Batavia resident Constance Gillian knows the importance of a phone call. Her son Nick Horner, a lance corporal in the Marine Corps, has e-mail access, but she prefers his calls.

Those are better, of course. Hearing his voice is a lot nicer than an e-mail,” she said.

Her son returned from Iraq May 19 after eight months there. He has a month’s leave before heading to California for more training and then back to Iraq early next year.

Horner and other American soldiers deployed overseas are getting help to call home from local RE/MAX offices that sponsored the recent “Salutes Our Troops” fundraiser in Geneva. The money goes toward purchase calling cards for soldiers.

“I wanted to come out and have a good time, and I think events like these are important so troops can talk to their families,” said Batavia resident Justin Felvey, 15, who heard about the event from his grandmother, a real estate agent.

Geneva resident Phil McKittrick said even though he doesn’t agree with the Iraq war, he wants to help the troops.

“I think it’s important to support them,” he said.

Kimiya Shippey of St. Charles heard about the event through word of mouth.

“This is such a great cause, and I thought we should come out and support the troops,” she said.

For some attendees, the event’s entertainment was the main draw.
“American Idol” contestant Leslie Hunt performed, as did the Moods, a Motown act.

Also, former Bears linebacker Otis Wilson was there. He was on the 1985 team that won the Super Bowl.

Hunt and Wilson had lines of people waiting for autographs.

The fundraiser’s idea was born two years ago when RE/MAX employees wanted to show support for soldiers serving in the Iraq war. Rather than collect items for care packages, as many other groups do, they looked for another way to help.

They landed with Operation Uplink, a program established by the Veterans of Foreign Wars to provide free phone cards to soldiers overseas and hospitalized veterans.

Last year’s first local fundraiser brought in more than $10,000 for Operation Uplink.

Kathy Zima, a RE/MAX representative, deems this year’s event a success, as well. She estimated that as much as $15,000 was raised.

“Everyone was extremely pleased, including the VFW,” she said.

Again this year, the event was taped. A disc will accompany the Operation Uplink calling cards so recipients can see what people are doing on their behalf.