Students create cards for airmen who will spend holiday at Seymour Johnson
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on December 6, 2005 1:50 PM
Students in four Wayne County Public Schools started their Christmas card lists early this year, in hopes of making the holidays a little brighter for airmen at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
During the month of November, first-graders from Rosewood, Eastern Wayne, Tommy's Road and Meadow Lane elementary schools created hundreds of cards for those living in the barracks during the holidays.
Photo submitted
Students at several Wayne County elementary schools created holiday cards for Seymour Johnson airmen who will be spending their Christmas on base this year.
The cards were part of the Officer and Civilian Spouse's Club annual Airmen's Cookie Drive. This year, the club is working to provide a personal care package of home-baked goodies along with a personalized Christmas card from a Wayne County first-grader to each of the 600 single airmen living in the dormitories. Additional cards will be sent to airmen serving overseas.
"The holidays are rapidly approaching and for many of our young airmen, this is their first Christmas away from home," said D. Vie Walchli, chairman for the cookie drive. "To help brighten the season for these airmen and to let them know that their community appreciates their service and sacrifice, the OCSC organizes an annual holiday cookie drive."
Superintendent Dr. Steven Taylor said the school district is proud of its association with the base -- and the children's holiday efforts.
"Our schools are proud of the men and women in blue," Taylor said. "We're glad our students can help show Seymour Johnson airmen how much Wayne County Public Schools appreciates them and the job they do at home and abroad."
The OCSC is a private support organization at the base whose focus is to help better the morale and welfare of base personnel and their families.