Video calls to Iraq up for grabs

The video conference calls will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13
and 14.

YOUNGSTOWN — Families who act quickly may have an opportunity to hear, talk to and see, through video conference technology, their loved ones who are serving in the military at five camps in Iraq.

The camps are Camp Taji, Camp Fallujah, Camp Taqaddum, Al Asad Air Base and Camp Victory in Baghdad.

The video conference calls, which are free, will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 13 and 14 at sites across the state. Families will be able to visit with their soldiers in private rooms big enough to hold family and friends.

Area sites include the Mahoning County Educational Service Center, 100 DeBartolo Place; and the Columbiana County Educational Service Center, 38720 Saltwell Road, Lisbon.

There are only 34, 30-minute time slots available statewide, and several have already been filled, said Cathy Sanor, director of technology at the Mahoning County ESC.

Family and friends who wish to connect with military personnel at any of the designated camps must register on the www.OhioDL.org Web site and click on the Freedom Calls link. The link provides all of the video conference sites.

People may also register by calling the Mahoning County ESC at (330) 965-7828, ext. 1121, or the Columbiana County ESC at (330) 424-9591.

The program is sponsored by the Freedom Calls Foundation. The equipment is provided by the schools.

The Freedom Calls Foundation is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to build a communications network, independent of military networks, to enable military personnel to communicate free of charge from their base camps with their families at home by Internet telephone, instant messaging and video conference.