|
|
 |
Saturday
March 20, 2010 Since 1922 |
Riggs' family collecting shoes for Iraqi kids
Associated Press
Baytown Sun Published July 24, 2005 BEACH CITY — Family and friends of a Beach City soldier who died in Iraq in May are collecting shoes in his memory for the Iraqi children who touched his heart.
Pfc. Wesley Riggs was killed while on patrol May 17 in Iraq.
In honor of his 20th birthday on Aug. 16, the shoes for boys and girls will be sent to Iraq and distributed by Riggs’ former Army colleagues in the 3rd Infantry Division.
His mother, Gayle McDermott, said in an e-mail that the idea for the collection came after she received photographs from the military following her son’s death showing him with Iraqi children.
‘‘I cannot get the images of these children out of my thoughts,’’ she wrote, ‘‘and I know that Wesley is putting them there.’’
McDermott said that in her last conversation with her son, he talked about interacting with children and ‘‘how much he enjoyed it and how it broke this heart to see them with so little.’’
‘‘He was questioning what the hell Americans were doing in that country because they hate us so. Then he grew silent and said, ’Mom, you know America views our children as our future. That’s how I see it here. If maybe we can get through to the children, then maybe someday Iraq’s view on Americans will change.’’’
Lenece Peters, a coordinator of the drive, said Riggs told friends and family that the children often had to wrap their feet in newspapers. ‘‘That broke his heart,’’ she said.
The areawide collection campaign is also accepting clothing, toys and other items appropriate for young children, Peters said.
Riggs, a graduate of Barbers Hill High School, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded while he was on patrol at Tikrit.
Baytown Sun Published July 24, 2005 BEACH CITY — Family and friends of a Beach City soldier who died in Iraq in May are collecting shoes in his memory for the Iraqi children who touched his heart.
Pfc. Wesley Riggs was killed while on patrol May 17 in Iraq.
In honor of his 20th birthday on Aug. 16, the shoes for boys and girls will be sent to Iraq and distributed by Riggs’ former Army colleagues in the 3rd Infantry Division.
His mother, Gayle McDermott, said in an e-mail that the idea for the collection came after she received photographs from the military following her son’s death showing him with Iraqi children.
‘‘I cannot get the images of these children out of my thoughts,’’ she wrote, ‘‘and I know that Wesley is putting them there.’’
McDermott said that in her last conversation with her son, he talked about interacting with children and ‘‘how much he enjoyed it and how it broke this heart to see them with so little.’’
‘‘He was questioning what the hell Americans were doing in that country because they hate us so. Then he grew silent and said, ’Mom, you know America views our children as our future. That’s how I see it here. If maybe we can get through to the children, then maybe someday Iraq’s view on Americans will change.’’’
Lenece Peters, a coordinator of the drive, said Riggs told friends and family that the children often had to wrap their feet in newspapers. ‘‘That broke his heart,’’ she said.
The areawide collection campaign is also accepting clothing, toys and other items appropriate for young children, Peters said.
Riggs, a graduate of Barbers Hill High School, was killed when a roadside bomb exploded while he was on patrol at Tikrit.