The Iowa Communications Network has hosted 45 video reunions through the Operation Hometown Link initiative and Freedom Calls. There have been birthday parties, anniversary celebrations, and new babies seen for the first time. However, the majority of the sessions have been for no special reason at all, except the wonderful opportunity for spouses and children to see, talk to, and reconnect with their partners and parents serving in Iraq.

Thank you to all the ICN classroom sites who have opened their doors to these families and accommodated them so graciously, and to the many people who have contacted us to help make arrangements for students, family, and friends. We know there are more families out there who could benefit from this and would appreciate your help in spreading the word.

A new brochure is now available describing the ICN's Operation Hometown Link program. If you would like to have a few copies of the brochure sent to you, please contact me. I can also provide the PDF which you can print as needed. It will be available soon on our web site at

http://www.icn.state.ia.us/hometown_link/hometown.html.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. Again, thank you for your help in this effort.


Gail Geery
Public Relations Manager
Iowa Communications Network
Grimes State Office Building
400 E. 14th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319
Visit us on the web: www.icn.state.ia.us

Proud sponsors of Operation Hometown Link