15 minutes with ... an Operation Vacation soldier

<I>GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. — Operation Vacation is a program that brings to the Roaring Fork Valley military personnel who have fought overseas. Bob Johnson, a Realtor for Vicki Lee Green Realtors, in Glenwood Springs, coordinated with the Army to create the program that hosts soldiers in Glenwood every month. Local businesses have donated dinners, entertainment, outdoor activities, lodging and transportation for Operation Vacation participants.

This year, the program expands to Winter Park in Grand County and Dallas, Texas. For more information about the program, or to make donations, visit www.operationvacation.org.
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Sgt. Travis Sutherland

Sergeant Travis Sutherland and his family are in Glenwood Springs for the Strawberry Days weekend. They will appear on the Operation Vacation float with other military members in the annual Strawberry Days Parade, which starts at 10 a.m. down Grand Avenue.

<B>Age:</B> 28

<B>Place of birth:</B> Caribou, Maine



<B>Branch of the military and division:</B> Army, 148th Military Police K9 unit



<B>Family:</B> wife, Sarah, and 2-year-old son, Noah



<B>When and why did you join the Army?</B> Sept. 17, 1998, out of high school; I was from a small town and I wanted to see the world.



<B>Where have you been deployed?</B> Baghdad, Iraq, twice; Kuwait; and Washington D.C. (at the Pentagon) after Sept. 11.

<B>What experience in your travels overseas most surprised you?</B> Probably the cultures and how different other societies are compared to America, where it's fast food and go, go, go. Iraq is different - slower paced and before you conduct business with someone you have to sit down with them and become friends.



<B>First thing you'd buy after winning the lottery?</B> I just bought a house so that covers that one. I have the house, car, wife, kid, so I'm happy.



<B>What do you like to do in your free time?</B> I play guitar, ride motorcycles and play with Noah.



As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? I always wanted to be in the Army. I also always wanted to be a police officer, so I joined the Army to become one.



Best piece of advice you've ever received: Duck.

<B>Any tattoos?</B> Five.



<B>If you could invite anyone in history to dinner, who would they be, what would you serve and what would you talk about?</B> George Bush and Saddam Hussein. I would serve pizza and beer, and we would talk about politics.



<B>What's the greatest invention of all time?</B> The microwave.

<B>What are you looking forward to doing while in Glenwood Springs?</B> I'm looking forward to the airplane ride (over Mt. Sopris). Sarah's looking forward to whitewater rafting and Noah wants to go to the Hot Springs Pool.


Movie: "Super Troopers"

Favorites

<B>Video game: </B> Halo 2

<B>Breakfast cereal:</B> Lucky Charms

<B>Band:</B> Metallica

<B>Athlete:</B> Tom Brady

<B>Food:</B> Pizza

<B>Web site:</B> Yahoo

<B>Place in the United States:</B> Home

<B>Sport:</B> Football

<B>Military memory:</B> Sitting on the roof of an IP station in Baghdad drinking sodas

<B>Way to eat strawberries:</B> Straight up, with sugar