Imagine being cooped up for months in 120-degree weather, in cramped quarters, an entire ocean away from home. Now add the threat of war and the constant possibility of enemy attack.
Troops stationed overseas in places like Iraq and Afghanistan often are confined to limited space and unable to play some of America’s favorite pastimes like baseball and softball. With the constant threat of snipers, mines, and terrorist activity, troops are left to find alternative sources for entertainment.
In an effort to bring safe forms of entertainment to the troops, Operation DVD was founded by Rev. Scott Dryden and his associate pastor Dan Watkins after being approached by a sergeant requesting DVD’s to take to the soldiers in Baghdad. The DVD’s are sent to all branches of the military.
Operation DVD’s goal is to collect one million, new and used DVD’s donated by the American public for the troops, ultimately supplying 200 to 250 titles in rotation at each base.
Locally, Back in Action Chiropractic in Bellevue has jumped on board. The chiropractic clinic is one of the few collection points in Washington. After learning about Operation DVD from a fellow chiropractor in the Midwest, Dr. Michael Weir decided he wanted to make a difference in the lives of those serving overseas.
“It kind of struck a chord for me. I had a patient at another office who served in Iraq, and he was telling me that it gets up to 120 degrees and literally they can’t step outside. They have to come up with other ways to entertain themselves with DVD’s and such,” explained Weir, who took over Back in Action Chiropractic a year ago.
Many soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have portable DVD players and most bases have a reinforced recreation room equipped with a television and DVD player. Similar facilities exist on ships and carriers. Donated DVD’s also are sent to wounded troops who are receiving treatment in military and veteran hospitals all over the world.
Weir left his previous chiropractic job in Covington and moved to Bellevue to start his own practice. Searching for ways to get involved in the community, Weir volunteered for next year’s Relay for Life and now sits as the chairperson for team recruitment.
“Bellevue is just a great place to live and have a business and to really get plugged into the community,” Weir said. “I’m always looking for ways to give back and ways my patients can get involved and take ownership as well.”
Weir contacted Operation DVD and expressed his interest in helping with the project. A large collection box now sits just inside the door of Back in Action Chiropractic. Comedies and inspirational movies with strong moral and family values are encouraged, but Operation DVD will except any title donated. Children DVD’s collected are sent to the families back home.
“Some of these men and women who are over there fighting are my age. The fact that they’re over there is so humbling and the hardship that it must be to be away from your family and to not be able to get out and expend energy playing baseball and things. I just can’t imagine.” Weir said, adding, to have something like a feel-good movie to kind of get away for a couple of hours would be a Godsend.
New or used DVDs can be dropped off at Back in Action Chiropractic Clinic, 1940 116th Ave. N.E., Ste. 101 or send to: Operation DVD 31337 Huron Street Temecula, CA 92592, www.operationdvd.net.
Lindsay Larin can be reached at llarin@reporternewspapers.com or 425-453-4602.
