Foundation provides virtual visits for families with loved ones in Iraq

Dick Benoit

Thursday, May 5, 2005 | 9:13 a.m.

In a recent Navy News Service release, the Freedom Calls Foundation announced it will provide free videoconferencing for service members and their families over Mother's Day weekend.

However, Freedom Calls Foundation cofounder, in a telephone interview with In Uniform, noted that the foundation arranges calls for families with loved ones serving in Iraq at all times of the year.

The private 20- to 30-minute high-tech videoconferences link troops at Al Asad Airfield, Camp Taji and in Fallujah with family members at specified locations in 10 cities across the United States, said Ed Bukstel.

The foundation is part of the Defense Department's America Supports You campaign that spotlights how Americans across the country are supporting the men and women of the U.S. military.

The foundation provides video services and equipment to military hospitals and bases around the world. Its services enable troops to remotely attend graduations and other important family milestones, such as birthdays and the birth of babies.

Freedom Calls has sites in 10 cities that will host the videoconferences. The nearest to Las Vegas is Los Angeles. The others are Atlanta; New York; Kansas City, Mo.; Wilmington, N.C.; Groton, Conn.; Dallas; San Antonio; Fayetteville, Ark.; and Chicago.

Bukstel says he is willing to work with military families in Las Vegas that can travel to Los Angles to arrange a video conference.

He also noted that he would be interested in hearing from any business or organization in Las Vegas, with video conferencing capabilities, that would have an interest in becoming part of the network. Both a facility and a corps of organized volunteers are required to make the concept work, according to Bukstel.

As an example, Bukstel cited the telecommunication center at Montana State University in Bozeman as a new member of the network. Montana families with loved ones in Iraq have been contacting them from the Burns Telecommunications Center there since December.

Families or business wanting more information about Freedom Calls can call Bukstel at 610-279-0362 or e-mail him at ebukstel@freedomcalls.org.

In brief