event is $5 for general admission and free for kids age 12 and under. Tickets are available at Mike’s Roadhouse, Kutter Harley Davidson, Marine Corp League, Stateline Cycles and Afton Pub and Park.

For more information, visit www.operationooh-rah.webs.com.

Ellie