BROOKINGS Most kids spend December making Christmas lists for themselves. But students at Dakota Prairie Elementary have been busy fulfilling the wish lists of the 114th Fighter Wing of the South Dakota Air National Guard, currently deployed overseas.
Our third graders organized it, but the whole school contributed and donated, Sonya Chatham, Dakota Prairie third grade teacher, said. It was all of the things they had asked for. They had specific lists of candy, water flavorings, popcorn, toothpaste you know, the things we take for granted that they are missing from home.
Students assembled the gift boxes because of a deep connection they developed with one particular member of the 114th Lt. Col. Joseph Hardin.
When these third graders were in first grade, Lt. Col. Hardins daughter Emma Hardin was their student teacher. So she brought her dad in for show and tell, and then also for Veterans Day, Chatham said. Last year when they were in second grade, he came and talked to them a couple of times. And then this year, because he knew he was going to be deployed right when school started, he came and talked to them before he was deployed.
She said the 114th left Sept. 24 and isnt expected home until April. The kids quickly realized Hardin and his unit would not be home for Christmas.
He told them when he came back he would bring them a treat or surprise from where he had been, and we promised to send them packages and letters, Chatham said. It was just kind of a joint conversation that he would try to send them something from where he was, and they wanted to at least write letters back. So it came from the kids. They wanted to be able to send he and the other troops something for Christmas.
During his frequent school visits, Hardin took time to answer the students questions. Chatham said over the years, the kids picked up a lot about how much sacrifice goes into an overseas military deployment.
The kids started asking him questions like, did you ever miss being home for Christmas? They kind of started putting the pieces together that he missed some birthdays, and he missed some holidays, Chatham said. It has been emotional. Its helped them see the sacrifice that people make to keep our country safe. I think kind of what theyve taken away from it is that these people give up time with their own families for us.
She said all the students at Dakota Prairie learn about community service and are encouraged to do similar projects; but in this case, the kids felt emotionally invested in Hardin.
He has become family. And I think with his daughter teaching here now his daughter Emma teaches kindergarten here now it kind of feels like were all one big family, Chatham said. I think the kids are worried about his safety. Theyll say, has Miss Hardin talked to Lt. Col. Hardin? and different things like that. So theyre always asking questions about is he safe or has his daughter talked to him, those kinds of things.
She said once word spread, everyone at Dakota Prairie wanted to help with the gift boxes.
I think everybody was excited. You know, theyve all seen Lt. Col. Hardin here for different events and things. And I think they were all excited to be able to help and do something for the troops, Chatham said. And so then we had one family, the Hurd family We were going to ask different families to pitch-in and each sponsor a box, and they immediately said, we feel like this is such an awesome thing. We want to sponsor all the boxes. So they paid the postage to send the boxes. And the kids all made Christmas cards and Christmas ornaments and all sorts of things to put in the boxes too.
She said the kids have already learned a lot from this experience.
Were always trying to connect the children to the community and the larger world around them. And I think they were all excited, Chatham said. I like for them to be able to look at the world through different lenses. And so I think sometimes looking at what other people are doing for us and learning more about giving to others is important.
She said once the 114th safely returns to South Dakota, the school will host a welcome home ceremony. But Hardin ensured the kids didnt have to wait that long for some type of reunion. He and his unit received the gift boxes Dec. 9 and sent recorded messages of thanks the next day.
Lt. Col. Hardin sent two videos of the troops opening their boxes and of the K9 dogs figuring out which box was theirs, Chatham said. The students were amazed that the boxes were delivered across the world so quickly.They loved seeing their cards and the items they donated in the hands of the troops.They kept saying and they got them in time for Christmas.Lt. Col Hardin ended the video with, see you in April, and that really made some of the students sad.They said, wow that’s a long time.
Contact Jay Roe at [email protected].
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