Students offer greetings to troops serving overseas

BY WADE COGGESHALL
December 5, 2008

DANVILLE — U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Alvin Rahm knows the importance a soldier puts on letters from home.

An 18-year veteran of the Army, Rahm has served in Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Friday morning he visited the North and South elementary schools here to personally thank students who wrote letters and cards to troops serving abroad.

“What you’re doing with these letters is very important,” he told students assembled in the cafeteria at North Elementary. “To get letters from young people like yourself is nice.”

Rahm told the students that he has children who are a little older than them.

“When I’m gone, I love getting letters from them,” he said. “It makes me feel so much better, knowing that they remember me and care. I know they do, but sometimes you forget from what you’re doing in the (military). It’s a morale boost.”

Becky Porter, a Danville resident and booking agent who runs Elite Comedy Productions, organized the letter-writing initiative at the schools. She coordinated a similar project at Plainfield’s elementary schools last winter.

On Friday, she and Rahm collected more than 300 letters and cards from students at North Elementary, and hundreds more at South.

“You have no idea what this means to all the (troops) stationed overseas,” Porter told the North students. “You did an awesome job.”

Students in grades first through third participated in the letter-writing campaign. Kathryn Raasch, principal at North Elementary, said her school has participated in projects like this before, but not on this scale. Nor have they ever had a member of the military come to personally thank them.

“For these little guys to know (what affect it has), they almost have to have the visual,” Raasch said.

The students seemed in awe of Rahm, who was in uniform. They asked him questions like why he joined the Army, what it’s like, and what kind of food he eats (they got really excited when they learned candy is included).

“That’s what it’s all about,” Raasch said of the interaction.

Many of these students have family members and relatives who’ve served overseas.

“It’s hit us, but it’s hit everybody by now,” Raasch said.

Their correspondence included standard letters and cutouts of troops wearing a variety of uniforms. One was even portrayed as a ninja. Porter said the letters will go to military personnel stationed in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.

Landon Keller, a Danville native and musician now living in Chicago, donated copies of his debut CD to be sent with the letters.

“I love to be a part of anything positive,” said Keller, who has performed at local benefits including Jam for Jackie. “I jump at any chance to do that.”

Porter, who has organized numerous military benefits, met Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Camarena through the Any Soldier website. Some of the letters will go to his unit in Iraq. Porter hopes to get photos from him of soldiers receiving the letters to show the students.

“I just thought this would be a good way to show our military they’re appreciated,” she said. “Especially around the holidays, it’s nice to hear from people back home.”

wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com