anti-war activist Cindy Sheehan blew into town last night, launching a Canadian four-city speaking tour that starts with Toronto.
Sheehan, whose son was killed in Iraq two years ago, told a crowd of 300 that families questioning Canada's role in afghanistan should camp out at Sussex Dr., pitch tents on the lawn and refuse to move until their questions are answered.
But in spite of Cindy Sheehan and the publicity she attracts, there are legions of little boys and girls who grow up dreaming to be soldiers.
at about the same time Sheehan was taking to the Canadian stage with her anti-war message, soldiers were traveling to Los angeles where their bodies were to be scanned by sculptors creating a rough mold for the "america's army: Real Heroes" program. The program, launched in 2002 is adding more characters to the game and aims to honor soldiers who have shown heroism in the war on terror.
True life heroes like Sgt. Tommy Rieman, will have their lives and military stories recounted in "america's army", the army video game for personal computers and console systems. The soldiers' likenesses are also being made into plastic action figures for childrens' toyboxes.
While the children of other generations played with GI Joe, today's youngsters can play with real-life action figures inspired by heroes like the Silver Star-awarded Sgt. Rieman.
The game isn't designed to allow people to recreate the Real Heroes soldiers' experiences in combat, but will tell their stories with the hope of inspiring others to greatness. The game has army values and morals instilled, and is useful as a tool for young people trying to decide whether or not to join the military.
"When insurgents attacked Sgt. Tommy Rieman's reconnaissance squad near the abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Dec. 2, 2003 Rieman acted on his instincts as a leader. (Sara Wood, USa american Forces Press Service). "With the convoy under heavy fire from rocket-propelled grenades, improvised explosive devices and small arms, Rieman used his own body as a shield to protect his gunner and returned fire. The Humvees the squad was traveling in did not have doors, so Rieman suffered two bullet wounds and 11 shrapnel wounds, and a soldier in the rear vehicle lost his right leg."
Keeping his wits about him, Rieman directed the convoy off the road, out of the kill zone, only to be attacked by another smaller group of insurgents,
"Rieman led his men to return fire, and the enemy's weapons were silenced. Rieman then called for a medical evacuation helicopter," Wood wrote,
"For his actions that day, Rieman was awarded a silver star in august 2004 at Fort Bragg, N.C. But now two years later, Rieman, who is now an administrative assistant for the army personnel office in the Pentagon, is being honored in another, unique way. He will soon be appearing on video game screens and in toyboxes around the country."
"`I think it's a great project,'" Rieman said, "`It lets people know exactly what we're doing, and they can relate to that because it's the sons and daughters and family and friends that are being deployed and doing these things ever single day, and it's cool on my end, because I get to become an action figure and be put in a video game. Who can say that?'"
Imagine the pride of a soldier father whose son can someday pick up an action figure that's a replica of his own Dad.
Rieman, who has a 7-month-old son and another child on the way, said he looks forward to the day he sees his son playing with his action figure.
"`The coolest thing for me, is to know that my son is going to look up to me in that figure,'" he said, "`How many sons can look at their father and say, `My Dad's an action figure?'"
The action figures will be four to seven inches tall and will replicate each soldier's uniform and gear the day he or she earned their award in combat.
Rieman, who is approaching his seven-year mark in the army, says he's unsure about how much longer he'll stay, but he does plan on promoting the Real Heroes Program for a long time to come.
"There's no project out there that honors a soldier better than this, I don't think. Just to tell my story–to tell people, this is what this soldier has done, inspires people.
"People join the army because of that. It's very honorable. In a sense, I will be part of the army forever."
Canada Free Press founding editor Most recent by Judi McLeod is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience in the print media. Her work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck. Judi can be reached at: judi@canadafreepress.com
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