Local Students Create Bond With Soldier in Afghanistan

Local students are making one soldier serving overseas the most popular person in her unit. Classes at St. Hilary School are sending cards and care packages to a service member currently residing in a tent in Afghanistan. 

Fifth and sixth grade teacher Emily Sexton started the program to forge a more personal connection for her students. They used to make cards for soldiers overseas or for nursing homes and didn't receive consistent replies.

The school adopted a service member through Soldiers’ Angels, which asks volunteers to send one letter a week and one package a month.

But St. Hilary students are far exceeding that. Two grade levels rotate each month sending anything from toiletries to snacks and recent magazines. The classes have collected so many donations, items are stacked in Sexton’s room. 

“She has more shampoo than she’ll ever need,” Sexton said. “She said there’s a couple people in the area that know to come to her tent to get the good snacks.”

And the soldier, whose name can’t be released, is writing back. 

“After the first group of letters, she responded to each kid,” Sexton said. “They think it’s kind of fun.”

Students ask the soldier questions about her hobbies and hope to receive a photo before she is scheduled to return to the U.S. in June. 

The school started the program in January and so far, eight classes have sent packages. Sexton said the students will adopt another soldier next school year, hopefully when their service buddy comes home safely in the summer.

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