West student leads cap collection

Think it’s too hot when the temperature reaches 90 degrees around here? Try 120 degrees in the desert.

West Las Vegas Middle School student Greg Medina has given much thought to the conditions that U.S. soldiers endure in Iraq. And he’s doing what he can to help.

A few months ago, Medina was looking at the Soldiers’ Angels Web site, looking for ways to help servicemen and women. He found out that soldiers often need caps.

They are issued hats as part of their military uniforms, but when the caps wear out, it takes some time to get new ones. That’s where Soldiers’ Angels comes in.

A few weeks ago, Medina launched a local effort to get new hats for soldiers. And he aired a radio ad.

The effort has paid off so far. The back of his mother Gina Medina’s sport utility vehicle is stuffed with packages containing around 400 new hats. And Greg Medina has commitments for 100 more, including 50 from state Rep. Richard Vigil. Even someone from a Colorado construction company is planning to donate to the effort after he heard the radio ad while driving through.

Greg Medina and his mother have been working for Soldiers’ Angels for some time now. They have sent care packages to soldiers and collected letters from residents to let servicemen and women know that Americans are thinking about them.

For more information on Soldiers’ Angels, call Gina Medina at 617-9270.