New Way for Families to Communicate with Deployed Service Members
Submitted by: New York Public Affairs
Story Identification Number: 200421911748
Story by Gunnery Sgt. John S. Jamison Jr.



NEW YORK(February 19, 2004) -- The reigning Miss USA, Susie Castillo, visited the United Services Organization here to send her regards, using new technology, to service members who are presently serving outside the United States.

"My feelings go beyond words," said Castillo. "I want to tell them how much I appreciate them for what they do. They are heroes in every sense of the word."

Castillo sent a heart-felt video message to the troops via a new technology called vidisolutions. This new way of messaging combines streaming video with e-mail to allow for almost immediate video communications.

Vidisolutions' president, Paul A. Braun, says that donating this computer hardware and software is his way of giving back to those who are serving as well as their families.

"We've got these units in the offices of Paul Bremer (US administrator to Iraq) in Iraq,” said Braun.

The system works simply by allowing a user in the states to record their message then save it in a database. As soon as it is saved the recipient will get an e-mail with a link to the message. Once clicked, the message will play without the whole process of downloading.

"We have had more than 7,000 families take advantage of this technology," said Braun. "There have been more than 40,000 messages sent. We are trying to get the word out about the software."

This communication option for families is offered locally at the Red Cross Centers on Long Island in Nassau County and in White Plains; at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn; Congressman Vito Fossella's offices on Staten Island and of course, at the USO located at the Port Authority in mid-town Manhattan.

The company also has stations at Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, in the Family Assistance Offices. These units are provided free of charge in conjunction with Hewlett Packard from Vidisolutions for the Red Cross, USO, and U.S. Military organizations.

Private companies outside these groups are required to pay upwards of $400 per station for the software. Braun says of his monetary loss in donations, "It's always nice to do well but sometimes it's better to do good."

"It would have been nice to have while I was in Korea for the last year," said Army Pfc. Nichole Strouble, a Military Police Specialist with the 152nd Military Police Plt. at Fort Hamilton, N.Y. Strouble was at the USO to learn more about the system.

The company wants to provide as many of these stations as possible to facilitate communications for families of deployed service members. Newly deploying units can receive the software and stations by contacting the company's representative Meg King at 888-999-VIDI(8434) ext. 214.

"It has really been great to have some fathers see their children for the first time or their childrens' first steps using our means of communication," said Braun.



Miss USA 2003, Susie Castillo (right) receives help from Meg King, a Vidisolutions representative, while making a video e-mail that expresses Castillo's appreciation for our troops. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt. John S. Jamison Jr.

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn20...C?opendocument


Sempers,

Roger