Posted on: Sunday, April 3, 2005

Students 'join' military

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — All 15 Kaua'i public schools have joined the Adopt-A-Unit program, in which students write letters or send drawings to National Guard soldiers serving in Iraq.

The Adopt-A-Unit program was suggested to the Kaua'i district office of the Department of Education by Mayor Bryan Baptiste, and the district launched it in February.

"He wrote a letter to Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, head of the Army and Air National Guard in Hawai'i, asking for approval for the Adopt-a-Unit program to be implemented. That's how it all started," said Clifford Duro, of the guard's State Family Program Office."

The Kaua'i kids are corresponding with members of a unit that is mostly made up of Kaua'i residents: Hawai'i Army National Guard, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, 29th Separate Infantry Brigade.

The first batches of letters and drawings went out before spring break from King Kaumuali'i Elementary and Wilcox Elementary schools.

"It helps our students to think about caring for others and acknowledging those who are keeping our country safe," said Karen Liu, principal of King Kaumuali'i School. The school's program is being run by school clerk Noelani Isoda, whose husband is a member of the Hawai'i National Guard.

Daniel Hamada, Kaua'i District schools superintendent, said the program is spreading to other parts of the state, and several O'ahu schools have established their own Adopt-A-Unit programs.

"Whenever soldiers go to war, they always look forward to mail call. When they receive letters, it boosts their morale knowing that the community supports their efforts," Duro said.