Elementary

Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Mappin

Petty Officer 2nd Classmark Mark Cowan, a canine handler, and Rex, take a moment in the shade after the opening 4th of July ceremonies at Camp Eggers. Both Cowan and Rex are wearing red, white and blue boutonnieres sent to servicemembers from school children in Mount Pleasant, Mich. More than 3,000 boutonnieres were sent to distribute to deployed servicemembers for the holiday.

Servicemembers learn Civics lesson from the hearts of school children

by Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Mappin

KABUL, Afghanistan — “Dear Soldier, I am sending you a smile. I care about you. Sincerely, Ashtyn.” This note, one of 3,000 from students in Mount Pleasant, Mich., was handed to a servicemember at Camp Eggers during this year’s celebration of Independence Day.

As part of “Project R.O.S.E.B.U.D.,” messages were attached to cards adorned with red, white and blue boutonnières and sent to deployed troops. The program was born in 1990 when Dr. Larry Baran, a special education teacher in the southeast Chicago school districts, spearheaded various community service projects involving his disabled and special education students.

For the past 18 years, disabled school children have assembled and distributed more than 4 million miniature lapel boutonnières to American servicemembers and dignitaries worldwide since Operation Desert Storm and Desert Shield.

According to Patricia Kjolhede, a Beal City Public Schools elementary school teacher in Mount

Pleasant, the project has been a Civics lesson in the making, and one from the heart.

“I have been doing Project Rosebuds with Dr. Baron since he first started the project. My second and third graders wrote notes with the boutonnières,” Kjolhede said. “As a result of our efforts, we had some wonderful discussions about patriotism and service.”

In addition to writing to servicemembers, the students have presented boutonnières at various high-profile events in Washington, D.C. and a ceremony in New York City honoring firefighters and victims who died during the events on 9/11. During this year’s Independence Day celebration at Camp Eggers, the boutonnieres were passed out to servicemembers honoring their service.

“I think it’s great to know the kids back home are talking about us and that they’re thinking of us,” said McAllen, Texas, native Petty Officer 2^nd Class Mark Cowan. “I am touched the kids care about us so much that they’d take the time to remember us.”

Baran and his students from across the United States have taken pride in ensuring deployed servicemembers are remembered as they serve overseas. In more recent years Baran has limited his involvement with Project R.O.S.E.B.U.D.

Disabled from complications due to cancer, Baran retired from teaching in 1997. In spite of his

current battle with cancer, he is still involved in the efforts to honor America’s servicemembers.

“I am still perpetually looking to continue to use my time, talent and treasure to make an impact,” Baran said. “When you are centered from the heart you can go and touch the world!”

Kjolhede said the project requires little effort, but the lessons learned are life long.

“My students have learned that caring doesn’t need to cost money. It takes only time and thoughtfulness,” she said.

Below is a letter received by Principal Saltarelli:

Dear Principal Saltarelli;

I would like to pass along my thanks you, your staff, and especially to Mrs. Kjolhede and one of her students, Jason, for the recent 'Dear Soldier' card I received while deployed to Afghanistan. Amazingly, this is my first deployment in 24 years in the Army, and I have only been at the facility here in Kabul for all of 3 days. I received the small card with the note from Jason and the attached "Star Spangled Banner Boutonniere" as I came in the gate this morning, Friday, July 4th. It was great reminder of the importance Americans place on freedom and liberty. It is also heart-warming to know that we, the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines serving overseas, have the support of the American people as we try to help the Afghan people establish their governmental systems, re-build the infrastructure (roads, schools, medical facilities, etc), and develop their economy.

Keep up the great work! Teaching and the Adminstration of our schools are very important, yet under-recognized professions. Our democracy relies on an informed and educated citizenry, and our elementary and secondary schools form the foundation of our educational system.

I did not find Mrs. Kjolhede's email address on your school web-site (as I did yours), so I will send a written thank you to her and to Jason, though my guess is that it may not reach them until next school year.

Respecfully,

Andrew Schubin

Lt. Col., U.S. Army

Kabul, Afghanistan