Sonja Bailes
Special to the Press-Tribune
When Greenacres Middle School hosted an end-of-school ceremony, those in attendance were in for a patriotic surprise; a special message from troops in Afghanistan.
Earlier in the year, students donated drink mixes for U.S. soldiers and NATO troops in the Middle East. The GMS Drink Mix Drive was organized by teacher Laura Jorgensen, whose husband is serving overseas.
At the assembly, Lt. Col. Jim Melvin presented Principal Kathy Bouck with an American flag that was flown at the NATO headquarters in Kabul in honor of Greenacres Middle. She was also given a certificate and personal note of thanks from General John Allen.
In a special video message from Afghanistan, Lt. Col. Jorgensen also thanked GMS for its support and making the drink mix drive such a huge success. He added that an orphanage in Afghanistan also benefited from the drink mixes. Jorgensen also sent a photo of the actual U.S. flag presented to Greenacres as it flew in front of headquarters in Kabul.
It goes to show how much can be accomplished when we pull together and work toward a common goal.
