Family sends boxes to Iraq
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Family and Friends of the late 1st Lt. Ryan Patrick Jones pack boxes to send to his platoon members who are still stationed in Iraq. JOURNAL PHOTO/CAITLYN KELLEHER

Elaine and Kevin Jones prepared another shipment of gift boxes to send to the members of 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, stationed in Baghdad, Iraq.

The Jones' son, Ryan, was a member of the platoon until his death on May 2.

Big Red 1 Project Boxes, named after the unit's nickname, supported a Fourth of July theme, with draw string bags in flag printed material, an American flag, personal items, cameras and phone cards.

The Joneses started this project in March before the death of their son and plan to continue to send boxes to the unit. The couple along with family friends plan to ship a set of boxes just before Halloween and one at Christmas.

Roughly 20 people are involved in making lapquilts and lap-afghans for the soldiers at Christmas and a cookie bake is being planned for the soldiers at Christmas as well, said Elaine Jones.

She said they want to send the goods at that time to injured soldiers as well as men in Ryan's platoon.

"We will be doing a letter drive at Christmas as well," she said. "We will place boxes at various places so they can be dropped off and we will pay the postage to have them mailed. Mail is so important to these guys, take the time through the summer to write some letters put them aside and when Xmas time comes drop them in a drop off box."

"We have several projects started in his memory," Elaine Jones said. "A scholarship at his high school … then we are doing some granite benches dedicated to Ryan by friends, family and his college. They will go up in the historical district of our town surrounding the gazebo."

The Joneses also set up scholarships for the members of the kindergarten class that created a book for Ryan's unit in March.

There are also a series of other projects being started are around town including the establishment of a foundation in his name to fund many of these projects.

Elaine Jones said people have been very generous in their giving to causes in her son's name to help with the scholarships and the boxes being mailed to Iraq.