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thedrifter
12-17-08, 06:34 AM
Marines team with Coosa students to send gift packages to Iraq
Published Tue, Dec 16, 2008 12:00 AM
By KATE CERVE
kcerve@beaufortgazette.com
843-986-5517


Clad in camouflage and elf caps, 17 Marines read Christmas stories, decorated cookies and sewed stockings. They crawled on the floor to build with Legos and gave students advice about military careers.

Men and women from Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort visited Coosa Elementary on Tuesday to help students prepare packages for troops who will be serving in Iraq over the holiday.

Many students talked about parents who are deployed, Cpl. Juan Martinez said. Seeing other Marines at school "helps children with morale," he said.

About 140 of the 660 students at Coosa Elementary have a parent in the military, said assistant principal Lynn Patterson.

Twelve of those students are members of the Dads Away club, a support group for kids whose parents are serving abroad.

Meredith Fent, the guidance counselor who coordinates the group, said students meet each week to write letters or draw pictures for their dads. Older students talk to younger kids about how they cope.

The group decided last month to send care packages to troops this Christmas. Most will be sent to Marine Wing Support Squadron 273, which left for Iraq in mid-September and should return this spring.

Fifth-grader Sydney Bourg's father is part of unit MWSS 273. She hopes the care packages remind her dad and others that people back home appreciate them.

"They'll know that people know they are there," Bourg said.

About 75 students donated goods or money to fill 25 packages with candy, lemonade powder, coffee, soap, lotion, magazines and more.

They decorated the boxes with encouraging messages and pictures.

"Hugs and kisses!" one box read. "I love you."

Another student wrote, "Please win this war for us! I believe you can do it."

Lance Cpl. Scott Painter served in Iraq for six months and returned in March. He expects to be deployed again in six months.

Receiving notes from kids feels good, he said.

"They don't really understand what's going on, so they write some funny stuff," he said. "The stuff is always good, but the letters... the sentimental value makes you feel better."

Ellie