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Preschool Honors Wasp for Armed Forces Day
Story Number: NNS050520-05
Release Date: 5/20/2005 8:46:00 AM
By Journalist 1st Class (SW/AW) Mark C. Schultz, USS Wasp Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- The London Bridge Baptist Preschool presented the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) with a 10-foot by 10-foot banner to thank Wasp crew members for their service in a brief ceremony May 11.
The banner was created in honor of Armed Forces Day, observed at the end of the month.
“We have a lot of military families come here,” said Jennifer Connolly, wife of a Wasp Sailor. “Many of those service members are deployed to Iraq right now.”
The preschool decided to make the large banner, decorated with the handprints of more than 260 children between the ages of two and five. Each hand represented a “thank you” to Wasp Sailors.
“Most of our kids can’t read or write yet,” said Lindy Padgett, director of the preschool. “We wanted to honor our country, troops and God, and this was a great way to do that.”
While making the banner, the preschoolers learned right and wrong, and how that relates to the United States and its military.
“We wanted to do something that was at the level of a small child so the children would understand,” said Wendy Demarco, the preschool's art teacher. “Along with the banner, we taught the kids the story of David and Goliath; about what is good and right, like the U.S. and our service members. They really were taught to understand what it means to protect our country and stand for freedom.”
During the ceremony, two classes of about 30 children stood in front of the group to lead the pledge of allegiance and to sing “God Bless America” and “Give Thanks” before presenting Wasp’s Command Master Chief, CMDCM(SW/AW) Mark Butler, with the banner.
“It was precious to see those little guys up there,” said Butler. “It’s a lot for them to remember and recite all these songs and lines up in front of everyone.”
Small things, like the London Bridge Baptist Preschool’s banner, show Wasp Sailors that their families and communities appreciate and support what they do.
For related news, visit the USS Wasp (LHD 1) Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/lhd1/.
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