Soldiers'+Night+Before+Christmas+2011+&+2012

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A very simple tradition at a school on Fort Hood is making a big difference to military students and to soldiers. At Oveta Culp Hobby Elementary School almost every student is tied to the military so it made sense five years ago when a soldier with the school’s Adopt-A-School partner suggested some holiday reading. On Thursday, six soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 227th Aviation Regiment took turns reading to students in the school library.
 * Soldiers Read at Hobby **
 * By Todd Martin **

Kenzie Harding, a warrant officer for the battalion, said she doesn’t have kids, but has seen the importance of her presence at the school. “It’s important for someone to have that presence and to be supportive,” she said. “Some of these kids have parents gone.”

The younger students especially were impressed as they walked into the library and saw the large image of a crackling fire in a fireplace digitally posted on the wall. They sat and listened to Christmas or holiday related stories and they happily asked questions and told stories of their own pets, families and hopes for new toys next week. “These soldiers love to come support us,” said Hobby librarian Kristin Coffield. “This is a way for us to come together as a school and something special that means home.”

One of the teachers, third-grade instructor Craig Laurenson was smiling particularly broadly as a soldier read to his students. It was Laurenson, a soldier in the 227th five years ago, who came up with the idea for holiday reading at the school. The event is called A Soldier’s Night Before Christmas. Now he’s in his third year teaching at the same school his former unit adopted. “What’s important is that they love it,” said Laurenson. “It’s great that the unit is continuing on. A lot of these students have been through deployment and they love to see the soldiers. “We were like superstars coming through here,” he said of being a soldier visiting a school. “One of the most interesting comments I heard a lot was ‘You smell like my dad.’ I don’t know if it’s the uniform or what.”

It was special to soldiers, too, even to one who doesn’t have children. “As a kid Christmas is awesome,” said Harding. “You hit this middle ground where you’re not sure you want to do it. These kids get so excited. It rebirths the magic when you’re around the kids and you see that it’s worth the time it takes.”

December 20, 2012

December 14, 2011

Soldiers' Night Before Christmas

Four soldiers from our Adopt-A-Unit came to our school to read holiday books with all our students. It was a wonderful experience and we hope to continue this event each year! __Soldiers: __ * Specialist Fletcher * Specialist Johnson * Private Mestaz * Private Whetman

 