My Little Battle Buddy program launched at BHS
Logo created by jodicrumrinephotography©
This logo was created for the program. The stars and stripes making up the words are cut out from a photograph of the unit's flag in their armory. This personalizes the logo even more for the soldiers, students and children in the program. The My Little Battle Buddy program has officially launched in Bluestem. BHS juniors Kaylee Knoll and Harlee Shiermeister are the student organizers and Jodi Crumrine is the adult organizer for the program. The three have worked diligently to prepare a letter of commitment for student participants, match up the students with a battle buddy, hold meetings for those involved and even create a Facebook page for the program. The students involved are excited to participate and show their support to these military children. Currently, 56 pair of battle buddies have been matched up in the program. Students are corresponding with kids who live within the state of Kansas as well as other states. With the possibility of more names to come in the future, students who are interested can be placed on a reserve list.
On Veteran’s Day 2009, SPC Regan Gillespie, who is a soldier in the Kansas Army National Guard Unit 226th Engineering Company based out of Augusta, Ks, spoke to our student body about a program she started called My Little Battle Buddy. This unit recently deployed to Afghanistan. She wanted our students to participate in the program in order to show support for military families through the exchange of messages-either written or verbal-with a child, niece, nephew, or sibling of an active duty deployed soldier. The students will correspond with their buddy for at least the duration of one tour. Gillespie also plans to share her program with other units in order to allow families to experience the same type of community support. Gillespie is a 2008 graduate of BHS.
The students are currently gathering before and/or after school Friday, Feb. 5 and Monday, Feb. 8 to make Valentine’s Day cards for their buddy. There will be a Stuffed Animal/Small toy drive Feb. 16-19. The program is requesting members donate new or gently used stuffed animals/small toys to send their Battle Buddies. Boxes for shipping can be donated also.
Plans are already being made for other ways our students can help their Battle Buddy, and the deployed soldiers as well as the children of Afghanistan and/or Iraq. As the program and ideas grow, so will the items of need, so updates will be posted. This is a not for profit program, all monetary donations can be sent to BHS w/ memo reference to Battle Buddy. If you would be interested in assisting the My Little Battle Buddy Program, there are many ways to show your support. Items currently needed are stamps, birthday/holiday/assorted cards, various sizes of envelopes, stationary, scrapbook paper/stickers, etc.
If you would like to show support directly to the soldiers through letters, cards, etc. starting February 15, please contact Jodi Crumrine for the mailing address. SPC Gillespie can be contacted directly through her e-mail at regan.gillespie@us.army.mil.
The program organizers would like to thank the teachers, staff and students at BHS for their support and commitment shown for the My Little Battle Buddy program. For any further information or questions, please contact the program organizers mentioned above by calling BHS 316-742-3281 or e-mail jodicrumrine@usd205.com.
