Soldiers Send WFHA Students Greetings From Iraq

What began as an annual Veteran's Day tradition at WFHA turned into a meaningful connection betwundefinedeen the school's seventh grade and a group of soldiers based in Iraq.

Each year, as a way to honor veterans and members of the U.S. military, WFHA's student body mails care packages filled with heartfelt cards and homemade cookies to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. One of those packages, from the middle school, made its way to a Navy officer in Iraq. Several weeks later, to the students' surprise, a response arrived in the mail.

"We just received your wonderful care package over here in Iraq!" wrote Navy Lieutenant Charles Elliott. "I can tell you it couldn't have arrived at a better time. Life over here can get you down at times and just when we were all at a particularly low point the package arrived and lifted all of our spirits! The notes from all of the students are just superb! We have put them up all over the office on all of the walls in every room. Each time anyone reads them it brings a smile to their face."

Elliott wrote about life in Iraq - the long days, the muddy conditions, and being separated from family and friends. He responded to some of the cards written by the seventh grades and also promised to fly an American Flag in honor of WFHA and send it to the school.

"We were very surprised to get the letter," said seventh grader Adina Heisler. "He is very busy, but he took the time to write and send some pictures of Iraq."

Laura Inman, WFHA's middle school English teacher, who coordinated her students' letter writing to the soldiers, emailed Elliott and included a short note from each of the seventh graders.

Elliott wrote back again, this time addressing each student and their questions individually.

"The students were thrilled," Inman said. "It is a personal connection to what is happening in Iraq. This makes it much more concrete for them."

The flag that Elliott promised arrived a few weeks later and stands proudly in Inman's classroom.

As a thank you for the flag, Inman and the seventh grade again wrote handmade cards, as well as collected four boxes of home baked goods from the entire middle school. Two boxes were sent to Elliott's base in Iraq and two were sent to a different unit is Afghanistan.

"The students learned that a small gesture, such as a card and cookies, can really mean a lot. And they are learning important lessons about patriotism," Inman said.

Seventh grader Michael Liesman said he is glad that they he and his classmates were able to do something nice for the soldiers.

"We wanted to let them know that they are a big part of America and we are thinking about them and are proud of them," Michael said.