AND NOW, THE 'GOOD' NEWS

TRIBUTE TO ARMY SPC. ERIC T. BURRI

A West Michigan family that lost a loved one in the war in Iraq is starting a shoe drive in his memory. Army Specialist Eric Burri, 21, was killed in June 2005, when a roadside bomb exploded near his vehicle. While the Kelloggsville High School graduate was in Iraq, he mentioned the kids there have no shoes. Sunday morning Mike Burri, uncle of Specialist Eric Burri, appeared on CNN and told a nationwide audience how Eric would tell stories about Iraqi children who had no shoes. "Eric mentioned that on several occasions that these kids have no shoes, and it always bothered him. He said he would give his own shoes if he could," said Mike Burri.

To honor his memory, his family now wants to collect footwear for the children. Originally, the shoe drive was to run through May 20, but due to the overwhelming response across the nation, it has now been extended through the end of the month. The original story was broadcast last weekend by a local TV station, and at that time the family hoped to collect between 400 and 500 pairs of shoes. Since then a number of local groups have stepped forward, including retailers, individuals, schools and businesses. The family now has between 1,500 and 2,000 pairs of new and used shoes, including flip flops, tennis shoes, and sandals.

After Mike Burri's story on CNN last weekend, he said he had about 50 phone calls, all before he left the building. A North Carolina company, Blackwater USA, was so moved by the mission, it has agreed to cover the cost of shipping the shoes overseas.

"I wanted to do something positive," Joanne Burri said. Eric's uncle, Michael Burri, said Eric would have been pleased. "He would really be impressed by the outpouring of concern that the community has shown," he said. "It's very gratifying to me to be able to do something good out of this," Michael Burri said. "It's really helping our family get over this."

While she still mourns his death, Joanne Burri said, the growing pile of shoes fills her with other emotions. "It means so much. He's not here, and I miss him. This way, I'm sort of keeping his goodwill alive."

The two week shoe drive has been extended another ten days, taking it to the end of May. You can donate new or gently used shoes at: Wal-Mart in Cascade, Grandville and Alpine, Matthysse-Kuiper Degraff Funeral Directors in Grandville, Allendale, Wyoming, Kentwood, and Caledonia, and at Ziegler Harold Ford in Lowell or ask your local church. You can also contact Mike Burri at 616-299-7321 or Woody Watson at 616-698-9245.

posted by Karen @ 11:05 AM