OCR Text |
Show 8 HILLTOP TIMES TIMES April 3, 2008 Teens helping teens Deployed families get support from students at North Davis Junior High BY BETH YOUNG Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau byoung@standard.net C LEARFIELD — Most teenagers are happy to put some distance between themselves and their parents, but it can be a different situation when that distance is thousands of miles across an ocean. Because of its proximity to Hill Air Force Base, North Davis Junior High School has a higher concentration of students with parents in the military than other schools. "We have more deployed parents than most schools would," said teacher Jodi Hutchinson, who, along with guidance counselor Judee Murray, runs a school group for students with deployed parents. The school has taken a challenging situation and turned it into a positive. The group began meeting eight weeks ago and welcomes any student with a deployed parent. "It's a support group for students who are dealing with the same situation," Murray said. Although all had a major part of their lives in common, the students said they weren't friends before the group began. "The first time we got together, it was awkward/' said ninth-grader Catherine Moore, whose mother is deployed overseas with the National Guard. However, it didn't take long for the students to get to know each other. "With this group, you know that you are not alone," said eighth-grade group member Ambrya Hinshaw. 'These people will be there and comfort you, because they are awesome like that." For most of the students, just knowing there are others who understand what they are going through helps them cope. One rule of the group is that everything said must remain confidential, Murray said "It's nice to have people you can relate to about the same situation and know that they are going through the same stress as you are," said ninth-grader Brianna Gagner, whose father is deployed to Iraq. Although many of the students grew up with a par- BETh SCHLANKER/Standard-Examiner Ninth-grader Brianna Gagner, 15, ninth-grader Shelby Swiger, 15, eighth-grader Ambrya Hinshaw, 13, eighthgrader, Patricia Kenourgios, 13, and ninth-grader Pete Kenourgios, 15, sort through books to mail to a Korean orphanage at North Davis Junior High School in Clearfield on March 26. ent in the military, the situation can still present unique challenges. "I hear about the bombings and the killings all the time on the news, so it gets really scary," Ambrya said. Most students also deal with concerns for the parent who remains at home. "The hardest thing is seeing my mom struggle," said ninth-grader Shelby Swiger, whose father is deployed to Afghanistan. With one parent gone, the students' lives are different from most their age. "No matter how you slice it, they are carrying more responsibility," Hutchinson said. "That's the bummer of it — they don't have a choice." The students said they don't want anyone feeling sorry for them, and they didn't want to waste time with their group feeling sorry for themselves. "Our family (member) is gone, but we are not milking the fact that they are gone," Ambrya said. "We are getting out and doing something instead" The group's two faculty advisers planned to have the students work on a service project that would benefit the military. They were fortunate to find a project that would benefit one of their own. "I talked to my dad, and he said there was an orphanage right outside of the base he was at," said eighthgrader Giovanna Jones, whose father is in Korea with the Air Force. "He goes there with his friend to read to the kids and said they need books." For two weeks, the school group has been running a book drive for the Korean orphanage. "They felt like they were doing something besides just sitting at home worrying about their parents," Murray said of group members. The students have collected hundreds of books that they are now sorting and packing to ship to Giovanna's father. "He thought it was pretty cool," she said. "He said that he couldn't wait." The students may feel they are not in the best situation, but said they know there are others who have it worse. "They are great kids," Hutchinson said "I was excited to see how interested they were to do something for someone else." The students still need help shipping the books overseas. Anyone who would like to help can contact Murray or Hutchinson at 402-6500. 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift shows roots of Air Force mission the wings of the aircraft as I was flying Operation Vittles. by. From there on I was known as 'Uncle "During Operation Vittles, we deliv6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs Wiggle Wings,'" he said. ered more than 2,000 tons of food a day Halvorsen tied handkerchiefs to ACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, into Berlin," Halversen said. candy so it would float to the waiting Fla. — Air mobility leaders In the colonel's first cargo delivery children. He said in the beginning, the pigathered here March 24-28 into Tempelhof Airport Berlin, the Gerlots used their ration cards to get candy for the annual Phoenix Rally, during man crew unloaded 20,000 pounds of for the children. Later on, the public got which attendees acknowledged past flour. The German crew who unloaded word of what he was doing for the chiland present accomplishments while the aircraft set the tone for the operation. dren