As the American Public, we are used to seeing Soldier holiday greetings. Gritty images of Soldiers squinting against the sun and sand shouting out greetings to their moms, dads, husbands, wives and children back home while standing in front of a backdrop of tanks and Bradley’s.
Recently, Army leadership has increased the demand for these messages. They want the American public to see and hear from their deployed sons and daughters throughout the year. In fact for Mother’s Day, several Soldiers recorded messages that are now available on YouTube, Twitter, Vimeo and Facebook.
Public affairs offices in Iraq, Afghanistan and the U.S. work every day to connect these deployed Soldiers with their hometown radio stations. Soldiers may get the opportunity to speak with family and friends on a live call-in. Others chat with the deejays they grew up listening to; they talk about their daily responsibilities, the deployed weather and living conditions, and of course the favorite local sports teams.
For the Soldiers, it is a chance to get a taste of home, a morale booster and the chance to be a local celebrity. For those of us listening, it is a reminder of those we often forget as we scurry about our daily lives.
So the next time you’re driving along or sitting in your office, rocking out to the latest “it” tune and a Soldier suddenly calls in, I ask that you don’t turn the channel or make a phone call. Take a moment and listen to someone a half a world away.
MSG Jonathan Napier radio interview
SFC Jennyanne Canlas radio interview
-Lacey Justinger, Army Public Affairs
