Just caught up on reading this story - what a touching story!  Your students are going to be so suprised tomorrow (or I guess at this point later today).

Please let us know how it goes.

Krystyna

I'm on pins and needles waiting for the next chapter: The Soldier's Surprise Visit!

Well, everyone, it was FABULOUS!.   The kids didn't seem to know what to do with him....and I'm not sure he did either, but they asked questions and he did too, and answered them, and it was just nice.  Everyone smiled very big, including the teacher...my students all have some extra challenges, so a couple were very quiet, but wrote him a letter today for me to give him when a friend and I have dinner with him this weekend...  it was a quiet excitement, that passed with no official recognition, no newspaper stories, but one that the kids will remember forever...me too...and I would guess that Charles will as well.

Even better, they are psyched about writing to our other contacts, one of whom has just been sent into a more dangerous area....One of my students, while he was writing another letter, overheard me tell someone that it didnt' matter if they spelled correctly, or if they had everything perfect, that these guys just liked to hear about normal stuff, and to know that someone was thinking of them.  He called me over to him and got real quiet and said, "Ms. Winslow, I pray for them everynight ", which even if you aren't religious, has to do something to you.  It's always amazing to me that my kids, who aren't very book smart and sometimes can appear very challenged, so get the important stuff....they know what this is all about!

Thank you all for being so interested and so supportive... 

:)

tricia73 and kids Hello!

Most Excellent!

door

Tricia, what a great day for you all! Thanks so much for keeping us in the loop - this is a great story. You've given your kids a wonderful gift!

I also love what you said about your kids getting the important stuff. When I have "my kids" (my nieces and nephews) here, and we color pictures and write letters for our soldiers, they ask a lot of questions. And I try to explain who these soldiers are, and what they do, and why they like getting things like Snickers bars, beef jerky, and colored pictures. The kids don't understand all of this, of course, but they do understand the part about being away from their families, and being scared, and looking out for their friends. I'm surprised sometimes at how much they do understand. And several of them also include the soldiers in their prayers, which just melts my heart.

Tricia,

Thank you so much for sharing your story ! It's  so  touching. I especially have to say that the part that made me cry was the part about your student saying that he prays for them every night.

They are such amazing students and you are an amazing teacher for doing this for our soldiers and for the students.

I personally can't wait to hear more updates!

:-) Andrea

Mary:

The troops are NOT going to Execute Justine.  I meant to type JUSTICE.  Now every Justine out there will be ducking for cover.  Sorry,

Mary

I'm laughing so hard here I have tears in my eyes!   When I first read your post I thought -  Execute Justine?  Who is Justine??  What did she do???    Thank you for the unintentional - but sorely needed -  giggles.  :)

And thank you Tricia for sharing such a heartwarming story.