Today I received 12 care packages from my daughter Dylaney’s fourth grade class at Lost Creek Elementary School. Her teacher, Mrs. Janet Greulach asked her students to bring in items to send to the troops overseas. The students, with the help of their parents, did an amazing job gathering all of the items that were sent here and wrote letters to the troops as well. Lost Creek Principal Madonna Johnson took care of the postage costs of these packages to help make this delivery possible.
When I was opening the boxes there was an audience of other soldiers asking what I had received and who it was from. When I told them it was from my daughter’s class at Lost Creek and was for everyone, word spread quickly and the audience rapidly grew. The look on the faces of some of the younger soldiers as they took the items they wanted was priceless. I had set aside a box for some things that I had wanted to keep but this box was fair game, too, and I didn’t have the heart to say it was for me when soldiers started removing items from it. When I was finished opening the boxes I took what was left in the box I had set aside and watched as the rest of the items disappeared one by one, mostly by young soldiers with smiling faces. In a way it reminded me of the faces of children when police officers shop with them at Christmas, only these were young adults, but still kids to me. I wanted to share with your readers how such a small item can mean so much to someone over here when at home they are readily accessible and do not elicit the same response. The thoughtfulness and kindness shown by sending care packages to troops overseas is much appreciated and is a testament to the love and support we receive from back home. At this time of Thanksgiving it really shows our community’s caring spirit.
Since I have been here I have received letters from Mrs. Marilyn Shaffer’s first grade class at DeVaney Elementary, where my other daughter Bryttany student teaches, and Mrs. Jaymi Dunkin’s fourth grade class at Franklin Elementary. It was a pleasure for me to read the letters and write back to the students. There was definitely a smile on my face when I read their letters! Ms. Berta Cottom’s second- and third-grade GT class at Lost Creek has collected and sent fruit snacks for the local children and my secretary Dianne Vanlandingham at the Terre Haute Police Department has sent over boxes with toys and candy for the local children.
Under the leadership of Superintendent Dan Tanoos, the Vigo County School Corp. has been very proactive in showing support for deployed troops this way and in Veterans Day programs at all of the schools. I have attended many of these programs and was impressed by the dedication and effort of the staff and students in organizing these programs. Principal Susan Mardis at Deming Elementary asked me to speak last year at the school’s Veterans Day program, which had several veterans in attendance, and in 2007 Principal Madonna Johnson asked me to speak at Lost Creek Elementary’s program. It was an honor for me to speak and recognize veterans who have given so much to make our country what it is today.
Unfortunately, our community recently found out how high that cost can be. On Oct. 27, Sgt. Dale Griffin of Terre Haute and his crew lost their lives when their vehicle was hit by an IED in southern Afghanistan. Sgt. Griffin was a fine young man who had his whole life ahead of him but will not get to experience life as most of us will. He died protecting our country while helping make Afghanistan a safer place for the Afghan people. I was proud to hear of the outpouring of support from the Terre Haute community during Sgt. Griffin’s services and funeral. While this can’t take away the pain his family is experiencing, it at least shows our community cares about his ultimate sacrifice. We can never forget his sacrifice or that of the many others who have been injured or given their lives protecting our country. I pray Sgt. Dale Griffin is in God’s presence and that his family takes comfort knowing he is watching over them.
— Master Sgt. John Plasse
38th Infantry Division
Task Force Cyclone
Afghanistan
Flashpoint
FLASHPOINT: Soldiers in Afghanistan thankful for items from home
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FLASHPOINT: Notes on saving structural history
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FLASHPOINT: Can anyone hear the call from Farrington's Grove
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FLASHPOINT: We have the power to co-exist without violence or prejudice
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FLASHPOINT: Issue surrounding Florida shooting fueled by race
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FLASHPOINT: Indiana — open for business
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FLASHPOINT: The Constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act
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FLASHPOINT: White House rejects Keystone XL: Sad day for U.S. workers
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FLASHPOINT: Howey ignores truth to advance his agenda
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FLASHPOINT: What really motivates right-to-work proposal?
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FLASHPOINT: The right-to-work debate: ‘Devil at Our Doorstep’
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FLASHPOINT: State’s House Democrats will offer alternative for job creation
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FLASHPOINT: Community colleges must lead way in reshaping higher education
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