Donations Still Needed for IPods for Veterans

Local veterans are making another trip down to Washington, D.C. over the Thanksgiving holiday to give wounded servicemen iPods Shuffles. The group will be visiting Walter Reed Army Medical Center in D.C. and then traveling on to National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md. They are in need of more donations, however, to reach their 80-Shuffle goal. 

"We got 59 Shuffles right now, still another 21 to go," said Paul Cardello, co-host of WCTV Sports Forum and organizer of the trips. "Apple has denied all our requests to help out."

Last October, Cardello and organized a bus trip for a group of around 50 local war veterans to visit the memorials in Washington, D.C. The trip was videotaped by WCTV cameramen and is being turned into a documentary that will air on WCTV some time next year.

"It was really great because we had veterans from Korea, WWII, Vietnam, Desert Storm–all kinds [of wars]," said Cimaglia. There were even some veterans who had not seen combat who still wanted to be a part of the adventure.

"It was a really great trip," said Richard Hayden, consultant and Marine veteran, who never saw combat but still wanted to pay homage to his brethren, in part, because "being in the Marines really changed me."

A handful of the local veterans, about eight, also stopped by Walter Reed during the last visit to give out 37 iPod Shuffles bought with donated money, said Cardello. One man in particular really touched Cardello, a 20-something-year-old soldier from Stoneham, Mass.

"His bottom right leg was missing, I think he was in a Humvee and went over a mine," Cardello said. "We're two towns away from him, he knows where Wilmington is...everybody was looking and getting really emotional. I had to turn it over to Wayne (co-host of WCTV's Sports Forum), to get my emotions in check."

Cardello added he was in an Air Force medic in Vietnam and worked the flight-line at night, so he saw soldiers coming back dismembered and disfigured from combat.

"I started getting flashbacks," he said. "But this is our way of helping. The troops are the silent heroes here."

Of the original group only five are able to make this trip. The local veterans will also be handing out 80 magazines to help keep the soldiers busy and their spirits up. Cardello said the group has had a lot of help from his union, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, a labor union representing employees in the freight and transportation industries, in organizing the trips.

But time is ticking and the group wants desperately to meet their goal of at least 80 iPod Shuffles. If any one wants to donate to the cause, send donations to VFW 2458, c/o Paul Cardello, 4 Heather Drive, Wilmington, MA, 01887. For corporate donations, please call Cardello at 978-658-8743.