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Good Job: How SGT Donaho's Sister Got Restrepo To Redding

Yesterday, I wrote about Dallas Wright getting Restrepo to Little Rock, Arkansas. Dallas was able to capitalize on the good stroke of luck that Restrepo won Best Documentary at the Little Rock Film Festival, run by the Renaud Brothers. This little Film Festival packs a punch, and each year as it grow bigger it attracts more and more films that are critically received.Here's a photo of SGT Misha Pemble Belkin and COL Bill Ostlund receiving the award for Tim & Sebastian. Word has it that Misha didn't want to let go of it!

But there are others who have done the same thing. One of them is SGT Tad Donaho Jr's sister Tonja, who wanted Restrepo shown in their hometown of Redding CA. The closest they could find it was Sacramento, which is pretty far away. So Tonja gave the address to the Restrepo Facebook Movie page, then started a petition to show it in their city. She also contacted the local media. Click here to see an interview with her on KRCR-TV in Redding.

She was persistent. Then it hit the Redding.com site:

"SGT Donoho’s sister, Tonja Donoho of Redding, has been fighting to get this film to Redding. She has petitioned, contacted the local theater,
been interviewed by KRCR News Channel 7 and been in contact with
National Geographic Entertainment (owner of the rights to the film).

Then bingo, she hit the mark:

"After months of footwork her goal was finally reached when footage of her interview with KRCR was sent to the corporate office of Cinemark
Theaters. The film has been booked at Movies 10 on Old Alturas Road to
open Friday, August 20th."

Let's hope they're able to pack it in. Dallas visited radio stations, papers, recruiting stations, armories, the gamut of places. I'm sure the entire Donaho family is doing the same.

Tags: restrepo

Comment by Diana Toci on August 20, 2010 at 10:48pm: Thank you sister, my husband and I just drove up from Paradise-two hours-to see the documentary that my good friend, Barb Thompson told me about. Sebastian and Tim, if you read this--thank you. You were heroic to participate in telling and filming this story. Although our son was up at Vegas in 1st Platoon, the story exceptionally and poignantly told the story through the soldiers eyes and words and agony. I love everyone of them as though they are my sons and I hope that a good portion of America will see this documentary to know and understand the truth of the experience in the Korengal Valley. Thank you Sgt. Donaho's sister for getting the movie close enough for us to experience and know more about the truth of what they all endured.
Diana Toci

Comment by Tonja Donoho on August 26, 2010 at 10:18am: Thank you so much! I am extremely flattered. I am just very happy that people are going to see this film, that they are getting to experience it. That was my goal. Now that I have achieved that, my next project is to get this film to all the hometowns of the rest of the 14 soldiers involved. If anyone has any way of getting that information, please let me know! My brother, Sgt. Tad Donoho is helping me with this, but we've come to a road block; we need more names (including rank), hometown, and whether or not they are active duty. Thank you again so much!

Comment by Diana Toci on August 28, 2010 at 12:10pm: Barb Thompson saw it in Seattle, WA. I wonder if you could get it to Concord or Walnut Creek, CA so that Joshua Brennnan's grandparents can see it. I have a feeling Janice ( Josh's Mom) might have seen it but she lives in Ontario, Oregon. I don't know personally any of the other parents except I think Eckrode's parents moved from Oregon to Texas. Good luck with your mission. I thanked God for your brother's Jesus dance because I was crying so hard I was rocking in my chair until my tears turned to laughter. It always amazes me how in the worst crisis humor keeps appearing. Thanks again.
Diana

Good Job: How SGT Donaho's Sister Got Restrepo To Redding

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