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June 18, 2007
Healing Power of Music
"Steve Baker worked on an amplifier knob at Fergus Music in Fergus Falls, Minn., on Thursday. The store serves as headquarters for Operation Happy Note" (from Startribune.com)
The Strib this morning carried an uplifting piece about Steve and Barbara Baker, from Fergus Falls, who have been sending musical instruments. especially in the guitar family, to soldiers stationed in Iraq. The article showed a picture of crew members from the USS Nashville with their instruments. Apparently, they have a list of 150 musicians waiting hopefully for instruments.
Here is some further information provided by the Star Tribune:
"Operation Happy Note is a volunteer effort to send musical instruments to our deployed service men and women throughout the world. Steve and Barb Baker from Fergus Music started Operation Happy Note after their son was deployed to Iraq. They had sent him a guitar and then a buddy wanted one. These soldiers were so pleased with having these instruments over there that Steve and Barb wanted to find a way to get more instruments to our troops, hence “Operation Happy Note�. Since March of 2005 we have sent hundreds of instruments including guitars, mandolins, banjos, violins, harmonicas, and accessories. Steve also wrote a lesson program with CD for those who don't know how to play.“ We can’t stop now!� says Barb just because her son is now back home with his family. There are just too many requests that keep coming in, these soldiers need the joy that music brings to them. "
A few weeks ago, I was sitting on a plane next to a soldier on leave from Iraq. The conditions under which these folks are working are every bit as bad as we can imagine from the media. He talked of 130 degree days, walking around with a 70 pound pack, full combat gear, and wearing gloves because you can't touch anything without being burned. If a few guitars can help these folks keep it together, I'm all for it.
Contact information for Operation Happy Note:
122 E. Lincoln Ave. Fergus Falls MN 56537 | info@operationhappynote.com | 218.736.5541
Posted by hgroteva at June 18, 2007 8:11 AM | Music - of all kinds | Society