Posted on 04/30/2006 4:24:24 AM PDT by csvset
BY JULIE HAGY
A group huddles at a table in the cafe at Barnes and Noble, sipping lattes and dipping forks into huge slices of cheesecake. Suddenly, two young women break off into a conversation in Russian.
"The rule is English only," they are told by Katy Schwarzenberg, local childcare coordinator for Cultural Care Au Pair.
The last Wednesday of each month, Schwarzenberg and au pairs from Hampton, Newport News, Mathews, Yorktown, Williamsburg and Hayes meet at the Barnes and Noble in Newport News. They talk about their weeks, drink coffee, practice their English and write to female Marine recruits serving in the Papa Company, Platoon 4014, at Parris Island, S.C.
"We do it just to put a smile on their face and say thanks for doing this," said Schwarzenberg, opening packets of note cards. They bear depictions of Snoopy, dragonflies, bunnies and American flags. "It's no picnic, going through basic training.
"The letters the au pairs write are intended to motivate and tell the young women in the Marine Corps that we are proud they choose to serve and protect this country."
Schwarzenberg started the program last month. She takes the cards made at each meeting and sends them to Papa Company.
Schwarzenberg has a special place in her heart for Platoon 4014. Her former charge, Maureen, now 17, is a part of that unit. Schwarzenberg took care of Maureen when she was 8, and still remains close to the family. The cards made by the au pairs go to Maureen, who hands them out to platoon mates who don't receive a lot of mail.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailypress.com ...
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BTTT
I wish I could get them to write to someone in Oscar Co Platoon 4022!
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