The following email was received from LTC Scott Taylor who is the commander of Nick's unit in Iraq. It clearly demonstrates the good and immediate effects of Kick For Nick soccer balls.

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As always, I thank you for allowing us to participate in the Kick for Nick program - after a lull in outreach with soccer balls, we have resumed and I wanted to get you the attached [photos].  I continue to collect photos of our efforts to share good will to Iraqi children, honoring the memory of your son Nick.  In fact, I handed out two soccer balls today to a couple of children north of Basra city - they were so grateful...  It is such a  privilege to be able to do this and I am grateful to you that you let us participate in this.  Thanks for your support.  Know that this continues to make a difference every day in the lives of Iraqi children and in fact in the lives of our Soldiers. In fact, last Saturday, I was in a relatively rough part of the province meeting with a Police Chief.  My crew was waiting on the vehicle outside and several of the locals started getting restless and in fact started chanting "Death to the Americans"....it was just a few - three maybe - but it had the potential to grow worse.  My driver had three of your soccer balls on our truck and saw several children there in the market area and handed out the soccer balls to those kids.  When the people saw this, they shut the other three up and ran them off.  I think it was at least in part because of the good will displayed using the Kick for Nick soccer balls.  Thank you so much for letting us be part of this great program.

 

Respectfully,

 Scott Taylor

LTC, AR