(RailAmerica issued the following news release on April 8.)
BOCA RATON, Fla. — “Our thoughts and prayers are with you each day and we pray for you to return home safe.” The simple statement from a third-grade class in Parker, Arizona, sums up “Hearts and Rails,” a campaign spearheaded by RailAmerica, Inc. to write letters of support for American troops in Iraq.
“As a U.S. Army veteran, I know how dedicated our troops are to our country and its freedom,” said Gary O. Marino, Chairman, President and CEO of RailAmerica. “This is a difficult time for troops, many of whom are seeing battle for the first time. We want them to know that there are people back home who admire their courage and bravery and can appreciate the hardships they are experiencing.”
Due to security restrictions, hard copy letters, packages and other gifts to the troops can no longer be sent, unless addressed to a specific soldier, sailor or aircrew member. With the Hearts and Rails program, RailAmerica is collecting digital letters, pictures, banners and other electronic documents that will be delivered to the troops.
Marino said the response has been overwhelmingly positive from schools in towns served by RailAmerica’s 38 U.S. railroads. Below is one of the notes written by Tamara Page’s third-grade class at Blake Elementary School in Parker, Ariz., where RailAmerica’s Arizona & California Railroad is headquartered.
Dear Military Officer:
We are writing to say “thank you” to you for fighting (for) our freedom. We are third graders in Mrs. Page’s class, from Parker, Arizona. We live in the desert, similar to Iraq. Our temperature was 91 today. We are taking standardized tests this week.
We are glad that there are brave people like you that can protect us. Our thoughts and prayers are with you each day and we pray for you to return home safe. Thanks again.
“We are pleased that schools in the hometowns of our short line railroads are taking part in this program and we welcome teachers and students from anywhere in the country to join our Hearts and Rails campaign,” said Marino. “RailAmerica’s short line railroads are deeply embedded in their communities. In addition to moving bulk commodities, we want to play a role in moving messages of support and encouragement to our men and women in Iraq. We all hope for a timely resolution to this war, but we are committed to our Hearts and Rails campaign for as long as our troops are serving in Iraq.”
To participate, please send digital letters, pictures or other electronic files to mhightower@tilsonpr.com with “Hearts and Rails” in the subject line.
RailAmerica, Inc. is the world’s largest short line and regional railroad operator with 49 railroads operating approximately 12,900 miles in the United States, Canada, Australia and Chile. In Australia and Argentina, an additional 4,300 miles are operated under track access arrangements. The Company is a member of the Russell 2000(R) Index. http://www.railamerica.com