Special students salute troops

Jeff Benson

Several special day students at Corona del Mar High School weren’t

quite sure why they sent letters, supplies and a talking, stuffed

bear to 49 men serving overseas. Some thought it was because their

teacher, Susan Thatcher, asked them to.

But on Monday, they learned just how much their support meant,

when Marine 2nd Lt. James Richardson’s mother, Debbie Richardson,

showed up in their classroom.

“As soon as things settle down over there, they may have time to

write back to you all,” Debbie Richardson said. “They absolutely love

letters and care packages. The one letter you wrote will probably

travel all across Iraq.”

Thatcher’s class adopted Richardson’s platoon for the month of

October and sent the troops letters, food and supplies. They even

sent a talking, stuffed Build-a-Bear they named Conroy to serve as

the platoon’s mascot.

The bear will tell the Marines, in Thatcher’s voice, “We love

you,” followed by the kids screaming “USA!”

The class raised $400 by folding and labeling the school’s PTA

newsletter, “The Spinnaker,” and students voted to spend the money on

the bear and supplies for the troops, because they’re learning about

productivity and community involvement.

Debbie Richardson, a Yorba Linda resident, told the class about

how much she misses her 23-year-old son, about military life and

about his responsibilities as a platoon leader. Her son’s platoon was

serving in Husaybah, located along the border of Iraq and Syria the

last time she heard from him, she said.

Thatcher hopes the troops will send back personal letters of their

own, so they can develop one-on-one correspondence with the students.

Kirra Busby, 12, said she was impressed with Debbie Richardson’s

visit.

“She has a son, and he’s got a girlfriend, and he’s in the war,

and it’s nice she came today,” Kirra said.

The kids bade farewell to Corona del Mar High School physical

education teacher Gary Mathieson last week, when he departed for

overseas duty in the Air Force Reserve. When he left, he took the

letters, supplies, the bear and a second, Air Force-themed bear they

made for Mathieson, Thatcher said.

“I asked students to make a wish,” Thatcher said. “When I walked

over to one of my students, Rob [Lim, 12], he put the bear’s heart on

his own and put his hand [in a salute position on his forehead]. No

one asked him to salute. It was one of those moments when you want to

cry, and I did.”