Toy drive honors slain Indiana soldier's wish

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By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Aug 18, 2008 at 10:25 AM EDT

Story Updated: Aug 18, 2008 at 10:25 AM EDT

MADISON, Ind. (AP) — Friends of an Indiana soldier killed in Iraq this month are helping fulfill his wish of bringing toys to impoverished children in Iraq.

While serving in Iraq, 22-year-old Spc. Jonathan Menke (MEN'-kee) asked his family send him Beanie Babies and Matchbox cars so he could hand them out to Iraqi children as gifts.

The Indiana National Guard soldier from Madison died Aug. 4 in a roadside bombing near Baghdad.

Over the weekend volunteers collected toys at the front gates of the Ribberfest festival in downtown Madison to send to Iraq.

Barbara Walburn, who works with Menke's sister, came up with the idea of collecting the toys. She says she was impressed by his wishes and wants to continue that in his memory.

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Information from: The Madison Courier, http://www.madisoncourier.com

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