Posted on 04/14/2006 4:35:08 AM PDT by hiramknight
MILFORD -- The most patriotic class in the most patriotic school in the state got a visit from an American hero yesterday.
Mark Kelley, a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force, paid a visit to Catherine Bertorelli’s second-grade class yesterday, to talk about his latest 3 1/2-month tour of duty.
Attached to the 212th Engineering Installation Squadron, the 43-year-old Medway resident was stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, Kuwait, Germany and Ireland, overseeing the construction of communication towers.
Last fall, Bertorelli’s class wrote thousands of letters to soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen as part of the national Troop Fan Mail campaign, to help those in the armed services feel remembered by people back home.
The school was recognized by Friend of Our Troops, of Fayetteville, N.C., for sending the most letters of any elementary school in the state, and the fourth-most of any grade school in the country.
Kathryn Brown wrote 214 letters of her own, and though they weren’t all addressed to her Uncle Mark, Kelley decided to pay a visit to her class anyway.
Showing them a musical slide show of pictures he took while stationed abroad, Kelley told the group of youngsters what it is like living, working, and even eating in the military.
"I had chicken just about every day," he said. "After about three months, you won’t like chicken anymore."
Because he had an office, Kelley said he was lucky to get letters and packages from his loved ones. But he said many troops go without letters from home, making it a lonely time overseas.
After his visit in Milford, Kelley said he’d next be visiting his daughter, Molly, 9, at her school in Medway.
"It’s kind of a two-for-one day," he said.
Jo-Ann Morgan, the Memorial Elementary School teacher who began the letter-writing campaign 17 years ago, said the visit will help reinforce patriotism in the children.
"They’re little, but they’re connected," she said. "Even though they’re 7 and 8 years old, they get that we need to support the military."
Well, luckily you guys don't drink from the Blackstone water supply that was recently tainted! Plus, you have rep. Marie J. Parente, who despite being a democrat is working to crack down on illegals.
What a great story! Thanks!
Ironically enough, Marie Parente lives in Milford. I swear it's the water.
Yea for your town, that was splendid.
Good stories coming out of public schools is rare these days.
It's good to see one.
That should be 'are rare'.
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