Posted on 05/23/2007 9:11:34 PM PDT by mdittmar
LEBANON — It is not unusual for Jane Leppert's third-grade class to "adopt" a soldier serving in Iraq. This year, Leppert's students at Donovan Elementary School have been corresponding with troops, and even helped one to rebuild a school.
Marines Maj. Derek Horst is the Fourth Civil Affairs Group team leader and responsible for repairing Iraqi schools. Horst's step-mother, Carol, is a retired Lebanon school teacher and friend of Leppert. When she asked Leppert and her class if they could help donate supplies to an Iraqui school, Leppert knew this would an opportunity to teach her students about patriotism and citizenship.
"We are helping a soldier do his job," Leppert told her class, which gladly donated pencils, paper, crayons and other school supplies. For every item a student brought in, they were rewarded with a star on the Patriotic Wall in their classroom, which Leppert said signifies everyone doing their part.
"I felt excited that we got to help the soldiers in Iraq because I like to help people," third-grader Bonnie Blackwell said. "I felt bad for those kids because they didn't have anything to do in school. They had one pencil and now they have dozens of pencils.
Classmate Andrew Alianiello said he donated pencils, paper, pens and a pencil sharpener because he wanted to help the soldiers and the kids.
"It felt good just to know that they got to learn and have school," Andrew said.
Horst visited Leppert's class to thank the students for their generosity and show them pictures of the supplies being used by Iraqi students. He is one of four soldiers to visit Leppert's class this year. All of their "pen pals" met the students after responding to their letters.
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