By Nicole Falco
Schimenti, an East Rockaway native, visited the Valley Stream nursery school Tuesday morning, just two days after arriving on Long Island. Students and teachers finally got to meet the man they had been corresponding with since last December.
Karen Kiefel, a teacher at the school, suggested the school "adopt" Schimenti last November, when she learned that he had been assigned to a second tour of duty in the Middle East. Kiefel and Schimenti's mother are friends.
Sally Weiss, nursery school director, readily agreed, and students and teachers responded enthusiastically. The school's 2-, 3- and 4-year-old classes in both the morning and afternoon sessions decorated 100 miniature Christmas trees for Schimenti, and he shared them with his fellow soldiers. The children sent him cards, drawings and care packages. They even sent him sunshine - pictures they had drawn.
"It was endless," Schimenti said of the correspondence he received from the school. "I gave a lot of things out because not a lot of people had an opportunity like this - to be adopted by a nursery school."
Schimenti, who will report to the Pentagon after a brief visit with his parents, Anne and Donald, sent photos of himself and Afghanistan to the students. Without getting into too much detail about the war, the students learned about Schimenti's life and his role as a sailor.
In preparation for his visit, students made patriotically themed arts and crafts, including stars and flags, with which they decorated the hallway between classrooms. They learned how to salute and sing songs like "Yankee Doodle Dandy." As Schimenti, a 1989 Lynbrook High School graduate, visited each classroom, he was saluted and serenaded. The older students also had many questions for "Soldier Andrew."
To conclude his visit, Schimenti met with the Rev. Brenda S. Overfield, pastor of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, and shared snacks with the 2-year-olds. "It's nice to be home," he said. "It's nice to be recognized by a bunch of little kids who are just so happy to see your face."
While in Kabul, Schimenti was assigned to Combined Forces Command Afghanistan. At the Pentagon, he works as a briefer in the Chief of Naval Operations Intelligence Plot office. And for the past two years, he has served as a member of the White House Social Aide Program, an elite team that assists the president and first lady during official social events.
