thedrifter
02-05-09, 07:31 AM
Marine thanks Temecula's Vail Ranch Middle School for care packages
By MICHELLE L. KLAMPE
The Press-Enterprise
Just days after he returned from a tour of duty in Iraq, Chief Warrant Officer Tom Andersen made a visit to Temecula's Vail Ranch Middle School on Wednesday.
Andersen wanted to thank the students and staff at Vail Ranch for the care packages and letters they sent to him and his squadron of Marines while they were overseas. He brought along a flag he flew in the school's honor while in Iraq and donated it to the campus.
"I'm very grateful the people of our country are supporting us. It's overwhelming," he said.
Teacher Robin Pratt was looking for a service project for the students in California Junior Scholarship Federation, a service and scholarship club. Andersen's wife, Karrie, is the principal's secretary at Vail Ranch, so she and Pratt joined forces to support Andersen's squadron.
The packages, filled with letters and treats such as coffee and chocolate, arrived at Al Asad Air Base just before Christmas. Andersen said he tried to read each of the estimated 150 letters that were included in the boxes.
One in particular caught his attention. It began with "To Dad," and after reading a little further, Andersen realized the letter wasn't meant for him.
It was written by Vail Ranch seventh-grader Roosevelt Adrianza III to his father, Roosevelt Adrianza II, a master gunnery sergeant stationed elsewhere in Iraq. The boy figured if the box was going to Iraq, the letter would reach his dad.
With Andersen's help, it did. Andersen tracked down Adrianza and made sure he received his son's letter. He also mailed one of the care boxes to Adrianza.
Roosevelt III, his mom, Rosa, and his sister Rose, 8, were all on hand Wednesday to meet Andersen and thank him for his effort to deliver the mail. Roosevelt II is due home Saturday from his 13-month tour in Iraq.
Roosevelt III said he was happy his letter and the care package reached his dad, and glad that he and his classmates had participated in the project.
"It was good because they (Marines) need to be happy, not just lonely," he said.
Reach Michelle L. Klampe at 951-375-3740 or mklampe@PE.com
Ellie
By MICHELLE L. KLAMPE
The Press-Enterprise
Just days after he returned from a tour of duty in Iraq, Chief Warrant Officer Tom Andersen made a visit to Temecula's Vail Ranch Middle School on Wednesday.
Andersen wanted to thank the students and staff at Vail Ranch for the care packages and letters they sent to him and his squadron of Marines while they were overseas. He brought along a flag he flew in the school's honor while in Iraq and donated it to the campus.
"I'm very grateful the people of our country are supporting us. It's overwhelming," he said.
Teacher Robin Pratt was looking for a service project for the students in California Junior Scholarship Federation, a service and scholarship club. Andersen's wife, Karrie, is the principal's secretary at Vail Ranch, so she and Pratt joined forces to support Andersen's squadron.
The packages, filled with letters and treats such as coffee and chocolate, arrived at Al Asad Air Base just before Christmas. Andersen said he tried to read each of the estimated 150 letters that were included in the boxes.
One in particular caught his attention. It began with "To Dad," and after reading a little further, Andersen realized the letter wasn't meant for him.
It was written by Vail Ranch seventh-grader Roosevelt Adrianza III to his father, Roosevelt Adrianza II, a master gunnery sergeant stationed elsewhere in Iraq. The boy figured if the box was going to Iraq, the letter would reach his dad.
With Andersen's help, it did. Andersen tracked down Adrianza and made sure he received his son's letter. He also mailed one of the care boxes to Adrianza.
Roosevelt III, his mom, Rosa, and his sister Rose, 8, were all on hand Wednesday to meet Andersen and thank him for his effort to deliver the mail. Roosevelt II is due home Saturday from his 13-month tour in Iraq.
Roosevelt III said he was happy his letter and the care package reached his dad, and glad that he and his classmates had participated in the project.
"It was good because they (Marines) need to be happy, not just lonely," he said.
Reach Michelle L. Klampe at 951-375-3740 or mklampe@PE.com
Ellie