Mark M. Hancock / © The Dallas Morning News
Emmy Schulz (right) and her daughter Becky Schulz (center, left) pack boxes for soldiers stationed in Iraq with the help of Pam Webster (left) and Kroger employee Beth Bradshaw (center, right) at their home in Colleyville on Friday, October 31, 2003. Emmy Schulz's son, Spec. Christian Schulz, was killed in Iraq on July 11, 2003. She sends care packages to other soldiers in his unit as a form of therapy.
I photographed Emmy Schulz this week. Her son, a cavalry soldier, died in Iraq on July 11, 2003. To ease the pain of losing her son, she has embarked on supporting her son's cavalry unit as a surrogate mom. She collects hygiene supplies, snack foods, writing materials, letters from students to anonymous soldiers and other comforts from home. The most interesting items (at least to me) she gathers for her care packages are small toys.
She said the soldiers put the toys in their cargo pockets, the pockets on the side of their pants leg, and love to give them to children in Iraq. Additionally, the soldiers supply the area hospitals with stuffed animals to give to injured, wounded or just terrified children.
We have similar teddy bear programs at the hospitals here, but I'm happy to see the compassionate side of America still exists in its relations outside of our borders.
Enough for now,
