thedrifter
11-20-06, 07:51 AM
Temecula Middle School donates to Marines
By: CRAIG SHULTZ - Staff Writer
TEMECULA ---- When a battalion of Marines is tossing around a football in Ramadi, Iraq, next spring, they could be thinking of Temecula Middle School.
That's because more than a dozen footballs were among the items in 145 boxes filled with donations from students at the school.
Twenty members from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton visited the school Wednesday to pick up the donations. The Marines also presented the colors and later let the students tour the 7-ton truck they brought to tote the items back to their base.
Among the items were sporting goods, games, books, snacks, socks and toiletries. There are also about 500 letters children wrote to the Marines.
The battalion will take the items with them when they return for their third tour in Iraq in March.
The project was the brainchild of teacher Linda Burrows, who said a similar drive in 2003 netted 1,800 items in 1,300 boxes.
It wasn't difficult to find a battalion to donate to, as the battalion commander, Craig Kozeniesky, lives near the school and his son is a sixth-grader there.
"It's refreshing for them to see people show support and appreciation for the sacrifice they're making," Maj. Dan Healey, the battalion's executive officer, said as Temecula Middle School students and Marines worked together to load the donated boxes onto a truck. "It's a great feeling these Marines get when they come out here and feel appreciated."
Earlier, Temecula students dressed in red and blue lined up in the form of a heart surrounding the boxes, which spelled out U.S.A., and ---- thanks to a class competition ---- two teachers had a pie fight.
Later, Healey told the students about serving in Iraq.
The grandfather of seventh-grader Jacquelyn Rothschild donated the NFL footballs.
She said playing football will help the troops pass the time in Iraq
"There's nothing else to do there. They have to have a little bit of fun," Jacqueline said.
Jacqueline, 12, and her family visited hotels in the community, which donated shampoo, soap, tissue, toilet paper and stationery. The family also secured a donation of 280 tubes of lip balm.
She enjoyed Wednesday's visit.
"Just seeing everybody learn how hard it is for Marines to be in Iraq gives a good feeling inside," Jacqueline said.
Healey said the battalion was in Japan when it learned it would be returning to Ramadi and that 170 members whose commitment to the Marines was ending re-enlisted.
"They extended their contract for the sole purpose of going back to Ramadi," he said. "That speaks volumes for the sense of purpose they feel about what they're doing."
Ellie
By: CRAIG SHULTZ - Staff Writer
TEMECULA ---- When a battalion of Marines is tossing around a football in Ramadi, Iraq, next spring, they could be thinking of Temecula Middle School.
That's because more than a dozen footballs were among the items in 145 boxes filled with donations from students at the school.
Twenty members from the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment at Camp Pendleton visited the school Wednesday to pick up the donations. The Marines also presented the colors and later let the students tour the 7-ton truck they brought to tote the items back to their base.
Among the items were sporting goods, games, books, snacks, socks and toiletries. There are also about 500 letters children wrote to the Marines.
The battalion will take the items with them when they return for their third tour in Iraq in March.
The project was the brainchild of teacher Linda Burrows, who said a similar drive in 2003 netted 1,800 items in 1,300 boxes.
It wasn't difficult to find a battalion to donate to, as the battalion commander, Craig Kozeniesky, lives near the school and his son is a sixth-grader there.
"It's refreshing for them to see people show support and appreciation for the sacrifice they're making," Maj. Dan Healey, the battalion's executive officer, said as Temecula Middle School students and Marines worked together to load the donated boxes onto a truck. "It's a great feeling these Marines get when they come out here and feel appreciated."
Earlier, Temecula students dressed in red and blue lined up in the form of a heart surrounding the boxes, which spelled out U.S.A., and ---- thanks to a class competition ---- two teachers had a pie fight.
Later, Healey told the students about serving in Iraq.
The grandfather of seventh-grader Jacquelyn Rothschild donated the NFL footballs.
She said playing football will help the troops pass the time in Iraq
"There's nothing else to do there. They have to have a little bit of fun," Jacqueline said.
Jacqueline, 12, and her family visited hotels in the community, which donated shampoo, soap, tissue, toilet paper and stationery. The family also secured a donation of 280 tubes of lip balm.
She enjoyed Wednesday's visit.
"Just seeing everybody learn how hard it is for Marines to be in Iraq gives a good feeling inside," Jacqueline said.
Healey said the battalion was in Japan when it learned it would be returning to Ramadi and that 170 members whose commitment to the Marines was ending re-enlisted.
"They extended their contract for the sole purpose of going back to Ramadi," he said. "That speaks volumes for the sense of purpose they feel about what they're doing."
Ellie