06/07/2007

Northern Notes

Young Marine puts name and face to countless recipients of support

By Stephanie Beach
Local columnist
sbeach@
record-eagle.com

Read past Northern Notes

Putting a name and face to the recipients of all the support northern Michigan residents have sent to U.S. troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan is sometimes impossible, but the following is from just one of those young men and women grateful for the cards, packages and prayers that have helped them through the tough times.

Colin V. Smith is a 2003 graduate of Traverse City Central High School and a corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was mobilized on June 1, 2006, and sent to California, where he trained until September when the entire Michigan Battalion was deployed to Iraq. Colin returned April 29 from service in Fallujah, Iraq.

"The entire time I was deployed I received an enormous amount of support from the Traverse City community,” Colin wrote. "I would like to thank everyone by name, but there are just too many people. Some of the individuals who supported us were neighbors, friends, churches and some people I did not even know. Some groups I would like to thank specifically are The Presbyterian Church, the Pathfinder School faculty and students and the people of Operation Olivia. The support was great and myself and my team are very thankful for all the letters, packages, prayers and support this community offered.”

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Goodwill Industries of Northern Michigan would like to thank the Crooked Tree Council Girl Scouts for their commitment to the environment and their neighbors in need.

"In recognition of Earth Day, the Girl Scouts participated in Goodwill's 'Bag It Up' donation drive, collecting 290 bags, totaling 4,350 pounds of clothing and household items for re-use. The sale of the items (will) provide funding for Goodwill programs. In return the Girl Scouts received vouchers to pass along to families in need or a special project that they choose,” wrote Ruth Blick, Goodwill Industries' director of marketing and fund development.

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Brenda Bartz is a nurse at Munson Medical Center who wrote that every day she and her fellow nurses are challenged on how to best meet the needs of their patients and that sometimes others show the way through their actions.

"I was touched when a patient's friend made a call to Art Van here in Traverse City and they donated a lift chair so the woman could go back to her home,” Brenda wrote. "Prior to (her) admission, she had called EMS to help her get up. The Women's Cancer Fund also donated monies for Life Alert. Traverse City is (very) generous.”

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Anne DeVol is a fourth/fifth grade teacher at Rapid City Elementary School who just had to write because she is so proud of her students this year.

"On May 7, Rapid City students cleaned up Freedom Park, situated along the beautiful Rapid River,” Anne wrote. "The activity was coordinated by local environmentalist Norma Mariage. Students walked along the park trail picking up items ranging from broken glass, car parts, paper products, cigarette butts and even dirty diapers! The young ecology students were surprised at how much people litter. They walked away with an understanding and awareness of the local ecology and learned how important it is to keep our parks clean. What a valuable learning experience it was for all.”

Anne went on to explain that the students collected a total of 753 pounds of trash. They graphed and analyzed the data and will report their findings to local officials. As a reward, Joe, the owner of the Cone Corral, donated ice cream cones for the young environmentalists.

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Cliff Conrad wrote with a belated thank you to the woman who stopped her car on M-22 in heavy traffic just south of Lakeview Hills Road early in April and held his golden retriever, Amy, until he got there.

"In the excitement of the moment, I did not tell her how grateful I was,” Cliff wrote. "Amy and I have been together for nearly 13 years. I was mad at myself for leaving her unattended and was thinking only of her safety. I am sorry for being thoughtless about another person's kindness. In the future I will definitely 'pay it forward' if I see a pet on the highway.”

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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.