thedrifter
11-09-06, 07:54 PM
Thursday, November 9, 2006
Marines visit Ladera Ranch Middle School
After supporting Battalion in Iraq for seventh months, the Marines make long awaited visit.
BY JORGE MEDINA
The Orange County Register
LADERA RANCH — They walked in to Ladera Ranch Middle School as 15 members of the Marines 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, known as Darkhorse 3/5.
They left heroes.
On Tuesday, students let out a loud roar of excitement as the Marines, who just arrived after their second seventh month stay in Iraq, finally made their way into the lunch area.
But what followed completely surprised them; they were mobbed with autograph requests like they were the next American Idol.
"It makes you feel like a superstar," said Lance Corporal Chris Wodt, after being surrounded by about 100 sixth graders with pens in paper. "This is more appreciation then we are used to. It brings a smile to your face."
In December of 2005, both Ladera Ranch Middle School and Elementary School put together a fundraiser and students raised money to purchase and give each and every deploying Marine of Darkhorse 3/5 a $5 gift card to a fast food restaurant.
Middle school employee Karen Morey said they had no food in their rooms that weekend before the deployment and a food card was the perfect gift. The students also took fresh baked cookies to their base the Friday in January before they deployed and sent hundreds of letters to them while in Iraq.
While doing service in Iraq, members of Darkhorse 3/5 spent a lot of time with Iraqi children at their schools, and said that coming to the middle school today was kind of a culture shock, two different worlds.
"In Iraq we would hand out pencils, and the children were so happy just to have supplies, and books. The little girls were excited about just finally being able to go to school," Wodt said. "Coming here today, and seeing the kids with their apple computers, and Razor phones allowed us to see how lucky we are to live in this country."
Morey said the greatest part of the visit was that the students view of what Veterans Day is, will forever change.
"The students used to think that Veterans Day was just another day off of school, or that the holiday was for old people," Morey said. "Now they get to meet them up close and really get to see what they do for our country, and they can see they are young also."
CONTACT US: jmedina@ocregister.com or 949-454-7343
Ellie
Marines visit Ladera Ranch Middle School
After supporting Battalion in Iraq for seventh months, the Marines make long awaited visit.
BY JORGE MEDINA
The Orange County Register
LADERA RANCH — They walked in to Ladera Ranch Middle School as 15 members of the Marines 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, known as Darkhorse 3/5.
They left heroes.
On Tuesday, students let out a loud roar of excitement as the Marines, who just arrived after their second seventh month stay in Iraq, finally made their way into the lunch area.
But what followed completely surprised them; they were mobbed with autograph requests like they were the next American Idol.
"It makes you feel like a superstar," said Lance Corporal Chris Wodt, after being surrounded by about 100 sixth graders with pens in paper. "This is more appreciation then we are used to. It brings a smile to your face."
In December of 2005, both Ladera Ranch Middle School and Elementary School put together a fundraiser and students raised money to purchase and give each and every deploying Marine of Darkhorse 3/5 a $5 gift card to a fast food restaurant.
Middle school employee Karen Morey said they had no food in their rooms that weekend before the deployment and a food card was the perfect gift. The students also took fresh baked cookies to their base the Friday in January before they deployed and sent hundreds of letters to them while in Iraq.
While doing service in Iraq, members of Darkhorse 3/5 spent a lot of time with Iraqi children at their schools, and said that coming to the middle school today was kind of a culture shock, two different worlds.
"In Iraq we would hand out pencils, and the children were so happy just to have supplies, and books. The little girls were excited about just finally being able to go to school," Wodt said. "Coming here today, and seeing the kids with their apple computers, and Razor phones allowed us to see how lucky we are to live in this country."
Morey said the greatest part of the visit was that the students view of what Veterans Day is, will forever change.
"The students used to think that Veterans Day was just another day off of school, or that the holiday was for old people," Morey said. "Now they get to meet them up close and really get to see what they do for our country, and they can see they are young also."
CONTACT US: jmedina@ocregister.com or 949-454-7343
Ellie