Photo By Col. Wayne Marotto | Capt. William Richardson (left), of Tehachapi, Calif., and Lt. Col. Michael Shrout, of...... read more read more
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By Lt. Col. Wayne Marotto
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division
BAGHDAD, Iraq – Students from Rylander Elementary School, located in Katy, Texas, partnered with students at the Flowers of the Future school in Salman Pak, Iraq, during a school supply drop by a team of Multi-National Division - Baghdad Soldiers from Task Force 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad.
The Texas students collected more than 1,000 school supply items, to include glue, scissors, crayons, markers, books, paper and pencils. The money to pay for the shipping costs to Iraq was donated by Katy area businesses.
Capt. Stephen Johnson, who is assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., along with his wife, Tracy, and Ashley Josey, all of whom are from Katy, helped to coordinate the school supply partnership.
Johnson, whose son, Warner, attends Rylander Elementary, said he wanted to teach his son and his classmates the importance of giving. He asked his sister-in-law, Kathleen Briggs, a teacher at Rylander Elementary, to help his son and classmates collect the school supplies.
"They [Iraqis] give their children the best education that they can, and these supplies will significantly enhance their education," said Johnson.
The school supplies were distributed by a civil affairs team from Task Force 2-6 Infantry at the grand opening of the newly renovated school. Approximately 700 students attend the school, which employs 15 teachers and has 17 classrooms.
"This is a great day for the children of the Marquez Mada'in," said Lt. Col. Michael Shrout, of Renton, Wash., commander of TF 2-6. "Their school was refurbished by local Iraqi labor, secured by Iraqi security forces and the Sawah."
The school was refurbished with labor provided by 90 students from the Salman Pak area. The students provided their service through the Civil Service Corps Program, and the funding provided by coalition forces.
Shrout said the project is one in a series of infrastructure improvements in the Salman Pak area.
The excitement of the moment was apparent as the Soldiers handed out the school supplies to the Iraqi students, who adopted the Rylander Rhino mascot for the day.
"The smiles on the faces of the children and the parents gives us a sense of accomplishment," said Capt. William Richardson, a native of Tehachapi, Calif., the commander of Company C, Task Force 2nd Bn., 6th Inf. Regt. "Many of the parents and local leaders have told me they attended the school and are very happy it has been restored. It is an important part of the personal history for many in this community."
| Date Taken: | 01.14.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 01.14.2009 04:10 |
| Story ID: | 28810 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 335 |
| Downloads: | 224 |
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