OAKS FITTING TRIBUTE TO WAR DEAD.Byline: Lisa M. Sodders Staff Writer WINNETKA - Norm Pringle doesn't want the soldiers who have fought and died in Iraq - more than 370 of them to date - to become meaningless statistics. On Saturday, Pringle, 79, is selling his collection of more than 1,000 succulents and cactuses to raise money for what he hopes will be a permanent tribute to those soldiers: a memorial grove of oak trees, one for each soldier killed. ``After all, they gave their lives, and it would be nice for their families,'' said Pringle, who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force as a flight dispatcher The Flight Dispatcher (also Flight Operations Officer) in airline operations has great authority over flights. In many countries, e.g. the USA and Canada, he shares legal responsibility with the Commander (joint responsibility dispatch system). . ``The World War II memorial in Washington, D.C., took 50 years to get going. ... And up to now, (the soldiers killed in Iraq) seemed to be just becoming a statistic.'' Pringle envisions a leafy grove of oaks where people can walk and reflect on what their fellow citizens have sacrificed for the nation. He is prepared to plant a tree for every soldier killed until the conflict ends in Iraq. For Pringle, trees make an ideal memorial for fallen soldiers. ``I know my dad planted trees 70 years ago, and they're still standing. The house is gone, but the trees are standing there.'' Pringle's own garden includes more than 1,000 plants. The plants will be offered for sale starting at 9 a.m. Saturday at 7021 Hatillo Avenue in Winnetka, with 80 percent of the proceeds going for the fund. The plants cost between $2 and $15. Pringle, a retired sound man for Warner Brothers Warner Brothers (b. Eichelbaums) movie executives; Harry (Morris) (1881–1958), born in Krasnashiltz, Poland; Albert (1884–1967), born in Baltimore, Md.; Samuel (1887–1927), born in Baltimore, Md. , isn't sure how much money it will take to acquire the trees and put a plaque on each one. But he and his wife, Elsie, 83, have established a Memorial Tree Fund at the Bank of America
Bank of America (NYSE: BAC TYO: 8648 ) is the largest commercial bank in the United States in terms of deposits, and the largest company of its kind in the world. in Reseda under his Internet name, cybercloud.com, and donated $600 to get the project started. While Pringle doesn't have a location for the oak grove Oak grove may refer to
Oak Grove is a common name for several places in the United States of America. yet, he said one possibility could be the Ahmanson Ranch site in Ventura County. Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks, who also sits on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy is an agency of the state of California in the United States founded in 1979 and dedicated to the acquisition of land in the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains and the Simi Hills, north and west of Los Angeles, for preservation as open board, said she has invited Pringle to make a presentation to the board once it takes possession of Ahmanson Ranch. ``It's a great way to honor the veterans of the Iraq war Iraq War: see under Persian Gulf Wars. Iraq War or Second Persian Gulf War Brief conflict in 2003 between Iraq and a combined force of troops largely from the U.S. and Great Britain; and a subsequent U.S. , and also to add to the beauty of the environment,'' Parks said. ``I'm always up for planting oak trees. It would be great if we could get some volunteers and donations.'' Pringle has also made contact with the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) is the largest municipal utility in the United States, serving 3.9 million residents in 2006. It was founded in 1902 to deliver water and electricity supplies to residents and businesses in Los Angeles. to see if it would donate trees for the project. DWP DWP Department of Work and Pensions (UK) DWP Drinking Water Program DWP Dynamic Weapon Pricing (gamin, Counter-Strike: Source) DWP Department of Water & Power DWP Drinking Water Protection spokesman Walter Zeisl said that if the project were located in Los Angeles city limits, the DWP would consider donating some trees through its Trees for a Green LA program. Pringle said he was also trying to raise money for the tree project through the SingAlong Noun 1. singalong - informal group singing of popular songs singsong singing, vocalizing - the act of singing vocal music America show. Pierce College Choral singers often participate but Pringle said volunteer singers and dancers are encouraged to take part. Volunteers can call 818-347-3902 for information. Lisa M. Sodders, (818) 713-3663 lisa.sodders(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Norm Pringle, kneeling in his garden at his Winnetka home, is planning to sell his plants to raise money for an Iraq war memorial. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer |
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