A Gift from Afghanistan

Last fall one of Mrs. Monico's students suggested they all write notes to a civilian who is serving our country in a war zone in Afghanistan. Everyone in the 8th grade classes participated. Some wrote notes of thanks for serving, others sent notes of encouragement and some wrote about the Nebraska football team.

What came as a surprise to the students and Mrs. Monico was that this man created a shadowbox for the class. He had the shadowbox delivered to the school and Mrs. Overkamp presented it after daily Mass today. He asked not to be identified so we are respecting that wish here.

The shadowbox contains coins, a US flag and a certificate.

On 30 December 2009 this flag was flown on a combat rescue mission

over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom

in honor of the 8th grade class at St. Columbkille School.

Mrs. Monico used this as a teaching moment to

emphasize how the little things that you do can

really have a large effect on others.

All the 8th graders gathered with the shadowbox.

First they prayed for all the military.

Then they prayed for all who have fallen in service of our country.

Then they had their picture taken.

They also heard secondhand the impact their letters had made; how they were read over and over. They heard how even those serving as civilians are sometimes diving under their desks during bombings. And they were encouraged to appreciate all the little things like crayons that children in Afghanistan are often without.

Thank you 8th Graders!