Young writers to send out Christmas greeting to troops

Local military personnel who are currently on active duty and could not return to the CNMI for the upcoming holiday season are in for a treat.

The Pacific Star Center for Young Writers is currently organizing packets to be mailed to almost 300 military personnel. Each packet would consist of 8-10 letters and a T-shirt specially made for the project, dubbed as Project Holiday Cheer.

The packets include letters written by kindergarten to high school students from various schools on Saipan, as well as from the Pacific Star, Office of the Governor, and the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Schools that participated in the project were Dandan, Garapan, Gregorio T. Camacho, Kagman, Koblerville, Oleai, San Antonio, San Vicente, Tanapag, and William S. Reyes elementary schools; and Marianas and Saipan Southern high schools.

Private schools include Calvary Christian Academy, Grace Christian Academy, Mount Carmel School, Northern Marianas Academy, NMC Lab School, and Saipan Community School.

As of yesterday, almost 3,000 letters have been collected and are currently being sorted at the Pacific STAR Center, with the assistance of several Dandan Elementary School students.

“I [brought] my students here to help out because I support the troops who are abroad, and since they won’t be home for Christmas, I feel for them and their families,” said 6th grade teacher Sonya Fegurgur, whose son also serves in the U.S. Armed Forces. “I wanted my son to receive some so he would feel less homesick.”

The project, coordinated by Pacific STAR director Katharyn Tuten-Puckett, got underway earlier in the month.

“Pacific STAR promotes writing among students, and this is a wonderful opportunity to get students throughout the CNMI writing letters,” Tuten-Puckett said in an interview yesterday.

Other project co-sponsors are the Governor’s Office, Office of Military and Veterans Affairs, the Public School System, and the VFW Post 3457.

The VFW Post donated about $500 that would be used to buy stamps. Several students have also contributed by “adopting” packets; they would pay for the postage fee of the “adopted” packet.

“Our first priority are the ones deployed; however, we’re also sending packets to military personnel [from NMI] whether in Texas, California…wherever,” said Tuten-Puckett.

The first batch of packets would be sent out either this Friday or next Monday.

Tuten-Puckett said the project is still searching for more addresses of military personnel.

“Anyone who has a family member or friend who won’t be here for Christmas that’s in the military, please page me at 236-READ, or email pacificstarfoundation@yahoo.com,” she said.