From Seamus comes the story of a Boy Scout who has found one heck of a way to earn an Eagle Scout designation:

Take a Marine to the Movies!

My name is Patrick O'Keefe. I am a Life Scout working toward Eagle Scout with Troop 1113 in Fairfax City, and I am asking you for help with my Eagle project. I am collecting new and used DVDs, CDs, and Nonperishable Foods to send to 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, a U.S. Marine unit currently serving in Iraq. The Marines and sailors would appreciate all sorts of DVDs (action, comedy, drama) and CDs (rock, rap, hip-hop, etc.). Examples of good food are individually-wrapped items like granola bars, non-chocolate candy, slim-jims, trail mix--anything that would not be easily crushed or melted. Also, if you would like to write a letter of encouragement to the troops, feel free to include this.

You can email Patrick for information at: ctch8634@aol.com.

He's looking to gather donations by no later than August 1, 2005.

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And Vicki, a USAF veteran, and the mother of a deployed Marine, has a website devoted to helping our heroes send messages home. Vicki's group provides cassette recorders, tapes, and other materials free of charge to deployed heroes who can then send messages home to their families. Vicki's also got some great pictures up at the site.

Check it out at: FromOurHearts.us