Erin Schroeder, Remsen-Union student council president, displays seed packets and boxes used to collect garden seeds, small tools and gloves as part of the "Seeds for Soldiers" program. A donation box will be available throughout the summer at the R-U office. [Click to enlarge]

Major John Blankenhorn wants to start a garden with local children -- in Iraq.

Remsen-Union students are joining people from all over by collecting garden seeds to send to Iraq to help the soldiers teach Iraqi children to learn to plant gardens and become self-sufficient.

Erin Schroeder, R-U student council president, said the council on Monday placed posters around the school inviting people to make donations to the "Seeds for Soldiers" program. By Wednesday morning, they had already collected about eight packages of seeds.

Schroeder said the project for them is an end-of-the-year community service project that will continue throughout the summer and involve the new student council next fall.

"The idea behind it is that if we get seeds over there, they can grow their own food and become independent and bring our troops home faster," Schroeder said. "I have a cousin that was over in Iraq. If this works, my cousin won't have to go over there again."

Schroeder said the type of seeds needed are those that don't require a lot of water such as: tomatoes, turnips, radishes, carrots, squash, smaller melons, sunflowers, herbs and wild flowers.

Planting gardens in Iraq was spearheaded by Blankenhorn, who is stationed at Fort Hood, TX with 3 Squadron, 3 Armed Calvary Regiment, now deployed to TAl Afar and Mosul, Iraq.

Michelle Nielson, of WNAX radio station in Yankton, S.D., is Blankenhorn's sister-in-law, and she began carrying out his wishes by getting the word out on the radio station and its website to collect as many seeds as possible.

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Since the project began in January, she has sent him more than 5,000 seed packets along with gardening tools and gloves.

"His wish is to supply garden seeds to most of Iraq," Nielson said.

In a an email sent to Nielson, Blankenhorn stated why he thinks the project is so important.

"This is part of an overall civil-military operation that will allow the coalition forces to help get the community back to normal after all these years of fighting," he said. "The kids need to experience something positive and helpful in their lives."

Nielson got her 4-H club and staff at the radio station involved by making posters, which can be printed off the radio station's website, and began displaying them in communities.

For Schroeder, the project is not just about community service for students.

"I think it's a good way to get our whole community involved," Schroeder said. "People want to help the soldiers, but don't know how. This is a good way to give them that opportunity."

Schroeder said R-U became aware of the "Seeds for Soldiers" program after the student council sponsor found the information on the radio station's website.

Getting kids involved is another part of Blankenhorn's wish.

"It would be a great projects for the kids in the local area to connect with kids here (Iraq) and to show that we (soldiers) don't just bring weapons and military equipment," Blankenhorn said in his email to Nielson.

Throughout the summer the R-U Office will be a donation location to bring seeds, gardening tools or gloves. The items will then be sent to Nielson, who will send them to Iraq.

Nielson said she has received calls and packages of seeds from people all over who have learned about the program on WNAX's website and she encourages more people to get involved as Blankenhorn already has some plants growing in Iraq.

When people or organizations agree to become drop-off spots for the seeds, their names are added to a list, which can be seen on the radio station's website.

"I have gotten hundreds of seeds that are sent out of the blue, which is fabulous," Nielson said.

Anyone needing more information or wishing to donate seeds can contact Nielson at WNAX Radio Station, 1609 East Highway 50, Yankton, SD 57078 or check out the station's website at www.wnax.com for more information.