Hewlett students send Christmas cheer to soldiers

Two fifth grade classes at Hewlett Elementary School spread Christmas cheer by participating in DHL’s Trees for Troops, a charitable program which has sent 5,000 Christmas trees to soldiers serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bahrain and Kuwait.

Stephanie Schwartz and Lauren Hargreaves’ classes made paper ornaments and holiday cards, thanking the soldiers for their service, in preparation for the event on Dec. 5, where the two classes accompanied DHL trucks to John F. Kennedy Airport to help with the send off.

“Students, workmen, volunteers and veterans helped load the trees, cards and ornaments onto the airplane,” Schwartz said. “The students met the pilot and touched the trees before they were loaded.”

Iqra Kapazwala’s favorite part of the Trees for Troops experience was helping load the plane for take-off. “We got to do something for them,” she said of the soldiers. “I’ll always remember that I got to do something special.”

Taylor Ferrara spoke in front of the crowd of veterans, volunteers, soldiers and other classmates at the Trees for Troops ceremony at John F. Kennedy Airport. “I enjoyed it because it’s an experience I’ll never get to do again in my life,” the fifth-grader said. “I spoke about how the soldiers make the world a better place.”

Hewlett Elementary has participated in Trees for Troops since its inception in 2004. “It’s nice to see it grow,” Hargreaves said of the charitable program. “It’s now a huge event and when the soldiers speak it really impacts the kids and brings to life the importance of giving. The kids gave up recess and their lunch time to make holiday cards and ornaments and they get to hear the impact they have.”

Fifth grader Ariana Baksh felt special to participate. “My favorite part was when I read (at the Trees for Troops ceremony) because I expressed my feelings to soldiers who made a difference in our country,” she said.

Soldiers are heroes to fifth grader Jared Lake. “I’ll always remember it,” he said of the experience. “A solider is a hero because they protect our country and if they didn’t do this for us we wouldn’t be here.”

Trees for Troops serves as a reminder of the true meaning of the holidays, Hargreaves said. “Often times the holidays are so much about material items and it’s a good reminder for adults and children alike about what the holidays are really about,” she said. “It’s a time to appreciate what others do for us and reflect on those who give us such a comfortable life.”

Schwartz said it took little time for students to do something nice for the soldiers. “Helping carry a tree, making holiday cards and ornaments took just minutes but giving the soldiers an opportunity to experience home and the things they miss, it didn’t take much time for them to make a difference.”