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<< Previous   of   Next >> Dan Bates / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Students in Debra Howell's classroom at Monte Cristo Elementary School in Granite Falls on Tuesday surround and question Capt. David Revelle, a Navy pilot in the reserves, who has been involved in the delivery of packages that the kids put together for students at a school in Afghanistan. Photo Courtesy of Granite Falls School District  (click to enlarge) An all-girl school in Afghanistan with care packages sent by Debra Howell's elementary school class. Navy Capt. Dave Revelle visited the class during his deployment. Photo Courtesy of Granite Falls School District  (click to enlarge) A girls school in Afghanistan that was visited by Navy Capt. David Revelle during his deployment.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, April 8, 2009 Granite Falls kids get a report on their generosity Navy officer shares what gifts have done in war-torn areas By Eric Stevick Herald Writer GRANITE FALLS -- Debra Howell realized she'd piqued her students' interest in world affairs when 18 of 21 of them showed up on a day off from school to collect goods for care packages being mailed to soldiers and students in Iraq and Afghanistan. Her students at Monte Cristo Elementary School have been sending e-mails and boxes packed with supplies and goodwill for soldiers deployed in the war-torn Middle East countries. Some gifts are for the soldiers, but most are for children living in poverty. Over several months, Howell's students had grown close to their military pen pals, especially Capt. David Revelle, a jet pilot in the Navy reserves who also flies for United Airlines. "Every day, they come in and say, 'Did we hear from David?' " Howell said. On Tuesday, they didn't just hear from Revelle, they got to meet him. Revelle made the time to visit his Granite Falls fans a day before he was scheduled to return to Afghanistan. He is in a relationship with Karen Gorzela, a speech pathologist for the school district, who arranged the visit. Emmy Romack, 11, a fifth-grader, was excited to meet Revelle, an Anacortes man and a father of two teens. "I have never actually seen a soldier before," she said. Revelle has shared photos he took of Afghan children who received the care packages he delivered from Granite Falls. The images show smiling youngsters in austere classrooms. Many students were pleased simply to receive a pencil or two because they had nothing to write with, Revelle said. Some did not know they needed to remove the foil from the Hershey kisses they were given, popping the treats into their mouths wrapper and all. Revelle has encountered many children younger than the students in Howell's class already working in the fields. "A lot of times, they are working just for their next meal," he said. Revelle told the Granite Falls students how much the gifts are appreciated, particularly in rural areas where poverty is common and electricity is rare. It was heartening news for the students in Granite Falls. "It makes me feel happier," said Dansil Green, 12, a sixth-grade student. "I know we did some good." Ben Nelson, another sixth-grade student, figured his class would gather enough supplies to fill two boxes. He underestimated his classmates. They filled 80 boxes. "I didn't think we would end up getting as much stuff as we did," he said. "I'm glad we did." The containers were sent to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan with the help of the local Veterans of Foreign War chapter, which paid for the postage. Handmade posters that hang in their tents as well as coffee are popular with the soldiers, but the students also decided to send them grass and seeds when they mentioned how weary they had grown of being surrounded by desert sands. Revelle, 48, who was deployed in Afghanistan the day Baghdad fell, told the students the most rewarding part of his service is helping Afghans learn to help themselves. Gifts, such as pencils and paper, can help in that pursuit. Over the years, Howell has made it a point to connect her students to military veterans who served in different wars. Howell said the lessons give students practice in communication and writing but are more than academic exercises. "It think it's about life in general," she said. Reporter Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446, stevick@heraldnet.com. READER COMMENTS Be the first to comment. You must be a registered user and verify your e-mail address to post comments to blogs or articles on HeraldNet. To register, click here. To read other terms and conditions, click here. Log out

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