Serving those who service: RMAE sends letter and care packages to soldiers

Colton Meyers lives in Conifer and attends Rocky Mountain Academy of Evergreen, but his heart and mind are far away with the service men and women whose feet tread the sandy soil of distant lands.

Colton has learned a lot about the military and the hardship soldiers face through his brothers, Army Spc. Jesse Bavender and Marine Sgt. Joshua Bavender, both 22. The twins are Colton’s half brothers.

The brotherly connection gave Maria Indrehus’ and Kim Ross’ fourth-grade classes the inspiration for their part in the RMAE Community Service Day, an event celebrated April 29 by the entire school.

This year, students in other classes at the school work to make their world better by filling backpacks for an orphanage in Kenya, visiting with elderly and special needs groups, picking up trash, helping charity organizations, and planting trees.
This year, Colton’s fourth-grade classmates geared their service toward those in uniform by writing letters, making videos and assembling care packages destined for Jesse’s military unit.

Jesse is in Afghanistan, and Joshua is in North Carolina, awaiting a transfer to Okinawa.

Colton and his mom, Melanie Breeden, said packages shipped to her sons could take three months to arrive. She also believes that the soldiers will write back to the class, and her sons could possibly even visit the class.

“I’m sure there are a lot of projects the class could have done, but they decided to do this,” Breeden said. And she’s grateful.
Colton’s peers sit as quietly as fourth-graders can, a sea of blue, red and khaki uniforms, and they listen intently to his descriptions of military life.

At 11 years old, Colton already knows more than most adults about the military, about how much soldiers carry in their backpacks and that leave time is like a library book: being early is OK, but being late, “It’ll cost you.”

Kit Hager, 10, of Evergreen said she liked the project and had written a letter to a soldier and drew a picture of a dog in “class-A uniform.” The drawing, letter and a young man’s idea of the bare necessities (licorice, hard candy and gum) will go to a soldier somewhere in the world. Kit is also going to throw in some shampoo, Chapstick, deodorant and wipes for good measure.
The sacrifice of those who serve in the military isn’t lost on this group of kids.

“I am so grateful for people who risk their lives for our protection,” fourth-grader Ethan Terpstra wrote in his letter to an anonymous soldier.

“This is special and a nice thing to do,” he said of the project.

The fourth-graders hum with activity against a soundtrack of tearing wrappers and crinkling cellophane as students try to cram as much as possible into the small boxes.

Nail-care kits, razors, candy of every type, puzzle books, juice boxes, personal-care items and small reminders of home are all packaged up and ready to ship.

The kids hope the soldiers who open the boxes will see not only reminders of America but hear the sound of home.
Breeden is a veteran herself at speaking about her sons in the military, and she admits privately that she listens to the news, fearful of hearing negative reports.

For the students, she keeps positive but does explain that military life isn’t glamorous.

“It’s hard not having food or shelter, not having anyone to talk to. You have to be very self-sufficient,” Breeden said.
Knowing a child is going through that is hard for any mom to accept.

Breeden was asked what it’s like to be the parent of a serviceman, and Colton volunteered the answer.
“Mom cried when they shipped out,” he said.

From the High Timber Times, May 10, 2010