European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 24, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Monday september 24,1990 the stars and stripes Page 9educationkids Send alternative letters to Gulf Pitburg elementary school students at work on their operation desert shield projects. For a amps Honry Clark by Deedee Arrington Doke Kaiserslautern Bureau Pitburg a West Germany a Maria Laquerre would like to help out . Troops in saudi Arabia by getting weapons ready in Case of a sneak attack by iraqi forces. At age 9, she a not Likely to see the front lines. So instead she a joining with other american students in Europe to entertain and encourage . Forces deployed in the Middle East with a letter writing Campaign. At Pitburg Campaign organizer staff sgt. Victor Luebker of the 36th aircraft generation so Hopes residents will compose at least 1,000 letters to the deployed troops. But Pitburg teachers see Long term educational benefits As Well by helping them participate. A the teachers have just taken this and run with it a Luebker said. Having the children Send poems pictures handmade joke books and other so called a alternative letters is one Way that teachers Are integrating study of operation desert shield into the regular curricula. Youngsters Are being encouraged to empathize with the Middle East based troops by learning about the countries physical cultural and social environments. A by relating it to the world they live in we re taking something abstract and making it More real to them a said Art teacher Amy Krichko. A so often they take the news for granted. They done to realize that in five years they re going to look Back in the history books and see that they were Here while All of this was going on a said Chris Kim who teaches talented and gifted fourth graders. Kim a students created the kind of mailings they a want to receive if they were there and needed distraction from the Sand dust and boredom. A i like Reading silly joke books and i thought they would like to know some of the jokes too a said Crystal Santorelli 9, who created a the laugh a lot books As her project. Craig Odom 9, decided to Send a drawing of a Seaside scene from Holland with the idea that the service members in saudi Arabia May someday get ramp a. He did no to name the particular resort but his drawing is Home to the towering Palace hotel the Seagull and Ladybug restaurants and flocks of seagulls. A and this is where people get sultans and All of that a Craig said pointing to a sea of pencilled Beach a amps Effie Bathe thinking of you a amps Effle Bathen photo on Page 1 shows Waylon Hoshaw who a written a to any Soldier i Hope you come Home Safe and please Send me a letter Back.  he a in class with Frank Thomas pictured below. Mats on his drawing. Jason Sheehane a thoughts took a witty Bent. A if you want to have fun take your tank out to dinner a the 9-year-old boy advised at the top of a drawing that depicted the desert diner. Another youngster sending a letter composed of words and drawings that substituted for the written word said he wanted to Send an ice cube but that it had melted. Some had Clear ideas about the Soldier or airman they hoped would receive their creations. A someone who a really worried about their family. Did you read about the lady who had to leave her Newborn baby a asked Christina Woodham 9, As she worked with a partner on an intricate Riddle Book. A a we re hoping this gets to  for some the projects also hit close to Home. Kelly Walls father left earlier in the week for temporary deployment in the Middle East. A i feel worried about him. Its just that he a never been so far away before a the 8-year-old girl said. One youngster addressed her vividly coloured communication and a personal request to a a Brave  a my dad might have to go to saudi Arabia soon a the girl wrote a and i want you to Stop it before its his  teachers realizing that some youngsters families will be personally affected by the Middle East deployment believe that the class work also will stimulate students emotional development. A this offers them the Opportunity to relieve stress about the situation a Krichko said. A the world Quot think of. The wonderful Woods and the Trees and think of All the Birds and bees think of a farm with some horses on it and think of some fireworks with the sky lit think of your family and the traditions you be got and think of some chocolates a a whole lot think of our school with lots of fun and think of a running race a when you be won think of the dolphins swimming in the seas and think of golfing when you hit the Ball off a tee. Just forget about the Sand and remember me a Jamie theuer fourth grader Pitburg elementary school Carol Whittemore is a family child care provider who lives in Hillesheim West Germany and cares for five children. She wrote to the stars and stripes to Tell us about a great one liner from one of her children. The incident occurred when one of the tots was playing with a plastic Lizard. Two year old Deana Armendartz kept calling the Lizard a Dinosaur. Whittemore said that when she corrected Deana telling her it was not a Dinosaur but a Lizard the child looked at her with big Brown eyes and asked a the Lizard of of is amps Effie Bathen second grader Frank Thomas displays the letter he a written a to any soldiers in operation desert shield. It reads a if there a a War i wish you win if you done twin i will be sad. In a Good come Home Safe  above is a picture of a desert Battle. It includes an Indian Tepee because Frank said he heard that some arabs live in tents. He a in or. Jane Hodges class at Niernberg elementary school at Monteith Barracks in Firth West Germany