05/25/2006

Northern Notes

Airport conversation leads to search for young soldier on leave

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

Thursday, May 18, was a long day for Mary Smith of Springfield, Ill., and an even longer one for a young Army soldier traveling from Baghdad, Iraq, to northern Michigan for a well-deserved, 15-day leave.

The two were sitting through a lengthy lay-over at O"Hare International Airport in Chicago and got to chatting, as often happens in airports. The conversation was a pleasant way to pass the time, Smith said in a phone conversation, adding that the young man shared stories of his experiences in Iraq with her, but little about his background. Smith only knows that he went into the Army on Feb. 12, 2006, his dad lives in Traverse City and he was looking forward to a dinner that his aunt was preparing for him.

Both Smith and the young soldier's flights were cancelled. She felt terrible that, after traveling for 21 hours, this young soldier's trip was delayed just hours short of home. In the chaos of travelers rushing to secure other flights, she lost track of him without ever getting his name. Smith would like to get in touch with him and get his address so she can write to him when he returns to Iraq and hopes that he, or someone who knows him, will read this and get in touch with her. Smith's e-mail address is edieanne1285@yahoo.com.

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The ladies at Curves in Grayling wrote to send a big thank-you to Cherry Tree Inn & Suites of Traverse City for the wonderful stay that was arranged for Staff Sergeant Calvin Westover and his wife, Sandra. She is one of the instructors at the Grayling Curves and her husband is in the 1071st that just returned from Iraq.

The members at Curves collected more than $300 to put toward a get-away for the couple. The women thought this would be a nice gift for the couple, who have been separated for more than a year.

"After having contacted several area hotels and explaining what we wanted to do and why ... Cherry Tree Inn was the most generous and accommodating," the ladies wrote. "Because of their generosity, we were able to give them a wonderful couple of days together. Sandra told us that the Inn is beautiful and that it was a wonderful place to stay. All of us at Curves thank you again for treating our friend and her husband so wonderfully."

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Helen Kroupa, president of the American Legion Bowen-Holliday Post #35 Auxiliary, wrote to thank all of the volunteers who distributed poppies during the recent "Poppy Days," the merchants who made them welcome and the counters who counted and deposited the money.

"A special thank you to the public who were so generous in their support of the event," Kroupa wrote. "The poppies are made by the veterans in veterans' hospitals. All of the money received is mandated to be used for veterans or persons in the military and/or their families."

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ping cart at Meijer in Traverse City. Someone returned it to the courte sy desk without giving their name to the clerk and Loretta does not know who to thank.

"Hopefully they read your column and (will) know how thankful I am for their honesty," Loretta wrote.

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Sally Hanley of the Grand Traverse Baby Pantry wrote on behalf of the Grand Traverse Prenatal to Six Work Group and the Baby Pantry to thank everyone who donated to April's "Month of the Young Child" Diaper Drive.

"Last year, we served 462 families who made 1,590 visits to the Baby Pantry. At 10 to 15 diapers per visit, that's a lot of diapers!" Sally wrote. "But thanks to this generous community, we had a very successful collection and are supplied to help these families with the basics they need to care for their young children in the months ahead."

Sally went on to send special recognition to the collection sites including Oleson's Food Stores, Tom's Food Markets, Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Francis Church, Traverse Bay United Methodist Church, Traverse City Area Public Schools' elementary schools, Grand Traverse County Department of Human Services and Health Department, Northwest Michigan Human Services, the Governmental Center, MSU Extension, Grand Traverse Auto Quick Lube, Pine Rest Offices and the Record-Eagle.

Items for this column may be sent to Northern Notes, Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685-0632; e-mail sbeach@record-eagle.com.