Troops thank Williams Elementary students

A Williams elementary class received a special ‘thank you’ recently from American soldiers currently fighting in Iraq.

Third Graders in Barbara Mayberry’s class at Williams Elementary School began this school year by enrolling in the “My Soldier” program in collaboration with Manhattanville College.

Mayberry’s students adopted Sergeant Eric S. Hille, part of a southern California Army National Guard Unit. This infantry unit provides security for all the supply convoys that go into Iraq. Students sent letters to Sgt. Hille in August, and they all received letters back from him. That’s when they came up with the idea to send a CARE package to Sgt. Hille and the rest of his Unit.

Students began bringing items from home to put into the CARE package, and soon other students and teachers from the elementary school were contributing as well. Two huge boxes weighing over 100 lbs. were mailed to Iraq the end of November in order to reach Sgt. Hille by Christmas. Postage was donated by school employees, the Williams Elementary Student Body Fund and Gamma Alpha Master Chapter Beta Sigma Phi. The CARE packages contained just about everything from soup to books, socks to puzzles, toothbrushes and toothpaste to mustard and ketchup, and a Williams Elementary School sweatshirt.

Last month, Miss Mayberry’s class was elated when they received a package from Sgt. Hille and his Unit, “ to show our thanks and appreciation for what you have done to make our lives over here a little easier, everyone whose life you have touched over here by sending the care packages.”

Returned in the package was the school sweatshirt, which had been signed by everyone in the unit. Attached were the Iraq Campaign Medal and Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Ribbon, and the Combat Action Badge. Also included in the package were an Operation Iraqi Freedom Patch, an Armored Security Vehicle Patch, and Sgt. Hille’s Unit Patch. Each student also received an American Flag Patch.

Finally, to show their appreciation to the students and school for their support, Sgt. Hille sent an American Flag to fly above the school. The flag, which was carried on a mission in January 2008, was dedicated to a member of the Unit killed in action by a roadside bomb.

My Soldier assignments are aimed to help students develop empathy for soldiers and letter-writing skills while corresponding with deployed soldiers. Educators have reported that using My Soldier in the classroom has created connections and teachable moments that could not have been learned from a book.

Miss Mayberry agrees, “The students are thrilled with their gifts and were anxious to write back to SGT Hille, who is scheduled to return home to Atwater, CA in May and is looking forward to seeing his baby son, born in November.”