Platoon support

Sixth-graders at River Trails Middle School in Mount Prospect are learning life lessons about patriotism, sacrifice, empathy and appreciation while also helping others this school year.

The 180 students and 10 teachers in that grade level have adopted a platoon of military police deployed to Iraq. The students are each developing a pen pal relationship with one of the men and they are also collecting items like gum, beef jerky, toothpaste, cards and sun block to send to them in periodic care packages.

"Each grade level at River Trails is expected to do some kind of community service and we were talking at lunch, trying to think of a good project," recalled Noel Rajski, one of the teachers. In the past, they had done a cystic fibrosis walk, helped at an animal shelter -- things like that, the teachers said.

Rajski happened to mention that her brother-in-law was about to be deployed to Iraq and the other teachers jumped on the idea of adopting a group of soldiers as their project.

"I supported the idea as long as we made sure that we concentrated on the soldiers, not on the war," explained Glenn Purpura, principal. So the idea took hold.

In mid-October Army Staff Sgt. Liam Cormier, Rajski's brother-in-law, visited the nine sixth-grade classrooms, speaking to them about the role of the military in Iraq and some of the hardships that our men and women endure while overseas.

The students were able to view the heavy armor and uniforms that the soldiers have to wear in the unbearable heat of the desert. They also were able to ask questions about what items from home the soldiers miss most and what they do during their leisure time.

"He told them about how you have to drink about three gallons of water each day during the summer over there to keep hydrated," recalled Fred Stokes, another of the teachers, "and they got to feel how heavy his bulletproof vest is. In all, I would say that the kids formed a real connection to Staff Sergeant Cormier."

Soon after Cormier's visit, the students started making their plans for adopting Cormier's platoon which not too long ago was deployed to Afghanistan and is now on its way to the Baghdad area of Iraq.

"Liam was shocked and thrilled that we wanted to do this for him and his platoon," said Rajski. "Some of the guys in his platoon never get any packages or letters, so he was particularly pleased for them. He also admitted that they really feel as if the American public has forgotten them when they are over there in Iraq and Afghanistan."

The children have already written one letter each to a soldier and made up puzzle books of Sudoku and other things and sent them off.

They have also "sold" needed items like beef jerky and Tootsie Pops to other students in the school at lunch time. But instead of eating the items themselves, the students have deposited them into a box for the platoon.

"The kids want to help, but sometimes it is hard for them to get to a store to buy the needed items, so we decided to help them by bringing the items to the cafeteria," Stokes explained.

The first packages are due to be mailed soon.

The sixth-graders have also researched various patriotic symbols and reproduced them for their hallways and soon they will be creating decorations for their lockers, as well.

And around Veterans Day all of the sixth-graders gathered near the trees in front of the school for a ceremony during which yellow ribbons for each of the 12 men were tied around the trees. Pedersen also gave an inspiring speech about service to the nation since he is a veteran himself.

"It was distressing how we couldn't find yellow ribbons in any of the local stores. We had to buy them online," recalled Beth Lasoski, another teacher. "They all told us that they had them at the start of the war, but not anymore."

The students and teachers also videotaped some of their activities on the soldiers' behalf and sent a DVD to the platoon for the men to enjoy.

Cormier's platoon, which is based at Fort Polk, La., shipped out on the Monday after Thanksgiving and is not expected to return until February 2009.

"The kids have been bringing in supplies like crazy so I would say that they are reacting very positively," said teacher Jean Minor.

One boy brings in a dollar every day and an eighth-grade boy even brought in $10 one day, the teachers related.

"We have emphasized to the kids that even something as simple as a stick of gum, which we take for granted here, is a big deal to a soldier in a desert," Rajski explained. "So I think that we really have them thinking about others."

"We are trying to get them to pay attention to what is going on and appreciate the things they have," Stokes added.

And, of course, the project will continue to evolve.

"Some of the kids have asked if they can write to the soldiers' families," Lasoski said, "and we may ask some of the family members if they would be willing to come in and speak to the students."

And the teachers have appealed to several businesses. AAA Chicago has put collection boxes in both its Northbrook and Evanston offices where they are collecting supplies. They have also donated funds to help with shipping.

And the CenTrust Mortgage LLC in Deerfield has donated $1,000 for expenses and is offering an additional $200 for every new mortgage they receive from someone who mentions "Treats for Troops."

Several area businesses have also donated gift cards which the school can auction off to raise even more funds.

"I just hope that in two and a half years when these kids graduate from River Trails, we will be able to invite some of the soldiers from this platoon to attend the ceremony," Purpura said.

Any individual or business which is interested in making a donation may contact Rajski at (847) 298-1750, ext. 247 or at nrajski@rtsd26.org.

List of supplies requested

Beef jerky

Gum

Sunflower seeds

Hard candy (Jolly Ranchers, peppermints, butterscotches)

Puzzle books like crosswords and Sudoku

Playing cards

Crystal Light To-Go packs

Baby wipes

Soap

Shampoo

Razors

Toothpaste

Dental floss

Sun block

Hand lotion

Foot powder (Gold Bond)

AA batteries