Soccer Tournament in Iraq

JC emailed me a month or so ago and let me know that he had been put in charge of working with the Mayor of Fallujah to organize a soccer tournament for the people in that city. I don't know if this will be shown on the news, but what a huge event?! I know most of you hear the cowards in Congress (I won't mention names or parties) exclaiming our defeat and calling for a "Cut and Run," but I have to counter that and say we have not been defeated and there is hope for the people of Iraq. I know JC has received a lot of support back here in the United States. My Dad was able to get tons of soccer equipment donated from an Idaho Soccer Association. JC's grandmother was able to convince a neighborhood to take on JC's assignment as their annual service project. They raised $2,000 dollars and with that money Scoreboard sports was able to give jerseys and shorts for four teams at wholesale cost. We are still in the process of seeing what else we can do.
The tournament is set for the 11th of January and I couldn't be any happier to know that the people of Fallujah,Iraq are able to walk out into their own streets without feeling as though their lives are in danger. My husband's battalion has been over to Fallujah I believe 6 times now (this is JC's second time) and they say it is safer than it has ever been. My husband said that he can walk outside without feeling as though he is a target like he did last year. He also says there is less crime in Fallujah than the city of Detroit, Michigan. Do we not call that progress?!
Soccer is their hope- they love this sport! The men on the Iraqi soccer team are the heroes of this country- the people of Iraq LOVE their country's soccer team. It is so nice to know that they are not tortured anymore for losing a game.

Here are a couple of excerpts from an email JC sent out to friends and family-

To let you know how well Fallujah is doing right now, I have been put in charge of creating a soccer tournament for the city of Fallujah!! If that doesn’t let you know what kind of progress we are experiencing here, I don’t know what will. Sure, superficially the city still looks like it was bulldozed by the Marines, but at the core of the city, they are itching for progress, for a better life. We are trying to give it to them. We are working with all facets of the government of Fallujah right now to get them what they need.

We are also going to divide the tournament into 3 different age groups: 12 and under, 12-17 and 18 and up. We have means of broadcasting the invitation over their TV’s so we are going to come up with a simple commercial and then post fliers around the city inviting teams to register. Fallujah has approximately 300,000 people, and their favorite sport is soccer, so I can imagine a big turnout already. We will also have a lot of security at the event, because I know what some of you are thinking.
Since I am also the Battalion’s media coordinator, you’d better believe that this event is going to get some press. I am going to try my best to get every journalist in the area out to cover it. I’ll make sure to send pictures and stories about how it turns out as a reimbursement for your efforts.
I hope you enjoyed the e-mail and the news this week. I miss you all, and I can’t wait to return and see my baby boy (and his mother of course). I now have 23 pictures of the most perfect baby I have ever seen, and a DVD that will arrive any day now.

JC