Article Contributed on: 4/28/2009 8:44:25 PM
Denver, CO, April 24, 2009 -- Carson Elementary School students celebrated today as they packed 92 care packages which will be sent to U.S. Soldiers oversees. The project, part of the Character Education program, began a month ago with a visit from LTC
Laura Clellan and Sgt Major
Bill Woods of the 193 Military Police Battalion, Colorado Army National Guard.
Students had the opportunity to hear what it is like to be far from home, missing family and living in dessert conditions. Clellan and Woods demonstrated the protective clothing and gear they wear and even got Principal
Gwen Henderson-Gethers to don a flackjacket.
Over the course of the following weeks, students wrote thoughtful letters to the soldiers. They also drew beautiful pictures and collected donated items for care packages.
"We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from Carson families. We received an abundance of items as well as cash to help send the boxes overseas," said
Wende Abrahm, chair of the Character Education Committee. Carson Student Council voted unanimously to spend $600 of money they have raised this year for shipping as well.
According to Abrahm, Carson students frequently participate in programs supporting different causes, but the Character Education Committee was looking for something new for the entire school to do at once. They certainly succeeded. The atmosphere was festive through the halls of the school on Friday. Students packed boxes on an assembly line filling them with everything from books and magazines to candies and suntan lotion.
Principal Gethers, who will retire from Carson Elementary School this year, summed up the project well,"working together on a project with such a positive impact for soldiers also has an incredibly positive effect on our kids."