Wheeler students make quilts for troops

Wheeler Avenue School students helped make the holiday season a little brighter for troops arriving home at Baltimore-Washington International Airport this month.

Two fourth-grade classes created quilts that are hung at the Maryland airport for the holiday season. Soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines arrive there, then head home to their families.

Students in Erin Maywald and Diane Gorman's classes worked on the quilts in December, and idea that came from parents. Every child created one patch on their respective class's quilt. Karen Ye, a fourth-grade student, said "Welcome Home" and "Thank You" were common messages. A lot of students did their designs in red, white and blue.

"They're serving our country, protecting us," Roy Longarzo said of the troops. "They know that we're supporting them."

Nicholas Cavaliere, whose uncle is in the Army, said it was a good opportunity for him and his classmates to express their gratitude.

Principal Dr. Gayle Steele said the quilts were made in place of having the students make a more traditional holiday craft. She said the quilts were very nice and clearly made with love and care. "It's just nice to see how the kids want to do things like this," she said. "They want to give back."