The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WATERlDO CHION|cuz - Wednesday. August 14, 2013 - ll Dear Soldier Dave " Young Waterloo boy meets "Him"? Pen Pal/bf the "eryfim time - 87 lanes Mason % RE... f Up'Ibwn Market every eroes are often just fantasy found in Hollywood A, ‘ a l hllrsda are Hblockbusters. but onluly27, eigttt-ymmidfiicfieym a? a; - yin the sq“ he mature hero for mew-y am time. s, Visit the Waterloo Public Square every Thursday Since 2009, the Waterloo boy has been writing letters and b g 4 for fresh local foods and specialty items from area sending care packages to Dave Goodknecht, an American artisans at the UpTown Market from 3 p.m. to 7 soldier who has served two tours of duty in Afghanistan and ' p.m. until the end of October. . is currently based at Fon Carson in Colorado Springs, 5 Nith Valley Organics. Arthur Greenhouses, Eric finally met “Soldier Dave' face-to-face late last SOiled Reputation and Garden Party bring fresh - month when they had dinner together at a restaurant in pI'0dUCE direct from the farmers to thepuinC. ’ Vaughan, north of Toronto. Enjoy breads from Downie Street Bakehouse, “It was really exciting." said Eric. “lie looked different cheeses from Monfone Dairy. farm fresh graded (than in photos). He wasn't wearing his uniform. And his . local eggs and even gluten~free treats and meals hair was lighter.” A 1 from Winnie's Gluten Free Foods. . Goodknecht was on leave last month and came to (”ana- “ There is SO much mom to do at the market than da with his wife. Emily, to visit family, She was raised in U} . ill-St Shop for fOOd tOO. it has one-ofâ€"a-kind Cloth- ‘ Brockville and the couple met in Kingston when she was his i118. jewelry and accessories. home decor and fine ‘ waitress. at!" art. “it was great, his whole face lit up.” said (ioodknecht of Bring the kids for facepainting. exercise in the the meeting. ”He gave me a big ol' hug and it was like I was ~ Tumble BUS or to join in on various activities and ‘ meetinganephew for the first time." r crafts. or just sit and listen to live music every Four years ago Eric's mother. Debbie. was looking for a ' .. in week. ‘ way to teach her son about the war in Afghanistan and what X- “‘ There is something for everyone at the UpTown ‘ the US. and Canadian troops were fighting for Debbie is “35 iv Market. Visit www.UpTownMarketWaterloo.ca for originally from Texas and moved to Waterloo in l999. "A: “1 _. , more information. I At first she wanted to write to a Canadian soldier but mles _ if“ , “if prohibit the army from sharing the names or photos of '-‘ “_~ g a , _$ Open Streets Uptown ' troops. Since her son was so young she knew a more AW" ‘ Water] set forAu 18 ‘ ersonal connection was necessar so she found , (N) . awwanysoldiercom and searched for ay soldier from her 5°“er Dave (0M ka My“ has been 8 , home state. They were paired with Goodknecht, an artillerv- receivrng letters from F“ frey Of Waterloo me 2009. The ‘ Open Streets Uptown Waterloo continues "5 man who was stationed in New York at the time. â€" pen pals met for the fir“ time last month. “no 0 ‘ series Qf community afternoons AUS- 18- from 1 (0 They sent their first letter and care package in lanuary time he iusts asks him about school, sports. his Halloween 5 pm man event called M '" “95mm _ , 2009, including a toy Elmo doll that Eric wanted Soldier costume or his family. King Street M” be transformed tnto_a thriving ‘ Dave to give to a little boy in Afghanistan. Other times, the letters reflect the tension of the situation i centre Of fun and connection. Hamnng‘impmmp . “Thank you Soldier Dave for fighting all the bad guys in the Middle Fast. One day Eric was watching the news and i“ parks. an alleys, sports demonstrations. com ‘ Thank you for keeping us safe," the letter read. saw combat footage in Afghanistan. Debbie said the next munity information booths and your. favourite , i "We didn't expect to get anything back but three months letter he wrote to Soldier Dave asked him to come home. i Uptown West businesses and eateries, Open ‘ later we heard from (Dave's) wife." Debbie said, “He prom~ in a letter sent Sept, 4, 2009 Goodknecht wrote back, ‘ Streets ls created by the community, for the oom- ‘ ised he would write back and two months later. he did.” “lzric. i don't ever want you to worry about Soldier Dave. I i muniry. , _ . , i (loodknechi, who spent a year in Afghanistan in 2009 have lots of friends They keep me safe. and I keep them Everyone-is "1“th to come walk, "d? and play then re repltiyt-d in 20] l for another year. said the letters and safe.’ r m the at)“ “bmm urban centre alongVKing Stmet. i packages from l‘rlt meant a lot to him. Sometimes he would When he rctumed front his first tour in December 2009. ‘ Open Streets mes place on "If“ Sundays and get toothpaste and a toothbrush, a new pair of socks or even phone calls and emails replaced letters and care packages. . “ml night during the sullmer. The last event " , some ofhis favourite candy â€" Swedish Fish and the two families have watched each other grow over the “a“? for‘Sept. 15 i “It means people still ("are about what were doing over years. (Loodknecht now has a family of his own l a son who i km“ Street Win be closed to traffit and transâ€" iht-re." (modknt-cht said. "A lot of the American population turns three in a few months. and an eightemonthâ€"old daugh l formed into an active community and pedestrian forget we're over here so it was cool to get a letter from a little (er. space, . how t'\P<‘<'lflli‘,v’ a (anadian boy ' They exchange birthday and Christmas gifts, and lint and i H" more informa ’ m" go [0 ‘ Suldlt‘r Daw- tan't answt'r all of int ‘s questions about the Debbie say the soldier feels like a pan of their family. wwwopenstreetsutwca. war in Afghanistan due to wturitv tom l'fli\. so most of the "We hit the jackpot With Soldier Dave." said Debbie l ‘ , 7 __ _ .__hâ€"_ kfi_\‘ J .\\ \ . Celebrating the tastes of Summer. r Featuring fresh local ingredients. . _, y _ urn/{11158 3 Course Lunch $22 3 3 Course Dinner $33 um'ner ls ’ IS , _ commons usonmizm'rm' 1, 31 ' $6WM.,CUYW eases.w..wnenoo W.Mamwm.mm~ Auguso‘ 13 , 519.621.4183 “me! 519. 741m? “a Vim an m a. M M \. 2 “finâ€"llama- Folthaatsmpon “- Felix/Saleem". . umePat-omamopmm w