Too Cool for School - a Brighter Chrstmas for a wounded GI

Haven't found this on their website yet, but I'll link when I can.

School's Gift: Wounded GI's Kids Will Make A Holiday Visit

By Eileen Kelley, Special to The Denver Post

COLORADO SPRINGS - Schoolteacher Liz Follon didn't have to borrow an overtold story to teach her third-grade class a lesson on remembering the less fortunate during the holiday season.

Instead, Follon's classroom, along with the rest of Grant Elementary School, created a real-life holiday story.

In a matter of a week, kids at the 500-student school in north-central Colorado Springs dug deep into their piggy banks, unearthed crumpled dollar bills from secret hiding spots and did extra chores around the house to raise money for airline tickets and hotel accommodations for two fellow students. In the end, they gathered about $3,000.

That means Anthony Mitchell, 8, and Megan Mitchell, 7, can visit their injured soldier father at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., for Christmas. They wouldn't be able to go without their classmates' help.

Staff Sgt. Roy Mitchell of Indiana was severely burned and lost part of his left leg in a land-mine explosion in Afghanistan on Nov. 23. The 32-year-old from Fort Drum in New York was one of 21 wounded soldiers recovering as of Wednesday at Walter Reed.

The military hospital has a special dinner and other events planned for Christmas. But Mitchell has no idea his children are coming next week to surprise him. The last time Megan and Anthony saw their father was in June, as he was preparing to deploy.

"It's just so awesome," said Jeanne Fears, the school's head secretary. "One little boy said last night that if that was his dad, he'd want to be there at Christmas, too, so that's why he pitched in."

For Anthony and Megan, seeing their father alive will help allay fears they have about his health and safety, said Jennifer Mitchell, the children's mother.

Jennifer Mitchell, who is divorced from Roy Mitchell, said she never expected the students to rally around Anthony and Megan the way they did. All she did, she said, was inform the school that if Anthony and Megan were acting out and having trouble, officials should know their father was badly injured. But word of the injured soldier spread quickly.

"It's a Christmas blessing, and it will be a Christmas they will remember forever," she said. "We are trying to keep that element of surprise. That is the greatest gift they have for their dad this year."

The children's anticipation and pride are growing.

Each day Anthony asks Follon, his teacher, for the number of days left until he can see his father again.

"They are so very excited," Jennifer Mitchell said. "Anthony answers the phone, 'Hello, my name is Anthony, and my daddy is a hero. Who are you?"'

Earlier this week Follon sent the boy home with a bundle of letters and hand-drawn pictures from his classmates, gifts for his father. The letters are filled with words of love, prayer and concern, not only for Roy Mitchell, but also for Anthony, Follon said.

"It was unbelievable. They were so involved and so motivated and excited to write (the letters), which is not normal when we have to write a story," said Follon. "This is the true meaning of the holidays. They are giving to somebody who they don't know. They have never even seen (Anthony's) father."