and candy was donated too. celebrating the 60th anniversary of "The lead man came toward the cockthe Berlin Airlift. pit unable to speak our language," the "The Berlin Airlift set the standards The theme of Phoenix Rally was "A colonel said. "His expression said it all. for which the Air Mobility Command legacy of global reach and hope," chosen He looked at the bag of flour and then operates today," Gen. Lichte said. "Back to recognize the Air Mobility Command's at us like we were angels from heaven. then, we had aircraft landing every three past, present and future. People were hungry for food and freeminutes, and today we have aircraft takAt this year's conference, attendees dom. We were giving them both and they ing off every 90 seconds. All around the acknowledged the historical accomplishwere most grateful." world, AMC airmen and aircraft continments of the Berlin Airlift along with ue to bring hope to those in need." American airmen delivered cargo to Berlin at a rate of one aircraft every Without the aircraft mechanics who three minutes. The sky was crowded changed engines in the middle of the with aircraft making flying hazardous. night and the ground control radar op"Seven people died within the first two erators, there would have not been as ' many planes available and the mission months," he said. could have been compromised. But evA turning point occurred on Good Friday when then-Maj. Gen. William H. Tun- eryone pulled together for a good cause. The Berlin Airlift lasted a total of 15 ner developed a plan on how the pilots months. would enter and exit Berlin to prevent Everyday Low Prices further aircraft crashes. The solution "The Berlin Airlift was the first conwas a three-runway system with two frontation of the Cold War, and it brought 2710 S. 1900 WjOgden, UT runways, entering on the right and the success without a single shot being left of the city. In the middle, there was fired," Lichte said. "It is one of the most an exit runway where aircraft merged to remarkable rescue missions of the 20th exit. century." • PAID ADVERTISEMENTOn the ground, Berliners waited to "This story is about all of you, not just FREE Seminar Reveals How To Save Thousands hear the roar of the engines. That siga story about long ago. Really it's a story naled the aircraft and their lifesaving about today," said Robert Frye, a Berlin When Buying A Home! Discover How To Buy loads. They waited along the runway and Airlift documentary producer. The Home You Always Wanted...Without The gates for the supplies. Today the Air Force uses a KC-135 "During one of my breaks I saw a Stratotanker to transfer cargo, fuel and Cash You Thought You Needed! passengers, similar to the tasks conNorthern, Utah - Paying rent is a waste You' II learn how easy it is to buy a home... group of children standing near a fence and sparked a conversation with them/' ducted in 1948. The average age of the of money. You give money to your and in many cases, keep your monthly KC-135 fleet is 47 years old, almost as old landlord, and all you get back is a canceled payments the same (or lower!) than your Halvorsen said. as the Air Force itself. He wanted to offer the children some check! Owning your own home and rent. gum but didn't have enough to go around, The Berlin Airlift is a significant piece building equity is the best choice. If you'd like to build equity through so he split it into as many pieces as he of Air Force history; setting the stanBut, most renters think they need a 20% owning your own home, you must could. Although there wasn't enough for dard which the Air Force still upholds, down payment and will have to lay out attend this Seminar. You'll be shown how all the children, some of the children Halvorsen said. "Tbday Air Mobility more money each month if they buy owning a home can actually put more were simply happy to just smell the gum Command travels faster, farther and a home. This is simply a myth your money in you monthly paycheck and how wrapper. He said that touched his heart with a greater load. But one thing hasn't landlord would like yoivto k?ep believing to save thousands of dollars in taxes and and he promised the children he would changed since 1948: the airmen and their is true! A FREE §erninar is being held interest. come back with more candy for them. attitudes. They continue to exemplify to teach you thft little known secrets of Call 1-800-258-1861, ext. 190,24 Hrs, integrity, service before self and excel"They asked, 'How would they know' buying a home no one wants you to know! FREE Recorded Message. CALL NOW! lence in all we do." it was me? I told them I would wiggle Complimerts of Axiom Mortgage/Coldwell Banker BY SENIOR AIRMAN STEPHENIE WADE M Bulk Amm special guest, retired Col. Gail Halvorsen, the Berlin Candy Bomber. "This year is special because we are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift," said Gen. Arthur J. Lichte, the commander of Air Mobility Command. "The Berlin Airlift represents the roots for which our Air Force was built; especially Air Mobility Command." The airlift began in 1948 in Germany when the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin, which left 2 million residents without a way to import food or supplies they needed to survive. The only available supply for the city was by air. The United States, British and French armed forces came together to deliver food, medicine and other supplies in what became known as |