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CJH
ASB Fundraiser to Support Our Troops
READ
the UPDATE
Dear
Parents and Students, 
The
Columbia Junior High Cougars are conducting a coin drive, March
8th -22nd, in support of its military community. As you know, during
the month of February, 3200 National Guardsmen from the 81 st Brigade
left Washington to begin their duties in Iraq . These Guardsmen
will be gone for an entire year with no guarantee of any type of
leave.
We
would like to make the separation process a little easier by doing
a community version of a national campaign called "Operation Call
Home". We have several students and staff among our Columbia family
whose father/mother, sister/ brother, aunt/uncle, or husband /wife
left with the 81 st brigade.
The
student body would use the coins to purchase a portable satellite
phone with prepaid minutes for the men of the 185th Infantry Battalion.
This squadron consists of approximately 400 men and women to be
stationed somewhere outside of Baghdad . The phone we are looking
at is the Iridium 9505. The cost of a minute is $0.99.
Any
donations you might be able to make towards this worthy cause would
be appreciated. Checks can be made out to CJH ASB.
Sincerely,
CJH
Cougars
Mr.
Storholt, ASB Sponsor
Mrs.
Bonham, Faculty Sponsor
UPDATE
Columbia Cougars demonstrated their civic pride
during their recent coin drive for "Operation Call Home".
After two weeks of donations the Cougars raised enough money to
be able to buy a satellite phone and about 200 minutes for a branch
of the 81st brigade stationed in Iraq. A local business also
matched the students donations. One of the Columbia teacher's
matched their class's donations and the principal matched the same
class's donation.
The phone was presented to a branch of the 185th battalion recently
activated from Olympia. The phone has already served to reassure
family members in the states that the men arrived safely in Kuwait.
Mrs. Swenson's class received an unexpected surprise on Wednesday,
March 24th, when a call came from the men in Kuwait using the satellite
phone. SPFC Borders and SPFC Lockhart expressed their
appreciation for the phone but more importantly, speaking for the
artillery unit, greater appreciation knowing that the younger generation
was supportive of their efforts.
Additionally the men shared some facts about life so far, lots
and lots of sand, they are living in tents and will continue to
do so for the next year in a remote area of Iraq, temperatures are
in the 80's plus, their work shift is from 5PM to 1AM, they are
11 hours ahead of our time, the sight of a pizza hut truck brought
loud cheers and they are probably headed to Kalsu.
Our school will continue to follow the path of these brave men
in the year to follow.
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