By Laura Lane
Rosemary Baum, assistant principal of Bowling Green Elementary School, regularly speaks with her daughter, former Hicksville resident Beth Orabona, who now lives at a U.S. military base in North Carolina with her two children. She is the wife of former Westbury resident Mike Orabona, who has been stationed for the last three months in Kandahar, Afghanistan. The 26-year-old is a staff sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division.
Baum said that, during one of her conversations, her daughter mentioned she was concerned that many of the men in her husband's division were not receiving mail. Beth Orabona said that she initially learned about the problem during a 10-minute phone call with her husband.
"Mike said that, when I sent a package, everyone crowded around it like he was holding a Santa Claus bag," she said. "There are a lot of guys who aren't married, and Mike said that many don't receive anything."
Beth Orabona had her concerns validated while attending a bi-monthly Family Readiness Group, which is an information meeting provided by the military for family members. Military personnel confirmed her suspicions. Many soldiers were not receiving mail.
Together, Baum and Beth Orabona brainstormed an idea to remedy the problem. Beth had heard that some North Carolina schools and churches had collected items and letters, and mailed them to soldiers in Afghanistan. She knew that the students had felt a personal need to do so, since most had family members stationed overseas. Baum suggested that the students at Bowling Green follow the North Carolina schools' lead, but her daughter was uncertain if the project was possible. She promised to discuss the idea with her husband.
Sgt. Orabona was interested and broached the subject with members of his platoon. Twenty-nine men agreed to become recipients of what is now fondly referred to as the "Adopt-A-Soldier" campaign at Bowling Green.
The program's main objective is to boost the morale of soldiers who are sacrificing so much for their country. Beth Baum believes the students' involvement will help them to feel they are doing their part to support their government in its commitment to fight terrorism, a concept that for many children is abstract, since the war is being waged so far away.
The Herald spoke to Sgt. John Robinson in Fort Bragg to confirm the lack of mail among soldiers. He agreed that soldiers in Afghanistan needed mail.
"Some of our men have received letters and items like sunscreen, foot powder and candy from a couple of local North Carolina schools and churches," Robinson said. "The men and women really enjoy this since some of the soldiers get no mail at all. For someone to talk to them and know that someone else cares means a lot since they are experiencing hard times over there."
According to Robinson, the turn-around time for mail delivery to Afghanistan is two days after being mailed by military personnel in North Carolina.
Before Sept. 11, 2002, Sgt. Orabona and his division participated in Operation Mountain Sweep in which they found weapons and ammunition. His division also took part in Operation Champion Strike. They captured a suspected al Qaeda financier, recovered rifles, booby traps, mortars, hand grenades, rocket launchers, rockets, heavy machine guns, military communications equipment and a poster of Osama bin Laden.
Beth Orabona said that her husband's unit has been fortunate thus far, sustaining only one injury. Regardless, she thought the strain could be difficult on those who do not receive any kind of support from back home.
When Sgt. Orabona heard that Bowling Green's program was definite, he immediately wrote a letter of encouragement to his mother-in-law, Baum, Bowling Green's assistant principal.
"Anything your school can send, even if it's lollipops and junk food, would be greatly appreciated," he wrote. "Every time we get mail here, it's like watching kids huddle around bags of candy collected after a Halloween night."
Bowling Green began its program on Sept. 19, and will continue it for the next few months. In many cases, teachers have used the letter writing as an opportunity to teach children the fine points of crafting a well-phrased letter, either having students write letters in class or requiring the completion of one as a homework assignment. Adopt-A-Soldier has also made students aware of the many dangers and sacrifices that U.S. military personnel experience each day as they defend the country.
"This program is very near and dear to my heart," Baum said. "It will be closely supervised, and no last names or addresses are being published. Each class has received the name of one soldier and a wish list that the soldier might want."
Baum is looking for items like snacks, playing cards, pens, small games and baby wipes. The packages will be small, owing to a procedure that requires that if a soldier is out on patrol and receives a box, he must carry it with him. Baum is considering approaching area businesses to see if they will donate packing materials and has requested cash donations from parents to pay for postage.
"We will have the kids do the actual packing as a service learning project, since there is an underlying need by kids to do things and help others," Baum said. "And it's important to tie this to 9/11. So much has been written that is negative regarding it. Kids need to see the greater good they can do."
To help Bowling Green's Adopt-A-Soldier program, call Rosemary Baum at (516) 876-7490. If your school would like to get involved, write to one of the following first sergeants at the address below, and they will be sure to give the letters to a soldier who is not receiving mail.
A co -- First Sergeant Parker
B co -- First Sergeant Morrison
C co -- First Sergeant Frias
D co -- First Sergeant Smith
H hc -- First Sergeant Roth
3/505 P.I.R.
Att: Adopt-A-Soldier
APO AE 09355
