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Valentine videos for soldiers program announced

Posted January 14, 2008 10:00 pm

Chris Dettro

Today (Wednesday) through Jan. 29, central Illinoisans can drop off new or used DVDs at Family Video stores and have them sent along with a Valentine's Day message to U.S. Armed Forces personnel in Iraq.

Family Video also is offering a $2 discount on each of its previously viewed DVDs purchased in its stores for the "Send a Soldier a Movie and a Valentine" program. Movies brought from home or purchased at other sources are welcome, too.

Operation Homefront Illinois will send overseas how ever many DVDs are collected from the 28 participating Family Video stores to be distributed equally among U.S. bases in Iraq.

The video stores also will furnish a Valentine's card that individuals may fill out and place with the DVD they want sent to military personnel.

"It's a way we can communicate that we really do care and respect what they're doing every day," said Eric Schuller, president of Operation Homefront Illinois.

Raelene Ohanesian, director of sales and marketing for Family Video, said "to be able to offer an hour-and-a-half or two hours of entertainment and maybe bring them a little piece of home ... that's a great gift."

Ohanesian said the Charles Hoogland family, founders of Family Video, have pledged to match with a second DVD any DVD purchased in their stores for the program.

Schuller said cassette tapes won't be accepted because it is a difficult media for troops to watch in Iraq.

"They can melt," he said of the tapes. "And most of the men and women over there have access to laptops or DVD players."

Ohanesian said the 28 central Illinois stores - including all Family Videos in the Springfield area - will have either red or green collection canisters in the main aisle of the stores, and store staff are trained to help anyone who has questions about the program.

"If you're not sure what to do, just pick out your favorite movie to send," she said.

Schuller stressed that personnel serving in Iraq "range in age from 18 to 59. They aren't all young, so people shouldn't limit themselves to movies geared to that age group."

He said if any schools, Scout troops or other groups have Valentine's Day cards they'd like sent to Iraq without accompanying videos, Operation Homefront will include them in the video shipment.

Family Video says it is the largest privately owned movie and game retailer in the United States and the third largest overall. Started by Hoogland in 1978, it now employs almost 6,000 in 16 states.

Operation Homefront provides emergency assistance and morale boosts to troops, their families and wounded personnel when they return home.

Chris Dettro can be reached at (217) 788-1510.

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