FORT SILL, Okla. -- As we grew up, many of us looked up to people in uniform. Many might have said, "I want to be a police officer" or "I want to be a fireman."
School children from Hugh Bish Elementary School in Lawton got to meet with and look up to the Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade.
The school children will be part of a pen pal program with deploying Soldiers from the 31st ADA.
Jessica Cramm, a teacher from Hugh Bish, said the program is a wonderful way to show appreciation to the deploying Soldiers.
"We felt that this is a great way to reach out and be supportive of those who are ready to give their lives to defend us," said Cramm. "This is a great way to connect with them, and it's a great opportunity for our kids to come out here and experience what Soldiers at Fort Sill do."
Spc. Dacoda Worth, HHB, 31st ADA says for him, this opportunity is about outreach to the local community.
"I hope these children get a chance to not only see, but also, to understand everything the military does for them and their community," said Worth. "I also hope that this gives us an opportunity to give these children a positive role model."
Melina Hopper, a student from Hugh Bish, said the program showed her some of the difficulties Soldiers face.
"I learned that Soldiers really do a lot of hard work whenever they go out and do stuff," said Hopper.
Worth stressed the important role the pen pal program will play while they are deployed.
"Having this pen pal program will give us something positive to look back on in the states when we may not be able to contact other people," he said. "I think that it will really help those who are homesick and want to receive a word from home."
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