Shipping Iraq Silly String

A big shipment is on its way to the war. What is it? Iraq Silly String! But why? First if you do not have kids, you may not know what this toy is.

It is foam in an aerosol can. When you spray it, it comes out as foamy string and it shoots out about 10 feet. The kids have a lot of fun covering each other with it at parties and at play.

Why on earth would soldiers in Iraq need this foamy fun toy in a can? To relieve boredom? No. To save their lives? Yes!

Soldiers spray a can out ahead of them to detect trip wires that are attached to bombs. If the string does not fall to the ground, it could be stuck on a trip wire. Ingenious.

A lady named Marcelle Shriver from Deptford Township, New Jersey collected 120,000 cans of Silly String last year. Her son, stationed in Ramadi, Iraq, requested them for his base to be used as described above.

On a side note, Mrs. Shriver's son comes home in November 2007 and we wish him well.

Back in January of 2007, Mrs. Shriver was able to ship out 40,000 aerosol cans by sending them through a reserve military base in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. The base was not able to ship anymore as they did not have additional flights going to Iraq.

Aerosol cans cannot be shipped through the United States Post Office with regular mail since they are considered to be hazardous.

Mrs. Shriver has been searching for a way to ship the additional packed up 80,000 cans of Iraq Silly String.

Finally, just this week in October 2007, a gentleman named Thom Campbell stepped up to the plate to help this caring lady. Mr. Campbell, who helped to start a shipping company called Capacity LLC out of New Jersey agreed to help get the foam shipped. His company has collected the boxes and will inspect them.

Once they have been inspected for safety, the United States Post Office will transport the Iraq Silly String along with the other APO mail it sends overseas. It should arrive just as Mrs. Shriver's son gets ready to leave, but the other military personnel in Ramadi will be able to put it to good use as they did with the first shipment.

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