February 23, 2006

Dear Mr. Moore:

I would like to thank you for the recognition that you gave both the 6th grade and
St. Cyril of Alexandria School. The kids were thrilled !!

The 6th grade has been working on the "Heart to Heart" campaign project for months.
We discussed as a class on how we could "connect" with others. We were sure that
everyone had a part to play in making this world a better place. In our minds we were
convinced that we could do something to make life better for someone, even in the
smallest of ways.

The 6th grade kids had made a connection with Sgt. Earl Shaw, a marine and one of
my former students, who was stationed in Iraq. Earl had visited the school last year
and made quite an impression on the kids. The kids thought that maybe we could
connect with him. So we did - through e-mail and cards. Earl told us about his job
(he is in communications) and what a difference the soldiers seemed to be making in
Iraq. The kids were so impressed that they wanted to do more for Earl and his buddies.
This is how the Pennies for Patriots campaign became an extension of the "Heart to
Heart" connection campaign. Kids dropped in pennies, dimes, quarters, dollars freely
and eagerly. They wanted to make life a little easier for our patriots in Iraq. Much to
the kids' joy, Earl e-mailed us and told us his unit would be coming home soon and to
use the funds on a party for the kids.

The kids did not want a party for themselves - they wanted to do something that would
connect them with the "Patriots" that they so admired. I talked to Mike Bookser [506th
Association Webmaster] and he suggested the Currahee Packages Project. The kids
were so excited to be able to "connect" with the 506th. As the kids told me, it makes
them feel like they are there helping in some way. A little heart goes a long way - it
even crosses continents.

Thank you for making my day

Suzanne Murray