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thedrifter
12-18-06, 08:06 AM
Package represents a milestone in military support

By Penny Williams , Staff writer
Eagle-Tribune

HAMPSTEAD - Package number 400 has left the East Hampstead Post Office headed for Christmas in Qatar.

The first packages sent overseas to deployed servicemen and women by Kathe Cussen left Hampstead in the final months of 2005. Shocked into action by Sept. 11, the Hampstead Middle School seventh-grade teacher and a group of her students began writing cards, letters and e-mails to servicemen and women deployed overseas. It was a modest beginning.

Cussen and the students adopted Plaistow Navy helicopter pilot Lt. Eric Sifferlen. Since then, more than 70 other men and women in the Navy, Marines, Army and Air Force have been added to their adoptee list. Cussen and the students formed a Military Support Club.

For Christmas, they rounded up 1,254 letters and cards to be added to the Christmas boxes Cussen plans for overseas shipment. The cards and letters came from friends, family, other schools - including Pinkerton Academy - as well as kindergarten, preschools, youth groups, religion classes, Girl Scouts and teachers.

Dec. 9 arrived and Cussen, accompanied by her husband John, went to the East Hampstead Post Office, laden with boxes ready to be mailed. This group of boxes included box number 400, a milestone.

Cussen has sent far more than 400 boxes. But, she only counts those that go overseas. However, she routinely ships boxes to lots of the club's friends who are now stationed stateside and even to some of the deployed friend's families in the United States.

Ellie