|
 Clear
Channel from Minnesota and North Dakota is sponsoring a program
called Operation Northern Lights which is continuing efforts to
promote awareness of Minnesota service men and women in Iraq.
We were very fortunate to have Mike Boen arrange for Mick
Anselmo, the regional vice president of Clear Channel, to visit us
and share the story of how the program started. Mick and Morning
Personality John Hines were the first music station personnel ever
to be embedded with an active combat unit in Iraq. Sertomans
were able to view first hand many photos from award winning war
photographer Susan Cullen and a moving video to provide
inspiration for a local project to provide support for families of
deployed troops. Mick is a native of Minnesota, a Vietnam Vet and
2002 St. Jude National Volunteer of the Year who is now one of our
summer visitors with a place in Cross Lake. He was inspired to do
something to make the last Christmas Holidays more bearable for
the members of the 134th Signal Corps.
In order to distribute $500,000 worth of phone cards to the
soldiers, he had to make the trip as an embedded journalist. Over
1,000 family members gathered at the Mall of America where they
were able to talk directly to the soldiers and view them via
satellite TV as part of that effort.
Click here if you would like to read more about the trip and see
many of the photos. Our photo by Linda Cullen is courtesy
of that site.
Mick wants everyone to become aware of deployed troops and
their families in our area and perhaps even organize a support
effort. Thanks for a very informative and worthwhile program that
gave many of us a more personal awareness of the War in Iraq. He
also recommends that everyone read the book Holy War and Unholy
Terror for a better understanding of what the war is all about.
Mick ended the program with a presentation to Dick Voight, Market
Manager of Clear Channel in Fargo, for his efforts to promote
Operation Northern Lights. |
