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Hernando Today

A Personal Connection To Iraq

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By LINNEA BROWN

Hernando Today

Published: January 23, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - BROOKSVILLE -
The second-graders in Josephine Maher's class at Pine Grove Elementary School know their "Soldier Gary" is a father.
They know he loves their letters and handmade cards.
They know he has shared their gifts of cookies, flavored drink mix and jam with his fellow soldiers in Camp Taji, Iraq.
And perhaps most importantly, they know that each day when he gets up in the morning, Soldier Gary is protecting them.
Last Wednesday, the students received a special surprise gift from their pen pal, Sgt. First Class Gary Rodgers: a new American flag, flown in their honor above his camp in Iraq.
The flag is now hanging in their classroom.
Principal Dave Dannemiller, who first opened the gift, was so touched that he choked up while reading Rodgers' letter aloud to the school's students and staff over Pine Grove's closed-circuit television station.
"I think about all of you and hope that you know just how special you are to me," Rodgers wrote. "I will not get to come home for Christmas, but you make it a whole lot easier for me to be here in Iraq because you have sent a little piece of home to me."
The children originally began corresponding with Rodgers in September, after noticing his photograph in teacher Barby LeBlanc's computer lab. He is her cousin.
"They noticed a bulletin board with a picture of a soldier on it and didn't know who it was, and (LeBlanc) told them that he's in Iraq and would love to hear from them. It just took off from there," Maher said.
When she broached the subject with the students' parents, they loved the idea. Many of the students also have family members in Iraq, including aunts and uncles.
"This is important because it teaches them life lessons," Maher said. "And how else do you make war positive for second-graders?"
"Soldiers are nice and they fight for our country," said Gabriella Elyamani, 7.
Once a month, the children have been putting together care packages — complete with toothpaste, goodies and even an Army-themed Build-A-Bear doll — and corresponding with Rodgers.
"We were trying to cheer him up, especially during the holidays," said Shelby Hanshaw, 8.
"We know there's nothing to be worried about because Soldier Gary is protecting us," added Allison Holliday, 7.
Maher attempted to persuade the children to modify their shortened name to "Sgt. Gary" as a sign of respect, but it was too late; "Soldier Gary" had stuck.
Luckily, Rodgers didn't mind, she said.
"On Christmas, does Santa bring presents to Iraq?" Allison wondered aloud.
"You'll have to ask him," Maher told her.
Rodgers writes thoughtful letters back and sends photographs that spark conversations and serve as learning tools. Maher pointed at a bulletin board in one corner of her classroom, featuring photographs of his two children, his camp and a mosque, among other things.
"We talked about what a mosque is, and showed the kids a globe and measured the distance to Iraq," she said. "I cover so many (mandatory) Sunshine State standards, but there are so many more things they need to learn."
Rodgers also sent each student a plastic "pog," or gift certificate used as currency in military areas of Iraq.
"I put mine in a little frame and put it on my wall so I can look at it, because we would never want to lose someone special to us," Gabriella said.
Oscar Soler, 8, said he put his with the rest brought home by his father, a military serviceman who also served in Iraq.
Maher said the most important lesson the students are getting is that of a personal connection to someone serving the country in a time of war.
"I know that when I was a kid, war scared me," she said. "But these kids aren't scared."
Now, each morning after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, Maher's students never forget to add the following words: "And please keep Soldier Gary safe."

Reporter Linnea Brown can be reached at 352-544-5289 or lbrown@hernandotoday.com.

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