We're excited about a new program at The Vindicator that delivers holiday cheer to our troops.

http://www.vindy.com/holidaycheer/" target="_blank">Operation Holiday Cheer launched Sunday with more than 60 military personnel listed. It’s a new effort by us to offer addresses of our military service personnel as well as offer gift tips to help readers spread holiday cheer.

But the excitement was quickly doused by the harsh uncertainty many of them face every day — harshness that claimed the life of Donald Clark of Boardman.

His mom, Linda, was among the many readers who submitted names and photos of loved ones for The Vindicator’s Operation Holiday Cheer.

Sunday morning, her son’s image was on our newspages and on our web site. Donald was a 1989 Boardman grad who went to Iraq in July to train helicopter pilots.

By Sunday afternoon, Linda was sharing memories of her son, the chief warrant officer who died in a helicopter crash in Iraq.

We will have followup coverage of Donald’s death and upcoming services.

In the wake of his death, if you can, please stop by our web page (http://www.vindy.com/holidaycheer/" target="_blank">click here) or revisit our Sunday edition, and find a few minutes to write a card or pack some gifts for the U.S. military personnel from our area.