Memphis 2nd graders send letters, care packages to Soldiers in Afghanistan

By Capt Maryjane Porter (412th TEC)January 9, 2012

Memphis 2nd graders write letters to Soldiers in Afghanistan
1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – 2nd graders, parents and teachers at Lausanne Collegiate School spent their final day before the school's holiday break to sort care packages and write letters to their 'adopted' troops in Afghanistan, the men and women of the 689th Engineer Company.... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A 'thank you' letter for an engineer Soldier in Afghanistan from a 2nd grader at Lausanne Collegiate School. Students, parents and teachers spent their final day before the school's holiday break to sort care packages and write letters to their heroe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A 2nd grader at Lausanne Collegiate School spent her final day before the school's holiday break to sort care packages and write letters to her 'adopted' troops in Afghanistan, the men and women of the 689th Engineer Company. (Photo: Capt. Maryjane P... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Wyatt Burnham, a 2nd grader at Lausanne Collegiate School, and her sister Bonnie spent their final day before the school's holiday break to sort care packages and write letters to their 'adopted' troops in Afghanistan, the men and women of the 689th ... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A 2nd grader at Lausanne Collegiate School reads a letter he wrote for a Soldier in Afghanistan. Students, parents and teachers spent their final day before the school's holiday break to sort care packages and write letters for the Soldiers of the 68... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
usa image
8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Elizabeth Holden (center), a parent who spearheaded the care package initiative for her daughter's 2nd grade class, joined school teachers at Lausanne Collegiate School to collect various sorts of items for the 200 Soldiers of the 689th Engineer Comp... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Memphis, Tenn. -- While students across Tennessee counted down the days toward their school holiday break, one group instead was busy writing letters and sorting care packages for their heroes overseas.

The 2nd graders at Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, along with their dedicated parents and teachers, spent their final day before the Christmas break to show their appreciation and support for the men and women of the 689th Engineer Company in Afghanistan.

The three classrooms bustled with the holiday spirit as they wrote letters, created art work and read their appreciative thoughts out loud. The overarching theme was a sense of gratitude to the deployed Soldiers for their commitment and dedication to serve their country.

"I'm excited that they're going to read my letter and know that I care about them," said Wyatt Burnham of Germantown. The 8-year old was joined by his 10-year old sister Bonnie and his father Bentley, who also expressed his gratitude to the Soldiers for their service and sacrifice.

The sentiment was shared by every parent and teacher that gathered at the Memphis campus to donate all sorts of items and to witness the students' sense of pride toward their 'adopted' unit.

It's a small token of appreciation for what our Soldiers are doing for our country, especially during the holiday season when they're away from their families, said Elizabeth Holden, a parent who spearheaded the care package initiative for her daughter's class.

Holden and her dedicated team of parents and teachers collected, sorted, packed and mailed 17 boxes of snacks and personalized letters, destined for the roughly 200 Soldiers of the 689th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Brigade.

Command Sgt. Maj. Steven M. Hatchell, brigade's senior enlisted leader, along with Janette Chandler, Family Readiness Support Assistant, expressed their gratitude to everyone, especially the youngsters, for their love and continued support of our Soldiers and their families.

Lausanne Collegiate School is a coeducational, nonsectarian school in Memphis whose mission is to prepare each of its students for college and for life in a global environment.