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Students send ornaments, cards to soldiers serving in Iraq
The students filled bags and boxes with dozens of brightly colored paper and clay creations to send to Army Sgt. Tim Mieszkowski, 25, and the members of his platoon for their Christmas tree.
One class made an oversized Christmas card with the words "To all those helping us to stay safe and free, we love you."
Anna Mieszkowski, Tim's mother, provided the students with the opportunity to reach out to the soldiers.
Mieszkowski said the project is helping her deal with her son being in harm's way.
"I had talked to people in a support group and it was suggested that we should each send Christmas ornaments," Anna Mieszkowski said.
She took the suggestion a step further.
"I was driving past the school and thought, why not," she said. "So I asked Miss Swartzlander, a teacher who had Tim and my other children in her second grade class, if she would be interested in doing ornaments to send to Tim and his platoon and she liked the idea."
Patty Swartzlander said her class and three other classes jumped at the chance.
"Oh yes, let's do that, they were excited, Swartzlander said of her students. "They understood it was about patriotism and that someone was fighting in a war."
Mieszkowski thanked the students yesterday.
"My son Tim will really appreciate this," she said.
Third grader Lucian Houllion told Mieszkowski that on his card he thanked her son for serving the country.
"I can't imagine having a child over there and wanting this to go on," Mieszkowski said. "I want him home. I want them all home safe."
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