Air Force Staff Sgt. Lyle Schneider will have plenty of people to write to when he is deployed this fall.
He, along with several other airmen, will be pen pals with first and fourth grade students at Rock Creek Elementary in Maple Valley, where his aunt, Melissa Flatt, is a fourth grade teacher.
Currently stationed in Offut Air Force Base in Omaha, Neb., Schneider, a six year veteran, learned in early summer he was being deployed to Afghanistan. When she was informed of the news, Flatt was naturally nervous about him going.
“We were concerned of course about his well being, that he’d be gone for the holidays and his birthday,” said Flatt.
Thinking of ways for her nephew to stay in touch, Flatt came up with the idea of having Schneider and her students correspond with each other.
“I was trying to think of what I could do to stay connected,” Flatt said. “I thought of how powerful it would be for the students to see how much these men and women sacrifice.”
“I thought it was a great idea,” Schneider said. “Hopefully I can get more guys involved.”
Initially, it was originally meant to just be between Schneider and Flatt’s fourth grade students, but then Flatt mentioned the idea to first grade teacher Rachelle Rose, who loved the idea.
“I asked her (Rose) if she would want to do that and she jumped on board,” said Flatt.
Eventually, four other fourth grade teachers added their students to the list — Shelly Gaston, Stephanie Ailment, Emily Kroll and Lindsay Rondeau.
Flatt stated she sees the correspondence as mutually beneficial.
While the soldiers are able to hear from students back in the States, the students are able learn more about the daily life of a soldier.
“I think we want them to get an understanding of what it’s like to be in the military,” said Flatt.
“I think it’s pretty cool,” said Abigail Seely, a 9-year-old fourth grader. “It’s cool to be interacting with the people out at war.”
Schneider stated receiving letters from home helps members of the military deal with long deployments.
“It helps us know that what we’re doing is being recognized from home, and that is means something to people,” he said.
Schneider had the opportunity to visit the school Sept. 8, where he introduced himself to the students.
“They really enjoyed it,” Flatt said. “They were asked a lot of questions. They were curious about the war.”
Though Schneider talked mostly about himself personally, he explained how technology has allowed the military to transition from the use of guns to computers as a means of fighting the enemy. Handling network security, he joked that he “fights with his hands and a keyboard.”
Flatt stated she has used the pen pal idea as way of teaching her students more about geography, as well as writing.
She utilized the classroom globe to show the students where Rock Creek Elementary, Offut Air Force Base and Afghanistan are located.
She will also use a calendar to help the students understand how long tours of duty can be for military personnel separated from their loved ones.
For writing, Flatt is currently teaching her students the concept of writing to the audience. When writing to the airmen, they will learn how to craft their letters appropriately.
“We’re just giving them that authentic audience,” she said.
In addition to letters, the students also hope to communicate with Schneider via email and Skype.
“I’m really excited to write to Lyle,” said Brandon Day, a 9-year-old in Flatt’s class. “I think he’s going to really appreciate it when he misses home.”
The idea has also caught on with other airmen, according to Flatt.
When Travis Brown, a Senior Airman and friend of Schneider’s, learned about the pen pals, he asked if he could participate, as well.
“I told him what I was doing, and he has a lot of siblings he stays in touch with,” Schneider said.
Though it may not seem like much on the surface, Flatt said, maintaining communication with military personnel goes a long way to lift their spirits.
“It means the world to those men and women over there,” Flatt said. “And I thought, ‘It makes it worth it.’”
