Marines in Fallujah Connect Face-to-Face With Families in Time for the Holiday Season
Marines in Fallujah will have the opportunity to talk face-to-face with family members in time for the holiday season thanks to technology donated by TDS Metrocom, a local telecommunications company, Polycom Inc., the market leader in videoconferencing, InfraSupport, a local IT support company, and space donated by Eagan Hills Alliance Church.
The effort, dubbed Operation Connect by the partners, will allow videoconferencing between Marines in Fallujah and family members and friends gathered at Eagan Hills Alliance Church.
TDS Metrocom donated a T1 line to allow the transmissions to take place. Polycom Inc. donated a V500 videoconferencing unit, InfraSupport donated a firewall system and technical expertise. Eagan Hills Alliance Church will schedule times for family members to come in and connect with their loved ones overseas. The value of the T1 line is approximately $5,500 and the Polycom equipment is valued at $2,000. The church is located at 700 Diffley Road in Eagan.
The idea to connect through videoconference came about through emails between longtime friends -- one in Minnesota, the other serving in Fallujah.
"Gunnery Sergeant Mike Hanson from the First Marine Expeditionary Force and I were emailing back and forth and really wanted to do more for families to connect -- especially during the holidays," said Greg Scott, Eagan Hills Alliance Church volunteer and owner of InfraSupport. "We contacted Polycom and TDS Metrocom and were thrilled that they were willing to help us make this happen."
According to Kurt Daugherty, Regional Marketing Manager for TDS Metrocom, the decision to get involved in the effort was easy.
"Those of us at TDS Metrocom thought this was a tremendous opportunity to give back to the community and show our support for our troops who are serving overseas by helping them connect with their family members during this holiday season," Daugherty said. "While phone calls are great, seeing the expressions on family member's faces is priceless."
Source: press release
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