Students Reach Out to Servicemen and Women in Afghanistan

Jean-Paul Chretien may call Upton Drive home, but right now, he's serving in Afghanistan as a navy physician and senior public health advisor to NATO in Helmand Province. His connection to the Wheaton area, however, is bringing troops in Afghanistan greetings from students.

Five and six year olds in the afternoon program of Crossway Montessori, where Chretien’s daughters go to school, made and sent cards for the Navy officer to bring to troops in Afghanistan, to show their support for the military personnel.

Chretien gave the cards to both Marines in the nearby hospital, as well as those in the “Wounded Warrior” barracks.

“Fortunately,
 there were not many Marines in the hospital, so the staff there is
 going to keep the few extra cards I had and give them to Marines who
 are admitted,” Chretien said in an email to Crossways staff. “The staff make a scrap book for each Marine to take
when they are discharged from the hospital, and they're going to 
include a card from Crossway in each one!”

Jamie Fearer, communications associate at Crossways, said the five and six year olds at the school made the cards, “since they could relate to their classmate’s father being in the military and serving overseas, as well as being able to write.”

Chretien shared photos of one of the wounded warriors he gave a card to, Lance Corporal Ford, as well as the hospital’s commander, Commander Margaret Betteridge, a British naval
 officer.

“The Marines out here are so grateful that the kids and teachers and
parents at Crossway are thinking of them,” Chretien wrote. “They're working very hard,
 and miss their homes and families.”