Letters and supplies for
troops and kids in Iraq

An American Airlines Boeing 767 made its final stop on U.S. soil before heading off to Iraq – where the school supplies, clothing and thousands of letters to U.S. troops aboard will be delivered.
The send-off, at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Thursday, April 9, was attended by Queens schoolchildren, who along with people from throughout the U.S., wrote letters of thanks and support to the troops. The troops will distribute the relief items to Iraqi children.
The program is a cooperative effort with Operation Iraqi Children (OIC) and the U.S. Department of Defense.
“There has never been an airlift of this magnitude for humanitarian purposes,” said Steve Blankenship, Managing Director for Veterans Initiatives for American Airlines.
At JFK, American Airlines Chief Pilot Scott Meade presented the letters from New York-area schoolchildren to entertainer Tony Orlando, whose famous song, “Tie a Yellow Ribbon ‘Round the Ole Oak Tree,” is a universally known anthem of hope and reunion.
Orlando is making the trip to Iraq as part of a contingent of 75 volunteers and entertainers who will help distribute the supplies and entertain U.S. troops.
“I think it is a great thing you are doing in giving these supplies to the children in Iraq,” a child said in one letter read aloud by Meade. “Kids are the future, and we are all proud of the work you are doing.”
“This is a great thing these children are doing for our servicemen, who have paid the price of freedom,” said Meade.
Founded by actor Gary and author Laura Hillenbrand OIC enables Americans to send school supply kits and other necessities to Iraq, which are distributed by U.S. soldiers directly to Iraqi children. OIC had its genesis during Operation Iraqi Freedom, as U.S. soldiers learned that children in Iraqi villages lacked the most basic school supplies such as pencils and writing paper. To date, the program has delivered more than 250,000 school supply kits, which typically include pencils, paper, scissors, glue and crayons. The SolesUnitedTM donation of Crocs™ footwear will fulfill another basic need.
The journey, which began at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, loaded additional cargo in Kansas City, MO, and then flew to JFK Airport to board additional entertainers and volunteers before continuing on to Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany. From there, the aircraft headed to Kuwait, where the cargo, volunteers and entertainers are being airlifted to Iraq.