Special Guest Helps Ocean Road Students Celebrate Veterans Day

United States Marines serve our country on land, on sea and in the sky. Prospective Marines must be at least 17 years old to join. During times of active combat, Marines eat MRE's or Military Meals Ready to Eat.

These are just a few answers Ocean Road Elementary School second-graders in Mrs. Alicia Scalabrini's and Mrs. Stacey McGlinchy's classes received to questions they posed to special Veterans Day guest Lance Corporal Mark Helmka.

Part of a nine-year tradition, initiated by Mrs. Scalabrini, of inviting a veteran to visit the school on Veterans Day, LCpl. Helmka's visit was the culmination of in-class lessons about the day that honors those who have served in the armed forces.

"When I first began teaching at Ocean Road over nine years ago, my students repeatedly confused veterans with veterinarians," said Mrs. Scalabrini. "As the daughter of a veteran, I felt it was my duty to better educate my students more about the armed forces and all that their members do to ensure our collective freedom."

Following a PowerPoint Presentation about the different branches of the military and how each branch specifically serves the United States, the students were given the opportunity to pose their questions to Iraq war veteran Lance Corporal Helmka.

"Where do you sleep during a war," asked one student.

"Wherever we can," replied LCpl. Helmka explaining that when not on the base, sleep is rare and usually only achieved inside military vehicles.

“Why do you wear camouflage,” asked another.

“To try and blend in with our surroundings,” answered LCpl. Helmka.

To further enhance the students' experience, LCpl. Helmka brought with him an assortment of his U.S. Marine Corps uniforms and gear, which he allowed the students to try on.

After posing for pictures, LCpl. Helmka provided Mrs. Scalabrini with an address for the students to send handmade Veterans Day cards and care packages they made to send to troops serving in Afghanistan.

"By making cards and assembling care packages to send to our troops, students are better able to understand the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women," said Mrs. Scalabrini. "But nothing personalizes the experience quite like the visit of an actual veteran."

"I can't tell you how much it means when we are far away from home and we receive your letters and packages and know you are thinking about us," LCpl. Helmka told the class. "It really brightens our days."

"This is an experience that always resonates with my students," said Mrs. Scalabrini. "It is something they will always remember and the tokens of appreciation we have received from our military friends will serve as an additional reminder," she continued gesturing to a collection of certificates of appreciation, letters and a flag that was presented to the class in recognition of their efforts in support of the 25th Infantry Division