Rockville Centre students learn they do make a difference

Chris Van Dyke, the brother of Kathleen Brosnan, a Rockville Centre resident, is currently serving in the Army in Afganistan. He recently came home on a two-week leave. While home, he stopped by Covert Elementary School and St. Agnes Cathedral School to thank students for the letters and candy they have sent him and his fellow troops. He said the visits were important to him because he wanted to let all the children know how much the soldiers appreciate getting mail and packages from home.

  Chris visited Covert in the morning of Jan. 28 and spoke in a number of classes on all grade levels. The kids were very excited to talk with him and loved that he thanked them for writing and sending over their Halloween candy.

  He then stopped by St. Agnes and went to Mrs. Phelan’s second grade class where Quinn was a star student and Chris was the special guest. They had a long discussion about the Army and Chris handed out American flag necklaces and thanked the students for their letters. While at St. Agnes, he visited with fifth graders, stopping by each classroom to thank the students for writing letters to the servicemen and women. The kids were very warm and welcoming and had many questions. They asked him to return after he finishes his tour in Afghanistan.

 Chris said he felt a strong obligation to thank the students because he wanted to let them know that it does make a difference in the world when you do things for others. He said it really boosts morale when troops get something from home when they are serving overseas.