Hartshorn's Day of Service, Connecting with Troops

Hartshorn students and families put together care packages for U.S. troops serving in Afghanistan Monday, met parents who have been or are currently in the Armed Forces and talked with soldiers in as part of their Martin Luther King school day.

In making up a "snow day" by attending school for half a day on Monday, students performed a day of community service in honor of Martin Luther King's birthday.

"It was a truly memorable day," said Principal Ron Castaldo. "We packed 25 cases of supplies, Skype worked perfectly, students were able to ask the soldiers questions and all the adults were moved to tears by the moment."

Students and parent volunteers joined Castaldo and staff in the cafeteria for an assembly to talk with Castaldo's niece, Capt. Karen Berggren and her fellow soldiers in the Paladin battalion in Afghanistan, where they find and deactivate or destroy roadside bombs buried in the roads.

They also met Hartshorn parents who have been or are currently in military service, including 2nd grader Aidan Ouckama's father, National Guardsman Benjamin Ouckama, who drove a Humvee to the event and showed it to the children.

Students heard about the unit’s mission and got a chance to ask questions.