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thedrifter
11-24-07, 06:34 AM
Students stuff stockings full of 'silly'
Plainsboro class sends Marines in Iraq gifts, letters of appreciation
Saturday, November 24, 2007
BY JOYCE J. PERSICO

PLAINSBORO -- Can you lessen the effects of war with a whoopee cushion or a puzzle book or even a snake that pops out of a can?

A class of fifth-grade students at Millstone River School is asking that question as they stuff Christmas stockings and boxes with "silly" things to send to Marines stationed in Iraq over the holidays.

And then there are their letters, simple, candid letters from children designed to touch the hearts of young Marines stationed so far away from home.

Sitting in a brightly decorated classroom, even on a dark and rainy day, the kids are so far removed from war it's no wonder that their letters and their gifts reflect both the joy and hopefulness of their childhood.

The children have nothing in their lives to compare with war and sadness although Jessy Holmgren, 10, recalls the Christmas when her uncle had cancer.

Theirs are letters filled with personal revelations like the number of their pets, what kind of houses they live in, which subjects interest them most, how many siblings they have, and food -- lots of thoughts on food.

They are the students of Liz McCormack's class and their three-week project ended the week of Nov. 19 when they mailed their simple treasures. Their acts of kindness were inspired by their teacher's concern for her stepson, Lance Cpl. Aidan McCormack, almost 20, who is stationed in Iraq.

A Hamilton native who will live at Camp Pendleton, Calif., when he returns, Aidan isn't scheduled to come home until March. He's been in Iraq since mid-August.

So McCormack, who married Aidan's father, John, less than two years ago, suggested the children write letters not only to her stepson but also to any friends he has in Iraq who aren't fortunate enough to have a loving family waiting back home.

Taylor Spadaccini, 10, thinks the "silly" gifts are important because, "Marines don't get better things. People just send them shampoo and shaving cream." In her letter, Taylor reveals that she has five dogs, one cat, 11 rabbits, one fish and two turtles.

"Ever wish you could just come home and see your family more often?" she wrote.

Jack Schilder, 10, who sent his mom on a search for multiple whoopee cushions and a snake that springs out of a can, wants the enlisted personnel "to have a good time and get their minds off things." Ebria Pratts-Smith, 10, explains that the 11 students in her class created a list of things that would make the Marines laugh "to cheer them up because some of them don't have families."

Eagerly they scramble to claim their personal letters and read them aloud. They are handwritten letters whose envelopes are decorated in a rainbow of colors and designs. No two are alike and all are from the 10- and 11-year-olds who hail from Plainsboro and West Windsor townships.

"How many push-ups can you do?" Efren Siguenza, 11, wrote, "and how many miles do you run?"

"What's up, Marine?" Italiz Vasquez, 10, wrote. "Do you have gross food? If you say yes, I will be with you because we have gross food in school."

"Is the food bad?," Austin Hirt, 11, inquired. "It sure is here."

"Did you like shaving your head? For fun, we like to go to the mall, play video games, hang out with friends, eat junk food, go to the movies, read, relax and play with our pets," Kriti Amardeep, 11, Taylor and Italiz wrote. "Thank you so much for protecting us."

Kade LaForge, 10, mentioned living on a farm and said he'll enlist "if they need me when I grow up. That's what my dad said."

On the blackboard are collective letters to Aidan from the class. Robert Peterson, Austin and Efren each take a turn reading out loud: "Can you beat up your brother, John, the big guy in the picture on Mrs. McCormack's desk?"

Eleven-year-old Sanjit Singh, whose home in Plainsboro is so very far away from the nameless Marines her letter and fun toys will reach, put what she felt about the project very simply.

"We care about them," she explained.


Contact Joyce J. Persico at jpersico@njtimes.com or at (609) 989-5662.

Ellie