Scripps Ranch woman plans memorial videos for war dead
San Diego Union Tribune – San Diego,CA,USA
He will shoot short videos Thursday through Saturday for people at a
still-undecided location in Leucadia. If transportation is a problem, home
visits are …

More than 3,000 American soldiers have perished in Iraq since the war started almost four years ago. Usually, little is known about each, and as the number of casualties increases, the fallen may become a statistic, said Jennifer Douglas, a Scripps Ranch resident.

But not if she can help it.

Douglas is recruiting friends, family members and colleagues of those who died fighting in Iraq and asking them to provide one-minute video memorials of their loved ones.

To do that, Douglas has secured the help of Ron Ranson, a professional videographer. He will shoot short videos Thursday through Saturday for people at a still-undecided location in Leucadia. If transportation is a problem, home visits are possible, she said.

“It’s to bring alive the fact these are real people who were killed and to honor them,” Douglas said. “It’s to give friends and family a chance to speak in their own words about the sacrifices made.”

Douglas can be reached by phone at (858) 344-5490 or e-mail, jennifercdouglas@yahoo.com.

Making memorial videotapes was not Douglas’ idea.

The digital project, called Iraq Veterans Memorial, is being created by producer Robert Greenwald’s Brave New Foundation and Iraq veteran groups. Visit www.iraqmemorial.org for more information.

Once Douglas discovered the Web project, she was hooked, she said, even though she doesn’t know anyone who was killed in Iraq.

Those who can’t meet with Douglas and Ranson next week can make their own videos by following directions on the Web site. The videos are due Feb. 26 and will be unveiled March 19.

Anyone with a Web site or MySpace page can show the videos on March 19 by filling out a form on www.iraqmemorial.org.