Soldiers’ families record greetings

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Brooke Herrin sends holiday greetings to her husband, Jeremy Herrin, who is serving with the Marines in Afghanistan. She is joined by his grandfather, Ben Herrin. Bill Zechman records the message which will be sent overseas and aired on WCPI.

With their loved one sending greetings to the other side of the world, soldiers serving their country overseas will receive a special Valentine’s surprise in the form of best wishes from home.

“I love you and want you to come home,” said Brooke Herrin of her husband, Jeremy Herrin, a Marine serving in Afghanistan. “I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Her greetings were one of many offered to soldiers Saturday afternoon in an event sponsored by WCPI radio and the Southern Standard. Co-hosts Bill Zechman and Kym Jones interviewed loved ones of solders who are serving their country. Excerpts from the interviews will be put on compact disk and sent to the soldiers. They will also be played later on WCPI and portions will run in the Southern Standard on Feb. 13.

“We all miss him,” said Shandra Majia of her brother, Samuel Lopez who is serving in Afghanistan.

Ron Mullican, uncle of Carl Lee who is serving in Iraq, told his nephew in the recording that he is proud of what he’s doing.

“It is very, very great what they are doing over there,” Mullican said, noting his nephew drives a tank. “One thing we do for them is pray for them constantly. We may not know everyone there, but we are still all one big family.”

His aunt, Donna Wanamaker, said her nephew is reluctant to tell them what’s going on.

“He tells us everything is all right,” Wanamaker said. “He doesn’t talk about combat because he doesn’t want us to worry about him.”

Dorinda Walker, daughter of William Huff who is serving at Camp Cobra in Iraq, said she hopes her father’s service will help the Iraqi people taste freedom. Huff had been prepared to retire after 30 years of service but was frozen in the Guard when his unit was activated.

“They are working toward a goal of letting them have a little of what we sometimes take for granted here,” Walker said, joined by Huff’s granddaughters, Livia Walker, 6, and Macie Gray Walker, 4. “I think morale is high there right now so that’s encouraging.”

Comments from Saturday’s recordings may be heard on WCPI 91.3 from 5 to 6 p.m., Feb. 13; 6 to 7 p.m., Feb. 14; and 10 to 11 a.m., Feb. 16.