thedrifter
03-10-07, 04:46 PM
Article published Mar 10, 2007
Cherry Valley students get help dedicating the flag
Soldiers show school gratitude by sending a patriotic present
By JENNIFER NESBITT
Advocate Reporter
NEWARK -- Cherry Valley Elementary School gym teacher Kay Parrott's daughter has been in Iraq for the past eight months.
Before Christmas, Parrott encouraged her students to write to her daughter, Marine Corps Capt. Lisa Parrott, and her daughter's unit. In those cards, Parrott said students told the Marines how proud they were of them and called them heroes.
"It feels wonderful that they realize there are people out there supporting their country and doing things to keep them safe," Parrott said.
Parrott said Lisa Parrott, 29, a Newark High School graduate, was so moved by the cards that she sent the students a letter of thanks, along with a flag that flew over Camp Korean Village, where her unit is based near Ar Rutbah, Iraq.
"She said, 'I'm sending the kids a present,'" Kay Parrott said. "I thought, 'This is really cool. We're getting a flag from Iraq that we can dedicate to the school.'"
Cherry Valley conducted a dedication ceremony for that flag Friday, during which students learned more about the flag and service in Iraq from U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John Wysocki and Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. David Schreffler.
The students also sang patriotic songs, and after Wysocki and Schreffler raised the flag, the students said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem.
Parrott took pictures and recorded the ceremony to send to her daughter's unit, which is scheduled to come home in May, a deadline that already has been extended.
Friday's ceremony also meant a lot to Nancy Hoar, a kindergarten intervention specialist at Cherry Valley. Her son is on his way home from Iraq, where he has been stationed since Christmas.
For Hoar's son, Ohio Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Hoar, it was his second trip to Iraq, and he will be home only until he gets another assignment.
"It's very comforting; it's very nice," when students show their support of the military, Hoar said. "It shows me that people care. Once you get past all the negativity, people care."
Dale Walker, a custodian at Cherry Valley, also has witnessed firsthand the Cherry Valley students' support.
His son, Cpl. Richard Wheeler, has served in the Marines for more than two years. He currently is stationed off the coast of Africa. Last year, Wheeler spent eight months in Iraq. During that time, a fourth-grade class "adopted" him, Walker said.
Students wrote letters to Wheeler and brought in spare change so the class could buy a present for his newborn baby. When Wheeler came home, Walker said he spoke to students about his time in Iraq.
Walker said the students' devotion to Wheeler impressed him.
"I'm proud of them," Walker said. "It's really great to see that the kids understand at that level."
The flag dedicated during Friday's ceremony will be on display in the window of the school's teachers' lounge, along with a picture frame containing Lisa Parrott's letter, a photo of her and some of the members of her unit holding the Christmas cards sent by the students and a certificate signed by Parrott's commander stating the flag flew over their base.
In Lisa Parrott's letter, she encouraged students to learn more about the flag and to continue to work hard in school.
"I encourage you to learn as much as you can in school so that when you get older, you can make smart decisions and understand the reasons behind military actions," Lisa Parrott wrote. "I encourage you to learn more about the American flag ... it is something to be proud of."
Ellie
Cherry Valley students get help dedicating the flag
Soldiers show school gratitude by sending a patriotic present
By JENNIFER NESBITT
Advocate Reporter
NEWARK -- Cherry Valley Elementary School gym teacher Kay Parrott's daughter has been in Iraq for the past eight months.
Before Christmas, Parrott encouraged her students to write to her daughter, Marine Corps Capt. Lisa Parrott, and her daughter's unit. In those cards, Parrott said students told the Marines how proud they were of them and called them heroes.
"It feels wonderful that they realize there are people out there supporting their country and doing things to keep them safe," Parrott said.
Parrott said Lisa Parrott, 29, a Newark High School graduate, was so moved by the cards that she sent the students a letter of thanks, along with a flag that flew over Camp Korean Village, where her unit is based near Ar Rutbah, Iraq.
"She said, 'I'm sending the kids a present,'" Kay Parrott said. "I thought, 'This is really cool. We're getting a flag from Iraq that we can dedicate to the school.'"
Cherry Valley conducted a dedication ceremony for that flag Friday, during which students learned more about the flag and service in Iraq from U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class John Wysocki and Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. David Schreffler.
The students also sang patriotic songs, and after Wysocki and Schreffler raised the flag, the students said the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem.
Parrott took pictures and recorded the ceremony to send to her daughter's unit, which is scheduled to come home in May, a deadline that already has been extended.
Friday's ceremony also meant a lot to Nancy Hoar, a kindergarten intervention specialist at Cherry Valley. Her son is on his way home from Iraq, where he has been stationed since Christmas.
For Hoar's son, Ohio Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Andrew Hoar, it was his second trip to Iraq, and he will be home only until he gets another assignment.
"It's very comforting; it's very nice," when students show their support of the military, Hoar said. "It shows me that people care. Once you get past all the negativity, people care."
Dale Walker, a custodian at Cherry Valley, also has witnessed firsthand the Cherry Valley students' support.
His son, Cpl. Richard Wheeler, has served in the Marines for more than two years. He currently is stationed off the coast of Africa. Last year, Wheeler spent eight months in Iraq. During that time, a fourth-grade class "adopted" him, Walker said.
Students wrote letters to Wheeler and brought in spare change so the class could buy a present for his newborn baby. When Wheeler came home, Walker said he spoke to students about his time in Iraq.
Walker said the students' devotion to Wheeler impressed him.
"I'm proud of them," Walker said. "It's really great to see that the kids understand at that level."
The flag dedicated during Friday's ceremony will be on display in the window of the school's teachers' lounge, along with a picture frame containing Lisa Parrott's letter, a photo of her and some of the members of her unit holding the Christmas cards sent by the students and a certificate signed by Parrott's commander stating the flag flew over their base.
In Lisa Parrott's letter, she encouraged students to learn more about the flag and to continue to work hard in school.
"I encourage you to learn as much as you can in school so that when you get older, you can make smart decisions and understand the reasons behind military actions," Lisa Parrott wrote. "I encourage you to learn more about the American flag ... it is something to be proud of."
Ellie