November 26, 2009

DRYDEN -- A Dryden businessman is using state-of-the art technology to connect families with loved ones who can't be home for Thanksgiving.
     Brad Perkins owns Perkins Funeral Home.  He recently bought video equipment to record funerals for people who can't be there.
     Between now and Christmas, Perkins is offering the video service for free to people who have family members serving overseas.  Perkins comes from a military family, and still cherishes the letters his dad sent home during World War II>
     “To realize that those messages took 10 days to two months to arrive, now we can do something that's virtually live, that's right away.  We can record a message today, and it can be seen 40 seconds later in Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Perkins.
     This Thanksgiving, Erin Carey recorded a message to her husband, who's serving in the Army in Afghanistan.
     “We were using Skype in the beginning, but the internet over there is so slow because they've moved so many troops.  We don't get to see each other's face at all. And having been four months since I've seen him at all, or he's seen me, it's kind of a nice idea,” said Carey.
     If you'd like to arrange a video session, call the Perkins Funeral Home at (607) 844-8161.