CEDAR FALLS -- For the third consecutive year, radio station KCVM 96.1 FM "Mix 96" radio personalities Jamie Philips and Jim Coloff will host a one-hour "Good Morning Iraq" radio show for local troops overseas at 10 a.m. Saturday.

All deployed soldiers' family members are encouraged to call in at 266-6499 and record a holiday greeting for their loved one that will be in Iraq or Afghanistan for the holidays. Calls should be limited to one family member per soldier to allow as many family members as possible to participate.

The show will be recorded and put in holiday gift packages being sent to local troops by Iowa's Bravest, a group of John Deere employees and other community volunteers..

Iowa's Bravest continues to collect donations of cash and non-perishable goods for holiday gift packages to be sent to local troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Family members should submit names of soldiers by Oct. 21 to Iowa's Bravest co-organizer Julie Ehlers at Iowa's Bravest, P.O. Box 270, Waterloo, 50704; by phone at (319) 232-3795 or e-mail at juliea58@mchsi.com.

Boxes will be will be filled and mailed Nov. 10 at United Auto Workers Local 838, 2615 Washington St. Hundreds of volunteers will be needed, and the public, including families, youth and church groups are invited to help.

The organization also has sold more than 1,300 patriotic home and garden flags to raise money for the boxes for the troops. They cost $10 for a garden size and $20 for a larger size.

"Support Our Troops" flag orders are being taken by Barb Dunakey and Ehlers. For more information, call Dunakey at (319) 235-0427 or e-mail her at barbtimd@mchsi.com. Flags may be picked up at the Dunakey home at 1936 Caras Road in Waterloo, or can be mailed for an additional $2.

Flags are available for purchase at the following businesses: KJ & Kompany at Crossroads Center; Covenant Gift Shop in Covenant Medical Center in Waterloo; Diamond's Body Shop on Lafayette Road in Evansdale; Hudson Printing in Hudson; Denver Savings Bank in Denver and Scraptopia ScrapBooking Store in Traer.

Iowa's Bravest volunteers also will have a booth at the annual Dunkerton Craft Show being held at the Dunkerton Community School, 509 S. Canfield Road, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Contact Pat Kinney at (319) 291-1484 or Pat.Kinney@wcfcourier.com