Many teachers may want to extend their lessons on the
war in Iraq by inviting students to write letters and send "care packages"
to U.S. servicemen and women abroad. Some classes already are "veterans"
of these types of activities.
Maureen Danforth's fifth-grade class at Fogarty Memorial
School in Glocester, Rhode Island, has been sending letters and packages
to U.S troops in Afghanistan through the AdoptaPlatoon
program. They began the class project in September 2002.
Danforth suggested the program to her students after
they said they wanted to mark the one-year anniversary of the September
11, 2001, terrorist attacks with an activity. "The kids decided that
instead of having a somber ceremony, they wanted to take action," Danforth
told Education World.
"So I suggested adopting a platoon," Danforth added.
"I had seen something online about it. They loved the idea right from
the start. They love the idea of supporting the men and women who are
keeping us safe. They love knowing that they are making a difference
in the quality of life for our platoon. The students get letters back
from some of the men and they are amazed at how much their letters and
packages mean to them. One man told us that the letters get passed around
so everyone in the platoon reads all of them!"
The class receives monthly letters from the platoon's
chaplain, who sometimes sends pictures as well. Individual soldiers
also have written letters.
Participation in the project builds students' writing
skills and sense of responsibility. The class is divided into four groups,
and each week a group is responsible for writing a letter. "The kids
know that the guys in our platoon look forward to hearing from us, so
they know they have to do this because they are committed," Danforth
continued. "We also send monthly packages, and they know the guys depend
on those packages."
Shipping costs were becoming a problem, so the students
had to brainstorm a solution. "I thought they would vote to abandon
mailing packages, but instead, they met with our PTO and came up with
a fundraiser," said Danforth. "The students sold Thanksgiving pies made
by a local orchard and they raised almost $600 [for postage].
"We also have learned a lot about Afghanistan," through
the program, she added.
Getting involved with AdoptaPlatoon alleviates some of
the helplessness students might experience during uncertain times, and
makes them feel that they can make a difference. But getting involved
also brings them closer to war's realities. "You do need to be prepared
if something bad happens," Danforth told Education World. "We had one
of our guys die right before Christmas. The kids were really mature
about it; they immediately asked where they could send sympathy cards.
It was a hard lesson to learn; that war is not all winning and glory,
but it was a good way to learn how to deal with something like that."
While the
U.S. Department of Defense and other service-connected groups know
how eager people are to support deployed servicemen and women, right
now mail cannot be delivered to most troops in Iraq and Kuwait because
they are mobile, according to Austin Camacho, a spokesman for the U.S.
Department of Defense. Students can mail letters and packages, but they
will not catch up to the troops for a while, Camacho said.
Also, because of security concerns and transportation
issues, mail no longer can be sent addressed to "Any Serviceman," Camacho
added. Any letters or packages must be addressed to a serviceman or
woman by name.
Numerous organizations connect students (and adults)
with U.S. servicemen and women deployed overseas, including those stationed
in locations other than the Persian Gulf. "Lots of service members in
lots of places besides Kuwait and Iraq also would love to hear from
people," Camacho said.
Note: Some programs are on hold because
the public's generosity has provided organizations with so many items
that there is a mailing backlog, so read the sites carefully.
Following are some of the groups that are putting people
in touch with U.S. troops:
The
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross's Quality of Life program supports military members
and their families. The program seeks items such as toiletries, paperback
books, and snacks to send to troops overseas. Items will be managed
in a secure manner and sent from Red Cross chapter offices to Red Cross
personnel deployed with U.S. servicemen and women. Because of unfolding
events, the Red Cross cannot promise that collected items can be sent
to a specific location.
Currently, the Red Cross has a moratorium on collecting
items for troops, because it received so many donations. Schools considering
mailing items through the Red Cross should check with their local
Red Cross chapters before sending anything.
AdoptaPlatoon
AdoptaPlatoon is a volunteer non-profit organization. Teachers can apply
to correspond with a whole platoon or set up e-mail correspondence with
individual soldiers. The site also offers guidelines on what to send
to servicemen and women overseas.
Show Your Support
Links to resources and organizations for supporting overseas troops and their families back home can be found at this U.S. Department of Defense site. Included: Thank the Troops Message Form and America Reaches Out Map.
Operation
Military Pride
This volunteer organization offers a variety of activities for supporting
troops, such as writing letters, drawing, and sending cards and packages.
Article by Ellen R. Delisio
Education World®
Copyright © 2009 Education World
Originally published 04/01/2003
Last updated 09/22/2009
While most teachers discuss the war in Iraq with
their classes, many find that both they and their students
also want to do something concrete to help U.S. troops abroad.
Included: A list of organizations that link students or classes
with deployed servicemen and women. 
