From left to right, Sgt. 1st Class Bill Hobgood, Chief Warrant Officer Jeffery Moore, and Sgt. 1st Class J.D. Sheffer, all of 1/10th Mountain Division, read cards sent from elementary school students. Staff Sgt. John Rozean
Posted on 12/01/2005 3:13:38 PM PST by SandRat
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq (Army News Service, Dec. 1, 2005) -- In an attempt to bring the holiday spirit to deployed Soldiers, students and teachers from a New Jersey school have been sending hundreds of homemade greeting cards to troops with the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division deployed to Baghdad.
“We wanted to do something for our American Soldiers who are stationed overseas,” said Dr. Nell Sanders, principal of the Allen W. Roberts School in New Providence, N.J.
The school encourages writing in every subject and thought it would be a great idea to combine writing with doing kind things for deployed troops, she said.
James Bullaro, a fifth-grade teacher at the school, had his students create cards weeks in advance, and then collected them all for shipment in time to reach the Soldiers overseas before the holidays.
Student ethos
This year, the school is focusing on the “Six Pillars of Character Education: Caring, Fairness, Respect, Trustworthiness, Responsibility and Citizenship.”
“Through modeling, we are teaching the students that part of being a good citizen means to do your share to make your school and community better,” Bullaro said. “One way to achieve that is to get involved with the community and world affairs. We decided it would be nice to send cards, letters and poems to the Soldiers to let them know that they are in our thoughts and that we appreciate everything they are doing.”
Bullaro contacted his brother-in-law, Maj. Erick Sweet, an aviation officer with 1/10th Mountain Div., and they organized the event together.
“James wanted to do something special for the troops that the kids would be proud of,” Sweet said. “He did all of the work. It was his brain-child and his initiative that put it all together. I just provided him with an address to send it to.”
The Allen W. Roberts School often does things throughout the year to support the community, but rarely does it receive a response like it got from the Soldiers.
Seeing where the money goes
“I have been updating my kids weekly about what is going on with the Soldiers,” said Sanders. “We do a lot of fund-raising for different causes like Hurricane Katrina and the tsunami, but the kids never get to see where the money really goes. They are really looking forward to finally seeing their efforts in the hands of the Soldiers and really making a difference in someone’s life.”
The reaction from the Soldiers has surprised not only the students, but the people who organized the event as well.
“The response from the Soldiers has been huge,” Sweet said. “(The students) are so genuine in their cards, and the artwork has been amazing – everything from flowers, to Army scenes, to turkeys – you name it.”
Several Soldiers have replied back to the children, including a personal reply from 1/10th Commander Col. Jeffrey J. Snow.
The students also drew comics, smiley faces, the American flag, and other holiday pictures with messages of encouragement.
Students making connection
“It was really touching to see the effort the kids put into their work,” Sweet said. “The messages and the artwork were all very awesome. It really makes you feel good about being here.”
The students feel as though Soldiers have really tough jobs due to the traveling and the wars that must be fought.
“I think writing to the Soldiers is important because it might cheer them up or make them feel close to home,” one child wrote. “I know if I were a Soldier in Iraq and just received a letter and a picture from children in the United States, I would feel so glad!”
The school has received such an overwhelming response to the project that it decided to continue efforts to support the troops in Iraq.
“We believe it is important for those of us who are not serving in the armed forces to let your troops know that we appreciate the sacrifices they are making for our government,” said Sanders. “We didn’t realize how big of a gift we had. It makes you realize that people must be really lonely sometimes, especially on the holidays. We don’t want to stop what we have started.”
The last project the students did for the Soldiers was 250 cards and the Christmas shipment will be even bigger as more people hear about it, Sanders promised.
“It is really amazing how something as simple as a card from a child can lift the spirits of a warrior,” Sweet said. “It makes you appreciate those whose freedom we fight to protect.”
(Editor’s note: Pfc. Jason Jordan serves with 1/10th Mountain Division PAO.)
Sweet.
I love stories like this!!
BTTT
“We wanted to do something for our American Soldiers who are stationed overseas,” said Dr. Nell Sanders, principal of the Allen W. Roberts School in New Providence, N.J.
Tears of joy, at Christmas. These students are gifts from above. BTTT
What a terrific article.
Thanks for the ping and the article.
For others:
Want to send your support to a Soldier in harm's way,
but have no idea of what to send, who to send it to, or how to send it?
Take some time reading around this site. Lots of soldiers there, desiring things. And not just for themselves; they share.
http://www.anysoldier.com
BUMP!
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