Medford School Kids Support the Troops

MEDFORD, MA - On Thursday afternoons at the McGlynn Elementary School, over fourth and fifth graders actively participated in the popular Troops Club, a release said. In its second year, the Support the Troops Club, which met after school, provided students with multiple opportunities to learn about America’s military service branches and the dedication of our brave men and women who have devoted their time serving our country, a release said. The club is supervised by teachers Donna Laskey and Karen Devine, and was generously funded by a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, a release said.

Students rallied from the moment the club began, eagerly choosing service branches to research, joining writing campaigns, designing a product, and organizing different activities, a release said. They kept track of their work with checklists and folders, while many multi-tasked and served on several committees at once, a release said. Students quickly endeared themselves to a local Navy Corpsman, Samuel Brown, a Medford native, serving overseas on the U.S.S. Harry S. Truman, a release said. The students designed cards and wrote letters to Sam as they kept track of where he was serving, awards he received, and things that were important to him, a release said. They were captivated when Sam responded to the students, answering specific questions and referencing individual students in his responses, a release said. Spontaneously, the students rallied and a brand new “Video” committee was formed, a release said. Several students worked diligently to write new lyrics to a popular song, while others choreographed a dance routine, a release said. Mrs. D’Anna, a teacher at the McGlynn, provided valuable assistance to the students, a release said. The video, “Sam’s House”, was the amazing product of this active group, and included a surprise appearance by Sam’s mother, Sharen Brown, a Medford resident, a release said. This video message to Sam included special greetings from the Troops Clubmembers, a release said.

Additional project what that the club members accomplished included: cutting, arranging, and fastening together cards featuring The Pledge of Allegiance, which were mailed to a local Veterans’ Home, a release said. Students also wrote sincere greetings on cards and letters to soldiers, thanking them for their service, a release said. A highlight of the Club was when their own, General Jason, led his troops through the vigorous routines of our personalized Troops Club “Boot Camp” as it was researched and organized by one of the committee groups, a release said.
The culminating activity of the Troops Club, and truly its highlight, was a special, extended meeting held in the McGlynn School Library, a release said. The children sat and talked with eight local veterans from the varied branches of the military, a release said. The room was decorated with military flags, patriotic colors, and amazing military flag insignia posters, which talented Troops Club students had hand drawn, a release said. The children asked prepared questions while veterans provided first-hand accounts of their personal sacrifices and experiences while serving their country, a release said. Many veterans brought their medals, artifacts, and photographs to share with the children, a release said. It was a meaningful event where new bonds were formed and appreciation was plentiful, a release said. Together, the Troops members and their special guests enjoyed ample refreshments and desserts as the Veterans spoke about leaving home and serving in the armed forces, a release said. For many of the students, this was their second year with the Troops Club, a release said. Veterans and students together agreed that this activity is one that is worth repeating over and over again, a release said.