Operation Gratitude sends toys on a mission

[The Straight Story]

Operation Gratitude sends toys on a mission

One by one.

Jeff Wilson’s words become staccato and his eyes grow puffier as he strains to keep his emotions in check.

The Vietnam veteran is telling the story of a teen who is mentally disabled. Spread out before her are dozens of Beanie Babies and Webkinz she is giving to his cause.

But not before telling each goodbye, giving it a hug and a kiss, and then thoughtfully deciding which will be the next to go.

She does this over and over until, eventually, 100 of the stuffed animals are in Wilson’s hands.
Now they are destined for troops overseas through Operation Gratitude. The brightly colored plushes have a serious mission — soldiers are able to give them to Afghani children and in exchange get valuable, life-saving information about the location of IEDs.

http://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/one-30280-operation-sends.html