Bringing it home

Photos and story by Colleen Drache Vernon — Angela Garofalo had heard that some soldiers overseas could use a boost. As the parent of fifth-grader at Lounsberry Hollow school, she encouraged her daughter Emily’s class to write letters and send pictures to Jonathan Hulse, an Apache helicopter pilot stationed overseas. The youngsters took up the mission in hopes their efforts would make a difference in Hulse’s life. So off went the letters and pictures to Iraq along with care packages and snacks. It didn’t take long after Hulse received their missives that the students heard back from the soldier. He sent a certificate of appreciation to the class and an American flag that had flown on board an Apache helicopter during a combat mission in Baghdad. On Feb. 10, the student’s teacher, Matt Ferguson, presented this flag to the class.