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Last Christmas, troops at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan could see how much they were appreciated by the writing on the wall. One of George Jackson’s epic scrolls – they run from 300 to 1,000 feet long – covered with greetings of gratitude from average Americans hung in the hangar while service members ate their holiday meal.
Since 1995, Jackson of Denton, Md., has been helping get messages of thanks to members of the military. He totes his scrolls of paper to malls, libraries and schools where people can write notes to those deployed overseas. Wednesday, Sept. 14, just three days after the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Jackson will bring a scroll for each branch of the military to the Georgetown Public Library for the public to sign.
Just give Jackson enough paper, and he’ll find messages to fill it. He proved that with his first scroll in 1995, which was meant for troops heading to Bosnia. While acting as Santa Claus for the Maryland National Guard, he asked if he could collect messages from military members for their brothers in arms being sent overseas. He got the OK, and took a large roll of paper his wife was going to use for a painting project to the Easton Armory to be signed. A newspaper reporter was there and asked if Santa would be returning so the public could sign the scroll, too. “Sure,” he said.
When Jackson returned to the Armory a few days later, he was greeted by a group of reporters and a line of people eager to sign the scroll.
Jackson handed the completed scroll off at Dover Air Force Base and was invited to light their Christmas tree before the messages were sent on a hop to Bosnia.
He’s been doing the scrolls ever since with the help of his wife, Shirley, and Cadmus Communications, a printing company that supplies him with end rolls of paper.
Jackson shouldn’t be lifting the hefty rolls, according to a cardiologist, but he’s not ready to stop just yet.
“I can’t quit ‘em,” he said.
Jackson sent five scrolls to Afghanistan in late August after working on them for six months. In the days following Sept. 11, 2001, however, Jackson filled up the massive papers in just days.
He had been doing them for six years at the time of the attacks. He set up a table at his local Walmart on Sept. 12 to start two new scrolls — one for New York survivors and one for the Pentagon.
Last Christmas, troops at Bagram Air Force Base in Afghanistan could see how much they were appreciated by the writing on the wall. One of George Jackson’s epic scrolls – they run from 300 to 1,000 feet long – covered with greetings of gratitude from average Americans hung in the hangar while service members ate their holiday meal.
Since 1995, Jackson of Denton, Md., has been helping get messages of thanks to members of the military. He totes his scrolls of paper to malls, libraries and schools where people can write notes to those deployed overseas. Wednesday, Sept. 14, just three days after the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Jackson will bring a scroll for each branch of the military to the Georgetown Public Library for the public to sign.
Just give Jackson enough paper, and he’ll find messages to fill it. He proved that with his first scroll in 1995, which was meant for troops heading to Bosnia. While acting as Santa Claus for the Maryland National Guard, he asked if he could collect messages from military members for their brothers in arms being sent overseas. He got the OK, and took a large roll of paper his wife was going to use for a painting project to the Easton Armory to be signed. A newspaper reporter was there and asked if Santa would be returning so the public could sign the scroll, too. “Sure,” he said.
When Jackson returned to the Armory a few days later, he was greeted by a group of reporters and a line of people eager to sign the scroll.
Jackson handed the completed scroll off at Dover Air Force Base and was invited to light their Christmas tree before the messages were sent on a hop to Bosnia.
He’s been doing the scrolls ever since with the help of his wife, Shirley, and Cadmus Communications, a printing company that supplies him with end rolls of paper.
Jackson shouldn’t be lifting the hefty rolls, according to a cardiologist, but he’s not ready to stop just yet.
“I can’t quit ‘em,” he said.
Jackson sent five scrolls to Afghanistan in late August after working on them for six months. In the days following Sept. 11, 2001, however, Jackson filled up the massive papers in just days.
He had been doing them for six years at the time of the attacks. He set up a table at his local Walmart on Sept. 12 to start two new scrolls — one for New York survivors and one for the Pentagon.
Within five days, they were full.
Bonnie Bly Elliott, assistant director of the Georgetown Public Library, decided to use the new library’s spaciousness to invite Jackson to bring his scrolls, and commemorate the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11.
Elliott has accumulated 30 photos, as well as quotes and artifacts to display in a special anniversary exhibit. Georgetown’s fire and police departments and emergency management services are sending gear to represent the first responders who served on Sept. 11, and the local reserves are sending a flack jacket.
“There were so many people who were brave that day; most people run away when things like that happen,” Elliott said.
The exhibit is running throughout the library, and will be the backdrop when Jackson arrives at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14.
Jackson is ecstatic about visiting Georgetown, which is untapped territory for him. The scrolls coming to Georgetown will be sent to troops in time for the winter holidays.
Elliott hopes to get about 1,000 signatures for Jackson’s scrolls at the library next Wednesday. She said signing the scrolls and taking in the exhibit are ways in which each individual can work through their feelings about Sept. 11.
“It doesn’t matter where you’re from originally. This is still he melting pot. Everyone was affected in some way,” she said.
