9th BS thanks local students for support

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Joel Mease
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
More than 60 students, teachers and parents of the Wylie Intermediate School fourth grade class attended one of the final stops of the 9th Bomb Squadron’s flag presentation to 11 schools across the Abilene area Monday.

The American flags were flown in a B-1 April 22, 2005, over Afghanistan to show appreciation for those students who had stayed in touch with squadron members who were deployed.

The program started because local school children wanted a way to show their appreciation to Dyess Airmen while they were deployed, said Mitch Davis, Wylie Intermediate School principal.

Those students showed their appreciation in the form of banners, cards and letters. Their appreciation was deeply felt by those Dyess Airmen deployed far from home.

“There is no better reminder of home when you’re sitting there working and you see what they have done for you. It’s a huge morale booster for us,” said Capt. Erich Grade, 9th BS weapons system officer.

Because the squadron was deployed over the holidays, receiving mail from the students was one of their fondest memories from the deployment, said Capt. Mark Wass, 9th BS weapons system officer.

“Many of the single guys who didn’t normally get mail were excited to get letters from students. Just the fact that the kids would take time to write to us was a nice reminder that people do care about what we are doing,” Captain Wass said.

Several of the deployed members sent photos back to their spouses showing the work the kids had done for them, Captain Wass said. Many of the spouses said it would be nice for them to return the favor and recognize the students for their hard work. The spouses then got a list of which schools had sent letters, so they could fly the flags for them, he said.

The return gesture to the students was very important for the students to see, the principal said.

“It gave the kids who don’t have a parent in the military a chance to see that what they sent out to those troops was appreciated. It also gave them the opportunity to appreciate what their fellow classmates who do have parents in the military go through,” Mr. Davis said.

The following schools were presented a flag in appreciation for the their support of Dyess Airmen: Clark Middle School, Cooper High School Air Force Junior ROTC, Dyess
Elementary, Johnston Elementary, Lee Elementary, Lincoln Middle School, Mann Middle School, Thomas Elementary, Wylie Intermediate, Wylie Middle School, and Wylie Elementary.