thedrifter
12-14-07, 06:41 AM
Article published Dec 14, 2007
Military members visit Maclay
By Nic Corbett
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Alexandra Secreast, 6, was shocked by the living conditions of Marines stationed in Iraq.
"They don't have gum?" she said in disbelief.
"No," said her mom, Clarice Secreast. "They don't have a Wal-Mart or a Publix in Iraq."
Three Marines and a member of the Navy answered questions from eager first-graders at Maclay School on Thursday. The students and their families spent the last two weeks donating items for care packages that will be shipped to 28 Marines from the Tallahassee area who are in Iraq.
One of the first-graders asked Maj. Raymond Spaulding about what they did when they had to use the bathroom, a question that sen t many of the students into a fit of giggles.
"They have bathrooms on the boat," he said. "They look like the toilets you're used to seeing. That's a good question."
The students were enthralled by Marine Lee Cliett's story about a camel in Africa that eats Oreos.
Clarice Secreast said the idea for the project came out of a birthday party. There, she and other parents noticed Spaulding, whose child is in the first grade at Maclay, wearing his uniform.
They thought the project would be a good way to teach the children about giving and helping others and provide some holiday cheer to servicemen who can't come home to their families, she said.
Lucy Johnson, 6, said her favorite part about the presentation was hearing about how they save people. She and her family helped contribute to the packages.
"We bought socks. Somebody bought boxers," she said, laughing.
Contact reporter Nic Corbett at (850) 599-2161 or ncorbett@tallahassee.com.
Ellie
Military members visit Maclay
By Nic Corbett
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER
Alexandra Secreast, 6, was shocked by the living conditions of Marines stationed in Iraq.
"They don't have gum?" she said in disbelief.
"No," said her mom, Clarice Secreast. "They don't have a Wal-Mart or a Publix in Iraq."
Three Marines and a member of the Navy answered questions from eager first-graders at Maclay School on Thursday. The students and their families spent the last two weeks donating items for care packages that will be shipped to 28 Marines from the Tallahassee area who are in Iraq.
One of the first-graders asked Maj. Raymond Spaulding about what they did when they had to use the bathroom, a question that sen t many of the students into a fit of giggles.
"They have bathrooms on the boat," he said. "They look like the toilets you're used to seeing. That's a good question."
The students were enthralled by Marine Lee Cliett's story about a camel in Africa that eats Oreos.
Clarice Secreast said the idea for the project came out of a birthday party. There, she and other parents noticed Spaulding, whose child is in the first grade at Maclay, wearing his uniform.
They thought the project would be a good way to teach the children about giving and helping others and provide some holiday cheer to servicemen who can't come home to their families, she said.
Lucy Johnson, 6, said her favorite part about the presentation was hearing about how they save people. She and her family helped contribute to the packages.
"We bought socks. Somebody bought boxers," she said, laughing.
Contact reporter Nic Corbett at (850) 599-2161 or ncorbett@tallahassee.com.
Ellie