Letters from home: Students write words of support

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Sarah Gregory
  • 31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy --  Support from fellow Americans can mean a lot to military members, whether it's in the form of a care package or just words of thanks. 

Knowing how important that support is to the servicemembers inspired one patriotic woman to take action. 

When fifth grade teacher Virginia Winegar learned a group of Airmen returning from deployment would be stopping at Aviano the same time she was there to see her cousin, she decided to have her students write thank-you letters. 

"We had just gotten through discussing the American Revolution and they were so excited," said Mrs. Winegar. "Since we have to do writing assignments, I thought this would be a great way for the kids to accomplish that." 

The letters were handed out to more than 200 Airmen who were waiting in Hangar One while the plane that would take them home was re-fueled. Operation Yellow Ribbon, a program designed to support troops passing through and deploying out of Aviano, was also on scene with home-made baked goods, snacks, drinks and books. Mrs. Winegar's cousin, Anna Marie Chandler, is a yellow ribbon volunteer who told her about the opportunity to meet returning Airmen. 

During the layover, Mrs. Winegar took the time to meet with many of the Airmen, hear their stories and pass out the letters her students had written. She also showed them a picture the school principal had taken of the fifth grade students lined up in the form of a giant human "thank you" note. 

The request for letters was met with enthusiasm from her students, and Mrs. Winegar said they have plans to write more. 

"I want my kids to understand what military members do and what they sacrifice for us," she said. "We've had vets come speak in our classroom and the students love to hear the stories of the members." 

Mrs. Winegar, who has full-grown children of her own, said that as she gets older, she appreciates more and more what she has and what military members sacrifice to protect that. 

"It's been a very emotional experience. I can't believe I got to be here to do this," she said. "A lot of these people are close to my children's age. I try to instill patriotism in my own kids and my students. The reason we get to be Americans and have the life we do is because of the people like these ladies and gentlemen," said Mrs. Winegar. "They are why we get to sit in our classrooms." 

Operation Yellow Ribbon began five years ago and runs strictly on volunteer time and donations of money, food and baked goods. Donations can be taken to the Airman and Family Readiness Center in the flightline area. To volunteer or prepare food, e-mail Deborah Watson at clanwatson@sbcglobal.net with a duty or daytime number and an evening or cell phone number. Volunteers should to be flexible due to last-minute plane schedule changes.