 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Symbolic gift thanks airmen's pen pals
By JANEL STEPHENS ST. PETERSBURG -- This American flag had flown over Afghanistan, and Tuesday afternoon it became a gift of thanks from airmen to students at Holy Family Catholic School. In a special ceremony at the school attended by more than 200 students, medical officers from MacDill Air Force Base presented the flag to students in appreciation for letters their unit had received. Master Sgt. Navoy Frederick and Staff Sgt. Joy De La Cruz folded the flag 13 times, each having a special meaning. "The first fold of our flag is a symbol of life," Staff Sgt. Richard Keene explained to the kids. "The second fold is a symbol of our belief in eternal life," he said. The significance of the folds ranges from a tribute to the armed forces, to womanhood and fatherhood, and to those who died to defend the country. Such a flag had never been ceremoniously presented to a school before. Maj. Ray Legenza, Air Force officer and team chief of the Critical Care Air Transport Teams, handed it over in thanks for cards, gift packages and letters -- more than 230 of them -- sent by the kids to the 320th Expeditionary Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. "I think the reason this is important is because we all have the responsibility to work toward peace," said Pam Ferguson, coordinator of the school's project, who teaches sixth-grade religion and kindergarten at Holy Family, 250 78th Ave. NE. "We can't go over and fight this war. What we can do is support those that are fighting the war for our freedom." The outreach project falls under this year's school theme, "Journey to Sainthood." Students from kindergarten through eighth grade sent cards. Ms. Ferguson urged parents to donate everything from candy and beef jerky to shirts and hats. "What you have done is something very extraordinary," said Col. Alan Newton, commander of the Sixth Medical Group at MacDill, which includes the squadrons deployed overseas. "You've reached out over 8,000 miles to lift someone's spirit. When (the service members) get packages that you send them, it really touches their hearts." In addition to a letter of thanks, Legenza gave squadron patches off his flight suit to five students. One student who received a patch, John McCarthy, is in Ms. Ferguson's sixth-grade religion class. "The patch is sitting on the corner of his desk," Ms. Ferguson said. She said the boy was in awe when he got the patch. "He said, 'This is the best gift I've ever received.' "
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times South Pinellas desks |
