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Convicted by honor, and armed with pride, a gambit of
emotions has been spent by those willing to sacrifice and the personal
indulgences here at home fanning the flame that keeps Liberty's torch
lighted.
It is our privilege as patriotic supporters and the Village
of Constantine to be host of the second annual "Prayers in Bubbles."
Please join us as we pay tribute to our Nation's birthday in celebration
of a fundamental obedience, a belief that American youth has responded to,
a summons that does ring Freedom's bell, and fosters the shot that is
truly resounded around the world.
Prior to this paramount dedication, we must focus. Focus
on our individual contribution and the many tasks, that aligned with one
another, we may function in unison to become an interdependent force, a
force that exceeds the ability of one, and emphasizes a credence of what
our country is founded upon.
Thus, with your willingness to participate, a message will
secrete and forge the exigent of spirit. So thus in doing so, others do
experience the passion that defines America.
"Prayers
in Bubbles" is a simple act where we write letters. Letters to the
enlisted serving abroad (in conflict or in kind), thanking them for their
commitment and devoutness, by paying tribute with garner, a parade and
taking a moment to salute our soldiers in solace, and releasing as many
bubbles as one can - Wow.
P.S. I will blow a bubble for you!
Click on this photo for a larger version |
What's New
Links:
Let's
Say Thanks
(send an ecard to a soldier) 8-06
USS New
DD-DDE 818
America  Supports
You
Local students Pen Letters to Soldiers
Jordan Wilson, 9, a fourth-grader at
Westlake Elementary School, said he hopes his letter gets to his uncle who
is serving in Iraq
Support Your Troop Day
2/14/2006 11:00:00 AM
Valentines Sent to Soldiers to Help Boost Morale
By
Maribeth Holtz
Sturgis
Journal
Bonnie
Mort's third-grade students could hardly sit still Monday.
What started as a project to write a Valentine's Day letter to a
soldier overseas developed into plans to start a competition between
other classes to write letters. The students raised their hands in
excitement, chipping in ideas of putting together a red, white and
blue assembly for Eastwood School to get more kids to write letters.
They are the torch that keeps America bright, said Tod Witek,
founder of Prayers in Bubbles, an organization that encourages
writing letters to soldiers. There's a lot of innocence with kids
that make this project worth doing.
Witek encouraged schools in Sturgis, Constantine, Centreville,
Colon, Howe and more to send a Valentine to a soldier while they
were making out Valentines for each other.
Fourth-grade student Megan Danielle Courtney and fifth-grader Julio
Auilar came to the class to tell the students about letters they
received back from the soldiers they wrote to at around Christmas.
Mort's class then wrote their letters with the help of Witek and
State Rep. Rick Shaffer.
Shaffer, R-Three Rivers, has been involved with Prayers in Bubbles
for two years and said kids have a special enthusiasm that generates
to families and neighborhoods. He was especially encouraged by
Mort's class.
It's great to include our young people, Shaffer said. We need to
foster an awareness of the things happening in the war situation.
It's great to have young people a part of this.?
Shaffer said while it's good to have big campaigns, the focus should
never be taken off of the soldiers themselves.
Army Maj. Ryan Regtuyt knows first-hand how letters from children
affect soldiers. Originally from Constantine and now stationed in
Balad, Iraq, Regtuyt said he received letters from Prayers in
Bubbles at Christmas.
The positive effects of receiving encouraging letters or mail from
fellow Americans is a burst of motivation and seems to improve the
sense of pride in the difficult tasks here, he wrote in an e-mail.
Prayers in Bubbles, a local organization, sent out about 5,000
letters at Christmas time, including letters from Mort's class.
The letters they wrote last time were so sincere, you just get
choked up, Mort said.
Witek's goal is to send a total of 10,000 letters from Michiana to
soldiers overseas. The organization, which started three years ago,
has sent 6,000 so far.
Maribeth Holtz is a staff writer for the Journal. Contact her at
holtz@sturgisjournal.com
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