By Dani Woodland
Cats falling into the ocean, boats flying on planes, gunmen who shoot at things in the water and fathers who leave their children to protect America?s freedom ? that is what war means to Joe Bellak?s third grade class at Rock Canyon Elementary School.
As part of a Veteran?s Day project, Rock Canyon students wrote or interviewed veterans of the armed services. One student, Klara Christensen, 9, sent a thank-you letter to her neighbor, Commander Andrew Howard of the U.S. Navy.
Her letter touched Howard so much that he shared it with all his men. They sent Bellak?s class a package complete with eight pictures, a flag that flew on a patrol boat and a three-page letter explaining what life is like in the Navy.
The children were wide-eyed as they looked at pictures of soldiers loading a boat onto a carrying aircraft and of the pets the sailors keep on the boat.
?It was a great letter because he wrote it in a way that kids could understand,? Bellak said. ?They?re third-graders; they can only understand so much. But they can understand that there are troops across the seas who miss their families ? who miss their kids.?
The students wrote letters filled with gratitude for the soldiers? service.
?Thank you for your sacrifices as men and women,? Klara?s letter said. ?Thank you for leaving your family and helping us be free. Also thank you for putting your lives in danger for our country, our families and me. Thank you for helping other countries to be safe too, and for protecting our freedom.?
While third-graders cannot learn about the complex politics associated with the war in Iraq, Camille Merkley, a student teacher in Bellak?s class, said the teachers wanted to give the children a personal view of what was happening.
?The media often shows a very negative view of the war,? said Merkley, who studies elementary education at BYU. ?It is important for them to learn to have their own opinion, and know that what they see on TV isn?t always the truth.?
In the letter he wrote back to Klara and her class, Howard briefly explained some jobs on their boat and told of funny experiences onboard that brought character to a far-away lifestyle.
The children laughed as they remembered one story Howard told in the letter. The crew watched one day as a cat chased a bird on the dock, and then took a flying leap into the ocean when the bird took flight.
The class saw another aspect of war when Howard?s wife and two little girls came to the classroom Monday. Merkley said seeing families like their own separated by war was a profound experience for the children.
?It made the war more real to them,? Merkley said.
The exchange of letters affected more than just the children in Mr. Bellak?s class. In his letter, Howard said the soldiers were touched to hear the gratitude of a little girl.
?Our country is at war, which is always a sad and difficult thing for everyone,? he said in the letter. ?We miss everyone back home, but we realize that our country has called us for protection from those who would do us harm? That is? why we really appreciate your support and kind letters! They remind us why we are here.?