thedrifter
12-03-06, 08:20 AM
Last modified on 12/3/2006 at 12:57 am
A gift for the troops - and big bro
By BECKY SHAY
Of The Gazette Staff
Fifth-grader Cameron Gibbs acknowledges that having his big brother living halfway around the world is tough.
"It's kind of hard not having a big brother to beat up on me every day," the 11-year-old said. "It's fun when he comes home. We wrestle."
It makes it even rougher that his brother, Calvin, 21, is serving in the Army in Afghanistan.
"It's kind of scary," Cameron said. "I pray for him every day."
To help both brothers through the holiday season, Cameron and the students at McKinley Elementary have made more than 300 Christmas cards and amassed goodies to send to Calvin and his platoon from the Army's 10th Mountain Division.
Cameron said his brother looks forward to playing Santa Claus and handing out snacks, candy and the cards to other soldiers.
"They don't get much, and the soldiers will really appreciate it," Cameron said.
On Friday, Cameron looked over the pile of items in McKinley counselor Carolyn Yeagan's office and sighed.
"It's lots of stuff," he said in a quiet voice, then perked up and added, "I'm impressed."
Calvin might not have received much - besides items from family - without this infusion of items from the school, Cameron said.
"Now this can even do something for his platoon," Cameron said. "He's going to really enjoy getting his buddies stuff."
Cameron and a few of his friends helped Yeagan package the gifts for shipping. Among the items were dozens of red envelopes with handmade Christmas cards from the kids. On the envelope holding his card, Cameron wrote:
To: Calvin Gibbs
From: Little Bro
He drew smiley faces after each line.
Yeagan said the project has been a good way for Cameron and other kids to have a hands-on opportunity to help and thank the troops.
"Kids tell me it feels good to say thank you," she said.
This is Yeagan's first year at McKinley. Cameron's first words to her were: "Do you support the troops?" After introducing herself, Yeagan told Cameron that she's had family in the service, too.
"So I passed the test," she said.
Cameron is obviously proud of his brother. He described Calvin as 6-foot-4 and muscular. Calvin is also nice, Cameron said, and last time he was home he got married so Cameron has a sister-in-law, Chelsey.
Like Cameron, Calvin also attended McKinley. Their parents, Diane and Roy Gibbs, also have four daughters.
In Afghanistan, Calvin is a machine gunner and a colonel's bodyguard, Cameron said.
"He's a specialist, but pretty soon he'll be a sergeant," Cameron said with pride.
Diane Gibbs said she was on the phone with Calvin recently and told him to expect some boxes from McKinley.
"He had sounded so down, and when I mentioned this to him you could just tell it lifted his spirits," she said.
Calvin served a year in Iraq, Gibbs said, and deployed to Afghanistan in early 2006.
"So much is mentioned about Iraq that you forget about the soldiers, these boys that are over in Afghanistan and fighting the same battles," she said.
Cameron said he tries to keep pace with some of the events of the war, including listening to the news when his dad watches each night.
Cameron thinks he may join the Marines when he's old enough.
"I want to become an officer so I can go to college," he said.
Cameron is a Young Marine and graduated from basic training last December.
"I feel that it's given me more respect for myself and for other people," he said. "It's done a lot for me. It's made me want to do better in school. I've always done really good, though."
Contact Becky Shay at bshay@billingsgazette.com or 657-1231.
Cameron thinks he may join the Marines when he's old enough.
A future Marine ;)
Ellie
A gift for the troops - and big bro
By BECKY SHAY
Of The Gazette Staff
Fifth-grader Cameron Gibbs acknowledges that having his big brother living halfway around the world is tough.
"It's kind of hard not having a big brother to beat up on me every day," the 11-year-old said. "It's fun when he comes home. We wrestle."
It makes it even rougher that his brother, Calvin, 21, is serving in the Army in Afghanistan.
"It's kind of scary," Cameron said. "I pray for him every day."
To help both brothers through the holiday season, Cameron and the students at McKinley Elementary have made more than 300 Christmas cards and amassed goodies to send to Calvin and his platoon from the Army's 10th Mountain Division.
Cameron said his brother looks forward to playing Santa Claus and handing out snacks, candy and the cards to other soldiers.
"They don't get much, and the soldiers will really appreciate it," Cameron said.
On Friday, Cameron looked over the pile of items in McKinley counselor Carolyn Yeagan's office and sighed.
"It's lots of stuff," he said in a quiet voice, then perked up and added, "I'm impressed."
Calvin might not have received much - besides items from family - without this infusion of items from the school, Cameron said.
"Now this can even do something for his platoon," Cameron said. "He's going to really enjoy getting his buddies stuff."
Cameron and a few of his friends helped Yeagan package the gifts for shipping. Among the items were dozens of red envelopes with handmade Christmas cards from the kids. On the envelope holding his card, Cameron wrote:
To: Calvin Gibbs
From: Little Bro
He drew smiley faces after each line.
Yeagan said the project has been a good way for Cameron and other kids to have a hands-on opportunity to help and thank the troops.
"Kids tell me it feels good to say thank you," she said.
This is Yeagan's first year at McKinley. Cameron's first words to her were: "Do you support the troops?" After introducing herself, Yeagan told Cameron that she's had family in the service, too.
"So I passed the test," she said.
Cameron is obviously proud of his brother. He described Calvin as 6-foot-4 and muscular. Calvin is also nice, Cameron said, and last time he was home he got married so Cameron has a sister-in-law, Chelsey.
Like Cameron, Calvin also attended McKinley. Their parents, Diane and Roy Gibbs, also have four daughters.
In Afghanistan, Calvin is a machine gunner and a colonel's bodyguard, Cameron said.
"He's a specialist, but pretty soon he'll be a sergeant," Cameron said with pride.
Diane Gibbs said she was on the phone with Calvin recently and told him to expect some boxes from McKinley.
"He had sounded so down, and when I mentioned this to him you could just tell it lifted his spirits," she said.
Calvin served a year in Iraq, Gibbs said, and deployed to Afghanistan in early 2006.
"So much is mentioned about Iraq that you forget about the soldiers, these boys that are over in Afghanistan and fighting the same battles," she said.
Cameron said he tries to keep pace with some of the events of the war, including listening to the news when his dad watches each night.
Cameron thinks he may join the Marines when he's old enough.
"I want to become an officer so I can go to college," he said.
Cameron is a Young Marine and graduated from basic training last December.
"I feel that it's given me more respect for myself and for other people," he said. "It's done a lot for me. It's made me want to do better in school. I've always done really good, though."
Contact Becky Shay at bshay@billingsgazette.com or 657-1231.
Cameron thinks he may join the Marines when he's old enough.
A future Marine ;)
Ellie