Second Graders Get Visit from Marine Pen Pal

Justin Coca, a 25-year-old Marine, visited Morse School this week to thank the three second grade classes whose students became his many pen pals during his seven-month deployment in Afghanistan.

Coca, who is Recreation Director’s Robin Pell’s nephew and lives in New Jersey, is only back east for three weeks before returning to his base in California. But he felt it was important along the way to greet the students of Tanya Richardson, Tobi Fradkin, and Raphael Bencosme who made his journey overseas bearable. Coca is ranked as a corporal and serves as a specialty firefighter.

He told the eager second graders how great it was receiving these letters knowing there were many children and people who were supporting his efforts. He said he shared the many care packages he received from friends and family with his fellow Marines.

Coca had the kids sign an American flag he brought with him from Afghanistan, which Principal Thomas Holland plans to hang in the school. Also there’s plans to contact the government to request that stars from past flags be sent to each class, Pell said.

“He was extremely grateful for all the thank you’s he was given for serving his country,” Pell wrote. And for the kids and teachers, “it was an awesome patriotic day.”

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